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

Alright, Kyle thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about the best boss, mentor, or leader you’ve ever worked with.

My first job out of school was at an ad agency here in Albuquerque called OneCreative. It was just the two owners at the time, T. and Wendy. What started as freelance InDesign help turned into a full-time job. Of course that came after not knowing InDesign when interviewing with them a few months before. (The power of dedication and persistence!)

I spent just under 4 years learning and soaking up everything I could from them. T. showed me the importance of folder structure, teaching me more design principles than school did, and how to serve our clients. Wendy showed me the beauty of typography, the art of client relations, and how we can elevate a brand through great design.

Being a small team, I had the incredible opportunity of seeing all aspects of the business and getting to work on almost every project that came through the doors. From brand identities, print ads, newsletters, websites, to packaging, I had a front row seat to watch two great leaders and mentors do their thing. Of course we only have one life so I also got to see their marriages and parenting too. More examples of what it was like to love and lead in the home.

It will be 20 years in the industry for me this coming March and can’t help but be thankful and grateful for T. and Wendy! That first job out of school is critical and I feel like I won the lottery. I without a doubt would not be where I am today without them. Thanks T. and Wendy!

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

Hi I’m Kyle Stake, a husband, father, and designer based out of sunny Albuquerque, NM. I’ve been married to my beautiful wife Jamie for 14 years. We have two boys Parker and Paxton, and two dogs Charlie and Benny.

I started designing professionally in March of 2006 and now specialize in brand identity design and packaging, with a little motion work sprinkled in there.

I’ve worked in-house and for agencies most of my career. The beginning of January 2020, I started my own design studio, Kyle Stake Branding & Design. I focus on helping churches, brands, and startups achieve their goals through solid branding and design.

Consistency and longevity are what I want to be known for. I want to be in my 80s still cranking out logos. And to have those logos last as long as possible. Let’s maximize that ROI!

I’ve met so many great people and worked with such great clients all these years. I don’t have to go to work; I get to go to work. That’s huge! Every day presents new opportunities and I want to be diligent with the ones that come my way.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

The way I landed my first job was a process and pushed me to work hard for something that I wanted.

Let’s rewind to October of 2005. I was graduating in December and started looking for positions. I landed an interview at an ad agency here in Albuquerque called OneCreative. The interview went great, but I somehow made it through school without learning or even opening InDesign. Most of their work at the time was done in there. I vividly remember at the end of the interview, one of the owners said, “We would have hired you on the spot had you known InDesign.” I left excited and bummed and frustrated at my education all at the same time. They told me to stay in touch.

After the interview, I gathered together all the money I could and bought the official Adobe InDesign book with a CD. It was 2005, YouTube started earlier that year, so free video tutorials weren’t around. Or even a thing. I read that book from cover to cover and did every lesson that was on the CD multiple times over. I even read the entire InDesign manual that came with the software. It was nerdy but wildly helpful.

I definitely sent too many emails staying in touch, but it paid off. March 2006 rolls around, and I got an email from one of the owners that they needed freelance help on some InDesign projects. I jumped at the opportunity! The projects were only scheduled to last for two weeks. Those two weeks flew by, and at the end, I was offered a full-time job. Two weeks turned into four years. Those four years built the foundation of my entire career. All because I put in the hard work to learn something new.

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

The most rewarding part of being a creative is getting to use my skills, abilities, and creativity to help clients reach their goals. I get a front-row seat to watch clients succeed and grow. That’s rare. And to play a small part in it is such an honor.

Seeing clients utilize their brands that I helped build is pretty surreal. As designers, it’s always fun to see your work in the wild. I still remember the first time seeing one of my logos made into a sign and put on the side of a building. Those moments help me realize the impact and value I bring to the table.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kylestake.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylestake/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylestake/
• Other: https://dribbble.com/kylestake