Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayleigh Eilenberger
Hi Kayleigh, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Since I was a child, I’ve always wanted to be an artist of some kind, as well as have my own business. I moved to San Diego, California 10 years ago and went to community college in the San Diego Community College district for Graphic Design. After three years of living in San Diego, the time came to transfer to a 4 year school to finish my degree. I applied to Long Beach State University and Otis School of Art & Design, I got into both schools and decided to go to Otis based on its reputation. After moving to LA and finishing a semester and a half at Otis I decided it wasn’t the right fit for me and chose to leave to protect my mental health. I support myself and had to work full-time on the days I wasn’t at school and it became too much for me to do both.
I’ve worked in the hospitality industry since I was 14 and decided to continue Bartending until I figured out my next move. I ended up getting a JR Graphic Design position that I was recommended to through a regular customer that came to the bar I worked at. I couldn’t believe it, I was so excited I was on the marketing team for a cannabis company. I got to work on marketing assets and packaging. I was on the team for 3 years before I decided to move on, I learned so many great things and grew immensely as a designer there. I had the most wonderful Creative Director I consider a mentor to this day. The job I moved on to after was quite different, I was a creative project manager for a lighting company and it just wasn’t for me. I was miserable doing the whole 9-5 for the past 4 years, and once again decided to go back to bartending, so I could focus on starting my own business.
Now I make my own t-shirts, stickers, art prints, greeting cards and more. This past year I started selling at pop-up markets and opened an online shop, as well as taking on freelance clients for various types of projects that include branding and packaging design. I am slowly but surely getting myself out there. The goal is to one day have my own brick and mortar space that’s either a design studio or a coffee shop by day speak-easy by night with an attached gift shop that I can sell my things out of as well as other artists things.
I hope sharing a little bit about my journey will help someone else out there take a step down the path they truly desire if they are un-happy with the path they’re on. It has been a long hard journey to get to where I’m at today and will continue to be to get to where I want to be, but I know all good things take time.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As with any road there have been bumps along the way. I always wonder where I would be today had I chosen to go to Long Beach over Otis, but I’d like to believe that the path I chose was what the universe wanted.
My father died when I was 15 and it was extremely hard for me to deal with as a young adult. It changed my outlook on life and I struggled to figure out what I should do once I graduated high school. I had family members that steered me away from an art career because of the stigma that it doesn’t make any money. I do wish I hadn’t let this prevent me from pursuing art for a few years of my life. It wasn’t until my early 20’s and moving to California that I decided to do what I knew deep down I wanted all along.
The design job market can be a struggle in a big city like Los Angeles. It’s very competitive for jobs, let alone the ones that actually pay well and offer good benefits. I have found the saying it’s not about what you know, but who you know definitely has some truth behind it.
Starting your own business is scary and there are many moving parts to figure out, plus it can be expensive, especially in Los Angeles, which is one of the reasons I’m slowly but surely moving along.
Imposter syndrome, I like many others out there battle with imposter syndrome.
I’m also shy when it comes to my art, it was extremely hard for me to start posting my work online for the world to see and judge, but I am happy I ripped the bandaid off and started doing it, or I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I love to do illustrative work! Part of the reason I wanted to start my own business was so I could work on subjects that bring me joy. A lot of my work incorporates food and drink. I love food and being a craft cocktail bartender.
I like to work on packaging design, meaning designing the art that’s going on the packaging. I also enjoy creating brand identity’s for small businesses. Having a professional cohesive brand identity can really help a small business build trust with its target audience, in-turn creating sales and a returning customer base.
I also really like creating illustrations and creating products with them like my t-shirts, greeting card, stickers, etc. It’s a great feeling when someone at a pop-up see’s your stuff and resonates with it, bringing them a small moment of joy!
Some projects I’m most proud of are labels I’ve designed for a brewery in my hometown, helping create a custom bag design for a cannabis brand that included a see through window, every brand identity I’ve created so far for small businesses, and of course I’m most proud of everything I sell in my online store and pop-ups.
What sets me apart from others:
I have a lighthearted quirky style.
I like using bright colors and incorporating hand drawn elements.
Working in the hospitality industry gives me a strong connection to the subject of food and beverage.
Growing up in a small town and moving to a big city, I get inspiration from all aspects of my surroundings and I try to incorporate that into my work.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Fun Fact: As a kid my mom sold items she made at craft fairs and I would go with her. It’s a full-circle moment for me to now be doing pop-up markets selling things I make.
I make all my products that I sell at pop-up’s and in my online shop. I order my designs as DTF transfers and press them on t-shirt blanks myself with a heat press, I make my stickers with my Cricut, and I print and cut all my art prints. I’m trying to be as resourceful as possible to get my business going, but can’t wait for the day when I can out source some of the process to some of the awesome businesses right here in Los Angeles.
I create all of my artwork using Procreate on my iPad and Adobe Illustrator on my computer. I’m so thankful I’m able to provide myself access to these programs and use them to create a living for myself!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bananapressdesign.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bananapressdesign.co/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kayleigh-eilenberger-62a0b79b
