Meet Kayla Hagen | Multimedia Designer & Artist

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

Hi Kayla, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
My dad had a lot of girls and wanted them to either not attend college or get an education in medicine so when I chose the path of an artist, that didn’t sit right with him. I didn’t let that persuade me and I went to school and received a BFA in Graphic Design and a BA in Film Production, I have a huge passion for all things art and love learning new aspects of it. I understand that my art needs to pay the bills so I took my multiple skill sets and diverted them to different realms of income. I have an Etsy shop where I sell my photography and flower crowns that I make. I take commission work for paintings in both acrylic and oil that have ranged from 5″x7″ canvases to 4’x6′. And I work as a full-time Multimedia Designer where I create branding assets and media for companies.

Being able to create something from start to finish is such a joy. I like focusing on the different perspectives an artwork can create and hearing how it makes a person feel.

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 recently went to a creative conference and one of the speakers asked the crowd if they heard the quote, “A jack of all trades is a master of none …”. I immediately raised my hand because I heard that a lot when growing into which career path I wanted to take. What I didn’t realize is that there was more to the quote. She finished it by saying, “but oftentimes better than a master of one.” I was baffled that I never knew the full quote and in which completely changed the message behind it.

I never wanted to only focus on one thing. I didn’t want to be a designer that only did logo work or an artist that only focused on two-dimensional craft. I want my art to make people feel something whether that is peace when looking at a photograph I took off the coast of California or curiosity when they see a portrait painting that shows an anguished face yet painted in bright colors. I grow excited with every new idea that I get to paint, illustrate, film, photograph, or create mixed media with.

It wasn’t easy finding this path. I graduated college and found a job at a start-up company that gave me a lot of creative freedom that taught me more skillsets such as website design and coding. I wanted to explore film production on a larger scale and finally took the leap to leave Fargo, ND and head to where they all go for starting in the film industry – Los Angeles, California. I saved up enough money but still needed work to afford staying out there. I found other graduates from my college and connected with them that eventually led to me scoring a few jobs on a film set. It was long hours and very little pay but the process was so fascinating to me. After a few years I had to look at my career path and decide if this is what I wanted long-term. I knew I wanted to have a family one day and seeing how often you’re always trying to find gigs and working the strenuous long hours, I decided I needed another path.

I moved back to Fargo, ND and was ready to start my own business and get involved with the community. Then COVID hit. I instead took a full-time job with a company as their Multimedia Designer where I was able to use my different skill sets within the company. I still take on photography clients, painting commissions, and Etsy orders on the side and am always planning my next creative path.

I want artists alike to hone in on ALL of their talents. They play such a part in your creative process. Finding your path can be difficult and taunting, but the point is to enjoy the journey because the destination could always change.

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?
The Fargo and West Fargo areas are growing into a very creative community. I would take someone visiting downtown Fargo to explore the different boutiques, mural artwork, restaurants, and breweries. Most within walking distance and near a plaza where they hold live entertainment and a farmers market on weekends during the warm months. My favorite summer activities are grabbing a cider at Wild Terra or a sour beer at Drekker Brewing Company, attending an outdoor concert at Fargo Brewing Company, and grabbing lunch or a cocktail at a rooftop bar such as 701 Eateries or Rhombus Guys, who have the best pizza in town.

During the cold months, there are different entertainment options such as Kingpinz where you can play HyperBowling, escape rooms, laser tag, and several arcade games, or going to a Fargo Force hockey game or traveling to Grand Forks, ND to catch the UND Fighting Sioux game. There’s also axe throwing, arcade bars, and much more to discover indoors when the cold wind can bring the temperature down to -20 degrees.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mother was a huge encouragement in my creative journey. She wanted me to be successful but most of all happy in what I wanted to pursue for a career. She helped me find people to job shadow while attending college so that I could see what a day in the life of that occupation would look like. Because of this, I chose different paths that led me to where I am now.

Website: https://www.kayladuffney.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayladuffneycreative/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-duffney/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kayladuffneycreative/

Other: Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/KaylaDuffneyCreative