We recently connected with Katelyn Orth and have shared our conversation below.

Katelyn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

To have a creative career is, in itself, a risk. It’s competitive, it demands constant skill-building, and let’s be honest—there will always be people who doubt you. I knew the path I wanted to take was risky, but I also knew I wouldn’t be happy doing anything else.

I’ve always been a creative person, but I didn’t seriously pursue art until my junior year of high school. Even then, I was nervous about taking art classes at school—I was convinced everyone else would be way ahead of me. So, I shyly asked my parents if I could sign up for art classes with a local artist outside of school. Walking into that first class was terrifying, but it was there I discovered I had an eye for art. It was such an exhilarating moment because it confirmed what I’d hoped: this was what I loved, and I wasn’t too far behind to catch up. Taking that small risk taught me to trust my instincts and pursue what made me happy, even if it felt intimidating.

With that lesson in mind, I took a bigger leap: applying to Ringling College of Art and Design to study animation. It wasn’t just about getting into the school—you also had to be accepted into the animation program itself. At that point, I only had about a year and a half of formal art training, but I went for it. And I got in!

After graduating, I faced another challenge: finding a job in a competitive industry. I sent out over 100 applications and eventually landed my first animation role, designing graphics for slot machines. I took the risk and moved across the country for the opportunity. While the job wasn’t exactly a dream come true, it helped me refine my favorite skill: character design.

One day, I stumbled upon a job opening for a stuffed animal product designer. I had zero experience in product design, but I decided to go for it anyway—another risk. And it paid off! They offered me the job, and now, six years later, I’m still doing what I love. My designs have been sold in stores like Target, Walmart, Hallmark, Claire’s, and BoxLunch, and I’m the lead designer for the top-selling brand at my company. It’s surreal and deeply rewarding, and I’m so grateful I took those early risks.

These days, I’ve started to grow my own small business on the side. It’s given me even more freedom to explore new styles, mediums, and ideas. I’ve been able to create my own products, applying everything I’ve learned from my career so far.

In the end, I’ve realized that when you’re following your passion, those risks don’t seem quite so risky after all.

Katelyn, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Katelyn Orth, and I’m a professional product designer and the owner of Katerbugs Art, my small business and creative outlet. By day, I design stuffed animals for Aurora World, a toy company, where I’m proud to be the lead designer for Palm Pals, the company’s #1 best-seller. By night (and weekends), I pour my heart into Katerbugs Art, where I design and create my own products—including plush toys, keychains, stickers, and paintings—and work on custom pieces for individuals and businesses alike.

In my small business, I’ve tackled a range of exciting projects. From creating logos and branding for companies to designing freeze-dried candy labels featuring a quirky Yeti character, I’m always up for a challenge. I like to joke that I never have a “down moment”—but it’s true! I rarely say no to new opportunities, and my motto is: “If I don’t know how to do it, I’ll figure it out!”

If I had to define my greatest strengths, I’d say my first passion is learning, and my second is art. I approach every project with a curious mind and an eagerness to grow. My biggest request from clients is trust. I’ve dedicated my career to mastering art and design, and when a client trusts me to bring their vision to life, it always results in a fulfilling, collaborative experience for both of us. That’s why I often let clients come to me organically—they’re already familiar with my style and drawn to it, which creates a foundation of mutual understanding right from the start.

While I’m incredibly proud of my achievements in the toy product design world, my small business holds a special place in my heart. Having the stability of a full-time career has given me the freedom to explore my own creative endeavors without fear of failure. Katerbugs Art is deeply authentic to who I am—an outlet where I can experiment, grow, and connect with a supportive community of fans and clients. Watching my business flourish has been one of my most fulfilling accomplishments, and I’m grateful every day for the chance to build something that feels so uniquely “me.”

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Honestly, no—and I know that might sound like a strange answer. But it’s one I’ve come to embrace after a lot of self-discovery.

For the longest time, I felt this intense pressure to define a clear goal for my creative journey. Should I work toward becoming a creative director? Should I focus on growing my own business full time? Should I go back to animation? My thoughts were constantly racing with the idea that I had to pick a direction and start working toward it immediately.

Meanwhile, I was excelling as a product designer—but I wasn’t truly enjoying my success or even acknowledging my accomplishments. Instead, I was consumed by what came next.

When I started my small business, the same thing happened. I obsessed over questions like, “What should I make?” “What will people buy?” “How do I grow my following?” It was exhausting. Eventually, I realized I was so focused on figuring out the “right” path that I wasn’t allowing myself to just enjoy the journey.

So, I let go of that pressure. I stopped worrying about whether I was on the perfect trajectory and just started creating for the sake of creating. I focused on making things -I- love instead of what I thought would sell best. I even stopped producing certain products that sold well but didn’t bring me joy. And in my career, I allowed myself to simply enjoy the work I was doing without constantly thinking ten steps ahead.

Now, I feel truly content. I get to do a job I love while exploring, growing, and pursuing my own interests through my small business. It feels like I’ve “made it” in the sense that I’ve found balance, freedom, and fulfillment in my creative life.

Having goals isn’t a bad thing by any means, but when they consume you to the point that you’re no longer enjoying the journey, it’s worth rethinking. Sometimes, it’s okay to just ride the wave. Chances are, you’ve already earned it. And if the time comes to pursue a goal, I’ll feel ready to take that next step—on my own terms.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The idea that copying is “cheating”—and I’m specifically referring to copying other artists to learn, not to profit or claim as your own work.

In college, there was such a heavy stigma around copying, and I saw a lot of shame about it. For example, I struggled learning to draw hands. Looking at a physical hand didn’t help me, but if I looked at how other artists drew hands, I could follow their lines and understand how to do it. However, I had so much fear around this process that I avoided it altogether. I didn’t want to be labeled as a cheater. I wouldn’t even use reference images because I thought, “I’m an artist—I should know how to draw an elephant without a photo, right?”

But as I got older, I realized there’s a crucial difference between copying to learn and copying to profit. In fact, back in the Renaissance era, artists learned by copying the masters. It was an essential tool for developing skill and understanding techniques. The idea that other artists’ work is off-limits or that tracing is somehow wrong is simply misguided.

It’s okay to study how an artist captures a smile, for example. Trace it. Feel it. And then apply what you’ve learned to your own work. It’s not cheating—it’s learning.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katerbugs_art/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katelynhagen/
• Other: Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/KaterbugsArt