We recently connected with Selena Krivoruchko and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Selena, thanks for joining us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Success can be taken in many different ways. Everyone has their own interpretation of what they think is success and what it means to be successful.

When it comes to personal success, you have to ask yourself what is it you want to achieve. What kind of story do you want to leave behind? What is it that you want from life? Once you determine what that is, you can start planning how to get there. Not to say, your plans can’t change along the way. My own plans have changed several times over the years.

However, regardless of what your plan is, the most significant thing to have is a support system. Finding those around you to help you achieve those dreams. Whether it’s family, friends, or colleagues, having those around you who will help push you to get there. Basically being your team cheerleaders. Cheering you on when you do a great job. Being there for you when you need help. Lifting your spirits when you’re down.

I don’t think I would be close to where I am right now without my family and friends. Those who helped guide me toward a career in design, being there for me as I was still learning what it was I wanted to do, seeing the things in me that I didn’t see myself. There are so many people in my life that have helped me along the way. I’m so grateful for them. I know without them I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Selena, 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?

Growing up, I had the usual dreams each kid has, wanting to be a doctor or a lawyer. But there was always one job that I would dream about, the card I would always want to have when playing LIFE with my family, being an artist. I thought to myself, that would be a fun job to have. Who wouldn’t want to be creative all day long for a living?

I jumped at the chance to be creative whenever I could. I would always take part in contests or opportunities to design things. However, I never really considered it as a career I could do. And in fact, I wanted to be a photographer first. That’s where I was looking when it was time for me to start thinking about college.
During my junior year of high school, I started my search and one conversation with an admission counselor changed my plans. After hearing my background and seeing my work, they suggested I look at graphic design. Suggesting I spend my senior year really diving into it, see if I like it, and if not, photography would still be there. So I did just that and didn’t turn back.

Since graduating college, I’ve discovered the world of freelancing. I love the ability to work on my own schedule with the clients I want. I work with a wide variety of clientele on a range of different projects. From branding to digital collateral to publication to events. I enjoy all types of design projects. Each of them has its own unique enjoyment to create.

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

As a designer, I’ll never get over the feeling of seeing my designs “out in the wild.” Especially when it comes to events because there’s so much going into them. It’s not just one thing I’m designing for. From the little pens in the swag bags to the largest window cling, I often have a hand in it all. And seeing them all come together and create an experience for the attendees is such a satisfying experience. It’s one thing to see your design on a screen, but seeing your designs come to life off the screen and into the design space, it’s a surreal feeling even to this day. I’m like a kid in a candy shop when I get to see my work out in the wild.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I had the opportunity to attend one of the events I recently designed for. And I ended up having a conversation with another attendee, where it came up that I was the designer for the company hosting the event. I had simply said it in passing, just making conversation with someone I just met, but she was thrilled to learn my role in the event she was attending. She was so excited to be able to say she met the person behind the designs of this event. Mentioning to me, that she would remember me when she looked back on this event.

It sparked a realization for them that there is a team that actually spends the time to put all the little details that go into creating an entire event. That there’s a face behind the designs they see at events like this. That these larger events don’t just appear. I’ll never forget what she said to me, “someone actually took the time to think about how our lanyards would look.” An item so small and often overlooked at events, the lanyards holding our name badges. She never thought about how someone takes the time to put together something so simple.

This just brings me back to what I find to be the most rewarding part of my role as a designer especially when it comes to events. Helping create such memorable event experiences for those attending.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.krivoruchko.design/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/selena.krivoruchko/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SelenaKDesign
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skrivoruchko/
• Other: https://dribbble.com/selena-krivoruchko