Kayleigh Denner
Q What do you do?
“I illustrate to add character and uniqueness to digital spaces, to tell a story, to get a message across ✨ ”
I build websites to do the same. Offering the duo of both web design and illustration to clients feels like a harmonious pairing (PB + J 🥜🍇 if you will).
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I have always been a “doodler”, filling up blank spaces with hand drawn illustrations. After selling art prints on Etsy for a few years, I knew I wanted my illustrations to serve a more functional existence. So I did a deep dive into Squarespace design, learning how to create engaging websites. I became obsessed with css coding 🤓, making my illustrations swirl and spin and grow as you scroll. I felt as if I finally found another home for my illustrations to live, and one where they could serve an interactive, functional (but, a very fun and aesthetically pleasing) purpose.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
While graphics serve an important purpose, hand drawn illustrations are something that can not be replicated. They add so much character, quirk and uniqueness to a client's site. I also have an eye for current trends (as well as the classics) in design, creating websites that are modern and fresh, while avoiding designs that have been overdone and overused. Additionally, I communicate thoroughly and openly, my goal being to never leave anyone scratching their heads. I’m always stoked and energized to engage with new clients and learn about what they’re wanting to convey. Most importantly, I'm timely and deadline focused.
Q What are you working on right now?
I am finishing up a website design for a very cool restaurant owner in New York City. Although his style is slightly different than what I'm used to, I've had so much fun stepping out of my comfort zone and learning along the way.
Q What’s your style?
My style incorporates a lot of organic folk inspirations, creating illustrations of everyday objects (think: a mug, a bundle of grapes, a cat sleeping on a rug). I also enjoy the digital recreation of traditional paper artwork, like riso prints or flyers scanned on an xenox machine in the 1990s. My current obsessions: the color olive, thick wavy hand drawn fonts, vintage cowboy art.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
Web Design, it’s something I feel very invested in and excited to continue to develop my skills and education. It has totally stolen my ❤️.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
I have so (!) much creative energy, sometimes I feel like it’s oozing from my fingertips. I want to design more, create more, collaborate more, provide more (*shouting from my megaphone* 📣).
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
It’s never too late to refocus! And no, you're never too old to pursue your creative dreams 👩🎨 Life is way to s-h-o-r-t. Get out there.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
Expanding creatively, how to get most out of (what feels like) days that zoom by, and the backend business stuff.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
Currently, I would love the opportunity to build websites for small businesses or entrepreneurs, and if necessary, create some cool illustrations they can use throughout their site, branding and/or overall design 👩💻
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
My ideal client is someone who is in love with what they do, who has a message/product/concept/portfolio that the world just needs to see! Someone who is just as excited at the prospects of a ✨ brand new shiny website ✨ to help further them along their journey as I am. And a client who is not afraid to give direction and share their vision- because I am here to help 💃
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Come say "hi! 👋" tell me all about the project you have in mind and your overall end goal; including a budget and a timeline is always helpful.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Romanticizing everyday objects ❤️
This member profile was originally published in December 2022.