Kate Smith

Art Director

Kate signed on as Art Director with the agency in 2005 and again in 2008. Her strengths in identity development, strategic branding and creative marketing design are put to good use on internal brand initiatives and new client communications. She has won top awards, including a prestigious Judge’s Choice Addy. Prior to the agency, Kate designed puzzles and educational products at Warren Industries and MEGA Brands America Inc. for clients including Disney, Fox, National Geographic and "Sesame Street." Kate graduated with honors from Purdue with a B.A. in Visual Communications Design. She, her husband, Ryan, and their dogs, Frank the Tank and Tyson, call Lafayette home.

Education

BA - Visual Communications Design, Purdue University

Why are you in this profession?

I love strategic, creative thinking. I love communicating to people visually and creating designs for specific audiences to encourage them to act or think in a certain way.

Who or what was a big career influence?

I don’t really have any big career influences that stick out. Maybe my art teachers in school. Now that I think about it, I designed my first billboard in fifth grade, the Toys for Tots campaign T-shirt and poster in fifth grade, all the covers for my school yearbooks in fifth through eighth grade, my high school class T-shirt. Crap, I suppose I've been designing my whole life and never knew it!

What are your career goals?

  • I think it would be cool to have my work in a national design publication like "Print" or "Communication Arts." 
  • I would like to have my own company and sell my own products.
  • I always want to push myself to grow in my creative thinking.

Why are you at Dearing Group?

I like the flexibility of the company and the breadth of jobs we take on because I get to stretch myself into new fields/areas to meet client's needs — doing things like food photography, way-finding, interior design, landscape design, etc. It's fun to mix it up and transfer my design skills to new mediums that I don't get to work on every day.

What advertising campaign do you wish you had worked on?

The Old Spice deodorant campaign — the latest one with the big dude screaming and knocking down buildings. It's hilarious! The Dawn soap commercials where they wash the oil off the animals; I want to cry every time I see that one. Maybe some of the classic war propaganda posters; I love those!

What makes a great brand?

An original, relevant point of differentiation and follow through on your promise.

Significant other

Ryan

Pets

Frank the Tank (French Bulldog) and Tyson (English Bulldog)

Where do you reside?

Lafayette, Indiana

Hometown?

Lafayette, Indiana

Astrological sign?

Aquarius

Your finest moment or thing of which you are most proud?

Graduating from Purdue University with a 4.0 GPA and finishing the Kentucky Derby marathon.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

Probably when I got my braces caught on Ryan's football jersey in the middle of the hallway in high school after he gave me a hug. It felt like it took five minutes to get unconnected and as if everyone was watching.

What do you find extremely frustrating?

People who feel entitled to things in life, lazy people and that sugar doesn't make you skinny.

Favorite television show?

"The Middle" or "Modern Family."

Favorite book?

I love, love, love books! My current favorites are a design book by Jonathan Adler called "My Prescription for Anti-Depressive Living" and a great book on careers and entrepreneurship called "Caught Between a Dream and a Job" by Delatorro McNeal II.

Favorite movie?

"The Wizard of Oz"

Favorite video game?

"Super Mario Bros." on the original Nintendo. I prefer video games that go left to right.

Favorite board game?

"Scattergories"

Favorite childhood meal?

Gingerbread man pancakes cooked by my Meme.

Favorite childhood pastime?

Going to my grandparents’ horse farm in Ohio − riding horses, picking berries, swimming in the pond, etc. and going boating and water skiing with my family.

Who is the best superhero?

Jem from the '80s was pretty sweet, and Captain Planet was pretty awesome, too.

Favorite subject in elementary school?

English, Art and PE.

What are your favorite Internet sites?

What is the best vacation you have ever taken?

My wedding and honeymoon in Jamaica.

What is your favorite amusement park ride?

The tea cups at Disneyland.

What is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten?

Fried smelt when I was little. The fish still had eyes ... or at least that's how I remember it.

What is your current ring tone?

"Don't Worry, Be Happy." It's a good reminder to me every time my phone rings.

What song do you sing in the shower?

I don't sing in the shower, but I do put my dogs' names into songs and sing to them daily. It's crazy but it makes me happy.

What words of wisdom changed your life?

A friend told me, "Sometimes good is good enough," and I try to remember that when I’m pushing too hard to achieve perfection.

Who would you like to interview?

Jonathan Adler for his amazing aesthetic and the wit he puts into his designs, Oprah for the amazing brand she's built and Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS Shoes, for the inspiring and refreshing business model he has built his company on.

What are your favorite sports to watch?

Gymnastics and skiing.

What are your favorite sports to play?

Gymnastics, soccer and sand volleyball.

What are your most treasured possessions?

I have my grandma's old iron bed that I used to sleep in on their farm growing up. I'll never get rid of that. Also, my dogs.

What was your first job?

Sandwich maker at Blimpie Subs and Salads.

What was your first car?

1980 Chevy Corsica.

What is your favorite restaurant?

Gino’s East in Chicago or Cold Stone Creamery.

What gadget could you not live without?

iPod Shuffle for workouts.

What types of music do you like?

Frank Sinatra and '80s music

Favorite band or artist?

Frank Sinatra

Late to bed or early to rise?

Early to rise ... but not too early.

Three things you want to do someday?

  1. Own multiple houses around the world and jump around living between them all.
  2. Own my own successful business and make a living from it.
  3. Live on a farm (this will probably be a retirement home) with a miniature donkey, a miniature horse, a few goats, sheep, cats, multiple dogs and maybe a mini-cow if they make those. Ryan and I will be old and senile talking to our animals, but we’ll be so happy. I would also love to be in the Cirque de Soleil, but I think this is just a pipe dream.