Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Anna Scudder. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Anna, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us about an important lesson you learned in school and why that lesson is important to you?

One of the most impactful lessons I learned as a designer is that sometimes you have to rip up your work and look at it from a new perspective (literally). The Graphic Design program at DePaul University has an incredibly well-rounded curriculum and I can confidently say I walked away from each of my classes having gained an insight that impacts how I approach design. However, it was one of my first courses freshman year that surprised me the most.

Design Drawing Process sounds like a boring class, but the projects were far from it.
I can still remember one of the first projects was to go home and draw a stationary object. People showed up to class the next day with beautifully crafted sketches of chairs, food, books, all in various levels of skill. We were told to pin them up on the walls of the classroom and one by one my professor walked up to our projects and without saying anything, just ripped the paper in half. Naturally, people were gasping, gawking at this frizzle-haired young woman ripping up our drawings that we spent hours perfecting. Of course, we all laughed looking around at each other like “what did we just get ourselves into?” It wasn’t until our professor told us to repin our favorite half of our work back up on the wall that we started to realize how all of our sketches had gotten so much more interesting. Instead of a beautiful chair centered on a page, we were looking at abstract, dimensional masterpieces that captivated the room. We were forced to reconsider our normal and think outside the box (or in this case, outside the boundaries of a sheet of paper).

Throughout the rest of the class we were told to destroy pencils, draw 100 different triangle compositions (I’m not exaggerating), and many more obscure projects that forced me out of my comfort zone. Looking back, they were all important lessons on perspective, composition and the use of white space, but it was much more than that to me, it was my first lesson in thinking about how I approach design. Even to this day I still push through three or four “first drafts” when working on a project. In doing so, I force myself to consider all approaches and perspectives on a problem, ultimately concluding with something epic.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I like to describe myself as a graphic designer willing to solve any problem with a visual solution. I currently live in Chicago, IL, where my husband and I spend our weekends exploring all the lively Chicago neighborhoods and the plethora of funky bars and restaurants they have to offer. During the week though, I am attached to my mac computer, designing for places like my alma mater, DePaul University, or the national live music chain, Howl at the Moon.

Even as a kid I was always the creative one. A brand new pack of crayons was my Christmas morning and the aisles of Michaels or Hobby Lobby were my dreamworld. My father recognized my passion and introduced me to Graphic Design, encouraging me to explore it as my major in college. A short internship in high school confirmed my love for the craft and the rest was history. I secured my first job as Graphic Designer for the Office of Student Involvement at DePaul University where I received various awards for my illustration work with our mascot DIBS. The most popular being the DIBSmojis that are still used on campus today. I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design in March of 2020 and have been expanding my reach as a designer ever since!

I have helped clients across the country design social media banners, swimsuit panty liners, large window clings and company wide packaging. I never want to start with a blank page, so I like to dive into a company or project and find out the motivation and stories behind their needs. I do my best to develop something that not only “looks pretty” and has a seamless user experience. By getting to know my clients and their passions, it motivates me to design something that is truly their own. After all, it can sometimes be the most obscure stories or comments that lead to something inspirational!

Lately, a large majority of my work has been focused on branding and visual identities. I work with clients that are new to starting their own business and want to get started on their brand. Typically this starts with just a logo, but more often than not, that logo work turns into more projects for their company like packaging or website design.

Everyday I remind myself how lucky I am to make a living off of a talent I am truly passionate about!

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I knew about all of the subscription based websites that offer fonts! Creative Market being one that provides commercial licenses for fonts and free mockups which I use to upgrade how I present my designs on social media and to clients.

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

It may sound old school, but my goal is to have a steady amount of clients to where I can someday start a family and be a full-time freelancer at the same time. My field is one of the rare ones that allow you to be flexible and I’d like to capitalize on that, staying true to my identity as a designer while also raising my kids.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.annascudder.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascudder_designs/
• Other: https://bio.site/annascudder https://www.behance.net/annascudder

Image Credits
Hanna Walkowaik Photography