Women in Design with Kate Wisniewski: A Freelance Graphic Designer’s Journey

Despite women making up nearly half of the design industry, few hold leadership positions and many still need help to be equally compensated and recognized for their work. Design is one of the few industries that offers multiple paths for entry, from earning a standard degree to being self-taught. The Women in Design series aims to highlight the unique stories and lessons of women in the design industry, across different experiences and expertise, at every stage and niche.

This week we had the opportunity to interview Kate Wisniewski, an independent graphic designer with experience in marketing and branding. Kate has been creating logos and branding visuals on prints for small and medium-sized businesses. Her design philosophy is rooted in the belief that less is more, favoring minimalistic designs that convey powerful messages.

"Design work is like a bait you can never catch but always chase. And I absolutely love it." ― Kate Wisniewski

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Can you share a bit about your journey into the design field?

I started getting into design during my second year of university. I made posters for my boyfriend's events, and at some point, word-of-mouth worked its magic, and I got my first clients.

At that time, I was studying journalism at the Institute of Culture and working as an editor in a publishing house. You could say I had a basic art education because of the specifics of my university. When I began my design career, I was well-versed in the art scene and had some contacts.

I fully decided to switch career fields in 2020. I realized that working with visuals suited me organically. It’s just the way my brain functions.

I bought a one-year professional retraining course and completed it. By the end, I had a pretty decent portfolio for a beginner. Since then, I take qualification improvement courses every year to keep my skills sharp.

What inspired you to pursue a career in design?

It's just something that has always been with me. As long as I can remember, I've always had markers, paints, or a drawing tablet in my hands. But when I was choosing a university, it seemed to me that design was an unsafe profession, so I opted for journalism (haha).

The turning point was probably COVID. At that time, the whole world realized that there are no safe professions. The risk of being left without money is always there. And I understood that the best option for me was to work for myself in a field I enjoy. And I've never regretted it.

What does a typical day look like for you in your current designer role?

My workday starts at 7:30-8:00 AM. The first thing I do is engage on social media, respond to comments, and support my design besties. This helps me start the day in a good mood.

Then, I work on projects. I prioritize those projects for which I have ideas. For example, if I have prepared some drafts for an Instagram post, I'll make the post. Or I move straight to client work.

In the second half of the day, I leave tasks related to concept development. For some reason, it's easier for me to do this knowing there are no other tasks afterward. Ideally, my workday ends at 6 PM. But I stay connected until about 9-10 PM because most of my clients are from America, and our time zones are very different.

Can you describe one of your favorite projects that you've worked on? What made it memorable?

It's definitely Aurora. Aurora is a cosmetics brand inspired by the Northern Lights, and the task was to create packaging that fits this beautiful metaphor.

I really enjoy working with typography and photos and creating works that evoke emotions. In this project, all these aspects came together in a minimalist, yet very memorable identity. I think this is a significant project that determined the development of my design aesthetics in the following months.

This project and the audience's reaction to it helped me realize that to create a strong impression, a good idea and technical execution are often enough. In this project, I use white space as a full-fledged design tool. Additionally, it works well with the theme of the project: the Northern Lights usually occur where there's snow, and white color is associated with it, creating a sense of purity and freshness.

How do you cultivate creativity in your work? Are there any particular sources of inspiration you turn to regularly?

Social media inspires me, but not in a creative direction (haha).

I love watching how other accounts grow and improve, trying new styles. I enjoy looking at other people's work and noting what aspects make them really cool, what feelings they evoke.

Then I try to get closer to the things that inspire me. Design work can be compared to a bait you can never catch but always chase after. And I absolutely love it.

I also love contemporary art. My favorite artists are Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jackson Pollock, and Ai Weiwei.

What is a current design trend that you're most excited about?

I adore retro aesthetics! You know those YouTube channels that play sleep music from old American songs? I love muted colors, cartoon-style illustrations from the 50s, and bold typography. And I really like how it looks today. So from time to time, I play with illustrations for brief projects on Instagram.

Looking back, what is one thing you wish you had known when you started your career in design?

I would tell myself not to be afraid and not to neglect social media. I had many moments when I refused to manage them because, by nature, I'm an introvert. But the truth is that even if your skills are incredible, no one will know about them. This is a real gap that negatively affected my career.

Over time, I started to get into it and now I really love the design community and online communication.

What are the most rewarding and most challenging parts of being a woman in design?

The hardest thing is the gender stereotypes in my head. I grew up in a patriarchal system where being different, too creative, or having ambitions was a negative trait. It was hard for me to reconcile the image of "Kate-the-woman" with "Kate-the-designer."

As a female entrepreneur in the creative field, I want to show my younger sisters and girls who are afraid to try their hand in this field that perseverance and a love for creativity are also paths to success.

What's your (recent) favorite design tool?

You can make mockups in AI! Turns out a lot of people didn't think about it.

Stay in Touch with Kate!

Follow Kate on Instagram and visit her portfolio on Behance.

Discover more in Women in Design, our interview series where talented designers share their creative journeys and personal thoughts.