Meet Meg Hilburn | Interior Designer, Owner Circa Interior Design

We had the good fortune of connecting with Meg Hilburn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Meg, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
The most important lesson my career has taught me is that it doesn’t define me, rather, I define it. I’ve been in a Creative Department of some sort for 20+ years spanning several different companies and roles. I started as a writer, and worked my way up to Creative Director and Creative Strategist at one of the largest corporations in North America. Later, I decided to go back to school to earn two more degrees in Interior Design & Kitchen and Bath, and went on to pass my AKBD Exam to become certified in Kitchen & Bath design. When peers questioned the change, I explained that really, it’s the same process and methodology, and listening to my instincts that I’ve applied to every job I’ve had: Just now focused on Interior Design. WE NEED TO BE THE ONES WHO CONNECT THE DOTS AND LEND CONTINUITY TO OUR OWN CREATIVE CAREER STORIES. A lot of people think “it’s too late” to make a change, or even worry about what their peers will think. But I didn’t worry about that, because nobody should throw the baby out with the bath water. I knew I excelled at Creative Strategy, Communication, Design Communication, and Client Relationships, and those pillars of strength haven’t changed. I simply added to my skill set by learning something new. It’s rejuvanated my entire life, not just my career, to be able to make this simple shift successfully.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started as a writer, which means I learned early how to define and articulate the Creative Strategy at a project’s inception before diving in. I have since switched to a more visually-driven career, but what I find interesting is my approach hasn’t changed at all. I still gather input, research, and define a strategy of how I’ll approach a project before starting. I think this “pre work” makes sure my creative efforts are on track–and ultimately, leads to happier clients and more successful projects. To be a successful Creative, I think we need to strive to be exceptional communicators before, during, and after projects. This disarms the non-creatives who are concerned about “how we’ll get there.” Certain clients will really test this. Stay the course and provide as much information as possible along the way, realizing everyone processes differently–and that’s ok!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In Kansas City, we have it all. Our Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art houses one of the largest private collections of art in the world. We have a vibrant Crossroads Art District full of galleries, The Kauffman Center for Performing Arts for ballet and symphony, and you may have heard we have the current Superbowl Champion football team–the Kansas City Chiefs! Add this to world famous barbecue, some very nice restaurants, and lots of shopping–it’s a great city. My weekend ideal would be wake up and grab a coffee from Mildreds, head down to the West Bottoms for serious antiquing and vintage shopping, lunch at Cafeterria, then head out into the country for some horseback riding. We are lucky in KC that we’re minutes from city activity, and just about 30 minutes from horse farms and hiking trails. I need city and country in my days to feel balanced and fulfilled.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My first Creative Director saw something in me and brought the possibility of my career to my attention early on: Dave TK. An HR Director from Hallmark helped me understand generational gap in the workplace, a pivotal insight: Mary Beth Ebmeyer. The last corporate Mangager I had who leveraged Strengths Finder to help our team–and many others since–think differently about how to celebrate and allow space for individual strengths to optimize teams changed my life: Leslie Baugher. My amazing network of peer interior designers has been invaluable to me in order to successfully transition into Phase 2 of my Creative Career: Kara Kersten, Jami Meek, Karen Mills, Will Brown, Georgia Fuchs, and Hong Ahn Seivert. The friendship, good advice, lifting each other depending on who needs lifting that day, and allowing ourselves to be human and real is a safety net that I wouldn’t want to embark on any new project without.

Website: circakc.com

Instagram: circainteriordesign

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-hilburn-allied-asid-akbd-40043b16/

Facebook: Circa Interior Design

Image Credits
Matt Kocourek–Head Shot Matthew Anderson–Colorful Midcentury Kitchen Chris Mullins–condo living room shot Matt Kocourek–Kansas City Symphony Showhouse Office