We recently connected with McKenna Sanderson and have shared our conversation below.

McKenna, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How do you think about vacations as a business owner? Do you take them and if so, how? If you don’t, why not?

Absolutely — I believe vacations are essential, not just for rest, but also for reflection and creative renewal. As a designer, stepping out of my bubble and experiencing new environments almost always inspires fresh ideas and informs my creative practice in unexpected ways. I often find myself traveling to other states for music. My husband, friends and I love to make longer vacations surrounding a concert we all want to attend, or we’ll make our entire vacation a music festival. These are great spaces to free oneself from outside pressures and get inspired. I recently had the privilege of going to Japan for two weeks, and it was a really refreshing, brand new experience for me. I hope to continue visiting other countries in the future—it’s not something I’ve really been able to do before, so I’m excited about the possibility.

That said, taking time off as a business owner and full-time design educator requires intentional planning. I always give my clients and students advance notice, clearly communicate my time away, and make sure project proposals or course schedules account for any upcoming gaps in availability. I try to avoid last-minute travel if I can help it — setting clear expectations around timelines helps ensure no one’s left hanging.

My advice to other entrepreneurs and creatives is this: your business and work are important, but so is your well-being—with a little preparation, it’s absolutely possible to take meaningful breaks without compromising your professionalism. I’d also love to take this opportunity to express to leaders who might manage and supervise teams… let your employees take breaks, don’t make them feel guilty for taking time off, and maybe even go so far as to encourage them to do so. Your teams will become more efficient and overall morale will undoubtedly improve. Both are crucial for a successful team and making great work.

McKenna, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is McKenna Sanderson and I am a graphic designer and design educator. My creative work spans multiple disciplines, including internationally exhibited photography, graphic design work recognized at both regional and national levels, murals around Oklahoma, intricate paper cut art, and presentations at educational conferences like SECAC. I earned my MFA in Graphic Design from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2019, and my BFA in Graphic Design for UCO School of Design in 2015.

My creative journey started as many others’ have with a passion and excitement for art-related things throughout my childhood and school years. The most pivotal moment in my trajectory towards graphic design, though, was when I was mistakenly enrolled in my high school’s Yearbook course. I was very excited and asked the teacher to allow me to stay, which she did. I don’t know if Mrs. Klein, now Organiscak Baker, knows how much she changed my life by letting me stay, but she did. For three years, I was a Photographer, then a Designer, then the Co-Editor-in-Chief. I often found myself prioritizing this class over others and staying up way too late designing yearbook pages—even then, I didn’t fully understand that what I was doing was centered around graphic design. I told my art teacher about it, and she recommended UCO’s graphic design program. If it weren’t for those two teachers, I might have ended up at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs (yes, true.)

I’m currently an Associate Professor at the University of Central Oklahoma’s School of Design, where I also serve as Assistant Director and Division Head for the Graphic Design Program. Located in the vibrant Oklahoma City metro, UCO Design is home to an incredibly dynamic community of student designers whose work has earned both local and national recognition. The upcoming academic year (25-26) will be my 7th year teaching full-time at UCO. Currently, my favorite class to teach is Inktank Studio, where I facilitate real-world projects with real-world clients. Students create their own production schedules, communicate with and present to clients, and competitively collaborate through in-class critiques. Another course I equally enjoy teaching is Package Design. One thing I’m very proud to have started during my time here at UCO is SALUTE, an annual national student design competition now in it’s 5th year. This low entry cost competition is unique in that it includes categories for interior design, graphic design AND high school students.

In addition to teaching full-time, I co-own WTRMLN Creative, a design studio I run with my husband, Wylee Sanderson. I believe it’s important to maintain a strong professional practice to remain relevant in the classroom to best prepare my students for the ever-evolving career field. We specialize in branding for small businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions, and events. One of our favorite most recent projects was creating the package design, inner contents, and Kickstarter campaign for a party game called Art Snobs, which was recently recognized and published by Graphic Design USA (GDUSA).

Outside of design, I’m also a papercut artist and muralist. I previously served as President of AIGA Oklahoma for 4 years and was the founding Co-President of All Those Creative OKC for the 2024-2025 season. ATCOKC is a nonprofit focused on fostering connection and community among local creatives through membership and monthly events in Oklahoma City. Our first year boasted nearly 90 members! I am looking forward to continuing to serve the organization as Treasurer for the upcoming season. I enjoy being a leader, but I’m equally as excited to step back, let others take the reigns, and make more time for my personal art practice.

I’m passionate about teaching and mentoring the next generation of graphic designers while staying deeply involved in the creative community around me. When I’m not teaching or designing, you can find me traveling, doing yoga and weightlifting, going to concerts and music festivals, or snuggling with my three dogs — Uno, Rolo, and Samafuss.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding part of being a multidisciplinary creative is the constant evolution—the freedom to experiment, take risks, and try new things. That ongoing process of exploration keeps me energized and mentally sharp. Not everything I make is a success, and that’s part of the beauty of it. Each attempt, whether it lands or not, pushes me forward and builds confidence in a way I don’t think I’d experience without a creative practice. It’s growth through making, and that’s what keeps me coming back.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Absolutely. At the heart of my creative journey is a commitment to growth, evolution, and adaptability. I’m not someone who thrives on repetition; in fact, I tend to get restless when I’m doing the same type of projects over and over. That’s why I gravitate toward a wide range of creative outlets. Exploring new approaches, mediums, and ideas keeps me challenged and inspired. It might not be everyone’s path, but for me, the variety is what keeps things exciting, and ultimately, what keeps me growing.

Contact Info:

• Website: wtrmlncreative.com + mckenna-s.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_mck.s/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckenna-sanderson-b5471b87/

Image Credits

MICA Grad Show 2022 Photos—Andrew Copeland