We were lucky to catch up with Kierra (Kia) Byrd recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kierra (Kia), thanks for joining us today. What was one of the most important lessons you learned in school? Why did that lesson stick with you?

My department in university was small but filled with community and friendship. It was almost like a club full of helping hands and kind people. My professors were just as kind in the design department and everyone just wanted to see others succeed and see each other grow within their art style. There were never any harsh discussions or critiques, no one judging each other’s styles, just honest and constructive words, full of respect and intrigue.

There were so many lessons I learned throughout those four years that were so important to me and have shaped me into a better person and creative. The one lesson I can use to summarize and encapsulate all my learned knowledge in one entity is the importance of communication and community.

You don’t have to have the best vocabulary, but making sure you and others are heard clearly with respect and intent is the most important lesson in life. At least trying to reach out is better than anything. If it weren’t for that communication within such a positive and constructive community, I wouldn’t have been able to connect as closely with others in my young adult life. I wouldn’t have understood how deeply art means to me and the important of reaching out through my designs and art. We can avoid misunderstandings and learn more about others in far deeper ways. I wouldn’t be able to communicate as well with clients to bring their ideas of their business and their passions to life with my designs. I feel like learning to be apart of that experience has made me want to create and able to create warm and safe spaces for every aspect of my life that I had or will encounter.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Kierra (Kia) Byrd and I am 24 years old. I started my creative journey around middle school, where I was first creating amateur book cover designs online for a small forum community just for fun. It was also there where I had learn the basics of coding as well in order to use this platform in a more creative and fun way. It was around that time that I believe this was something I was passionate about and knew I wanted to do for a very long time.

I first started getting into the design world officially in college, where I started a part-time job with my college and creating graphics for the residential housing program. It was also in college where I did learn more about being a digital creative and different graphic medias besides traditional art. Throughout the years I have been in different spaces creating personal and purposefully art and still creating within the online community. I am currently working as a Graphic and Web Designer about almost 3 years out of college.

I feel like the problems I solve pertain to business owners, usually starting-up or small, on how they want to be perceived to the world. My entire motto when going into this field was wanting to be able to bring other’ peoples vision to life. To me, I love helping and not only does this job focus on helping others manifest their business through design but also aides in my love of creativity. I am most proud of being a black girl creative and able to join such positive community spaces of art through my jobs and meeting so many businesses through my work and learning who they are. What I want others to know about me is that I am in love with designing and will always help for as long as I am able.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I think with engaging with clients. it’s not just about goods and services, it is also a lesson. I always teach my clients more about this field and as much as I can give to enhance their business practices, because having those skill sets of understanding the important of how your business is goes beyond colors and a logo. It is communicating to others how much you care about what you are giving to the world. The main advice I give clients is being able to truly showing who they are by how they set themself up.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

When I first started, I wish I knew how many other platform of social media and online activity that can really teach you more than maybes classrooms can teach you

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kiabyrd.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiarbyrd/
• Other: https://www.behance.net/kiabyrd

Image Credits
Kierra Byrd