Ken Shew, Jr.
Q What do you do?
“I create.”
I’m a marketing nerd who’s obsessed with & have worked in digital marketing, graphic design, advertising, social media campaigns, digital and print ads, and more! I currently work on projects like logo design, brand identity, marketing campaigns, and creativity. I drive around LA taking photos of billboards & ads around town and love to just create based off what I see around me.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
It has been a JOURNEY - I grew up in Arkansas & knew there wouldn’t be much opportunity to work in the areas I wanted, so after college I moved to Los Angeles! In college, I was aware that my courses were not teaching me anything about the current marketing world. I took it upon myself to take several courses online, learned about new platforms and tools for marketing, and even got a remote internship with a company in LA my senior year of college. From there, I have now expanded into more freelance work & have made great connections!
Q How do you stand out in your field?
One thing I always like to do is innovate. Many people can have an eye for what may look good, what’s trending, or what works, but I love to try new things!
Q What are you working on right now?
I am currently working on a journal! One of my best friends is working on a mental health journal for immigrant children that are separated from their parents & I am assisting in creative!
Q What’s your style?
My style can range from super minimalism, to over the top trend-heavy! I love typography, love finding new modern fonts, colors, and flow. My "Email Campaigns" tab on my site is my most recent work that really highlights my design style.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
Aside from creative & marketing, I am also passionate about interior design, writing, illustrating, graphic design, website design, and product branding. I am currently focusing most on creative direction & want to explore that as a career path more!
Q What is frustrating you right now?
Right now i’d say that time is my biggest frustration. Between my day job & side projects, I feel like I don’t have time to explore other career paths or projects! I feel like if I had a week to sit and create & plan that would do me wonders!
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Most likely my laundry, cleaning my apartment, daily errands so I have more time to rest and create! I do enjoy laundry & cleaning at times, but lately it just feels like it’s taking away from my time!
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I thought about this the other day because so often as we get older we think back to a time when we were younger and think "I wish I knew I wouldn't care about this now," but at the time of course it mattered! So I wouldn't change anything about my life, but I would maybe go back to high school or college and encouraged myself to not be so worried about what random people think & to whole-heartedly pursue what i'm passionate about!
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
There are so many things in my career i’d love to learn from others about, but I would love to talk to the late Virgil Abloh just to pick his brain & see how his design and though process works. He was always someone I admired & appreciated his art.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I am really looking to expand my skillset by working with more brands/businesses in creative direction for products, marketing campaigns, and strategy! I love to take an idea and brainstorm ways to brand it, promote it, and sell it! Aside from creative direction, I am looking to work in logo design, branding & brand identity, and anything on the marketing end!
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
I get stoked on projects that include creative exploration, collaboration, and open mindedness to new and innovative ideas. I love thinking of ways to market or brand a product & then creating a strategy for digital, print, experiential experiences etc. for it!
Q What is your rate?
Typically I do around $3,000 for Squarespace depending on the site, and right now do around an $80/hr hourly rate! Haven't done a ton of freelance projects so still working on solidifying!
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
kshewjr@icloud.com or my website!
Q Who is a creative you admire?
@andreyazizov, @charlesbirshaw, @idea_typography, @by.arthurkenzo I love all of these accounts because they constantly inspire me!
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
I go outside!
This member profile was originally published in January 2023.