We had the good fortune of connecting with Katy Jade Adams and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katy Jade, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Starting my own business just kind of fell into my lap. While I was in college learning graphic design I would get a lot of messages on social media asking me to build designs. I quickly realized that the western world that I live in was short on graphic designers that understood our western lifestyle and needed someone to capture it. The messages kept pouring in and that is how I started Katy Jade Designs.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Up until several years ago I just considered my “art” doodles. I never thought they were special or thought people would want them to call their own! I think as an artist confidence in your own artwork is a hard thing to find. I wasn’t the one who saw my own potential it was my friends, family and instagram followers that kept making me design. When I started taking custom orders I realized that they really pushed my boundaries and made me draw things I was uncomfortable with. Eventually I grew better and kept pushing more and more of those boundaries. Still to this day I go through design phases. When I look back at my old work and go up through the years I remember where I was at that time in my career and I remember how hard I worked to get to that point. I just keep growing and getting better as I keep pushing myself and don’t let fear of it not being good enough hold me back. Plus my husband is a tough critic and he tells me when something is off or when I need to do something better! Some things I learned over the years is that in todays world it is so dang easy to be a “graphic designer” but when I was in college it was a whole different world! You couldn’t just trace a photo on an Ipad and and put a text over it and send it off. It was a 100 step process that took me years of learning programs to do! I think that is one of the more defeating things I have gone through in my time as a designer is trying to keep up with the Ipad designers today. I try to be different the rest of the herd, I try to put out things that aren’t over marketed or everyone has. I am working on a bunch of new things right now that will hopefully be out in the near future. Its a whole new world for me to venture into but thats what keep creativity rolling for a person like me!

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
I would tell them they need to eat dinner at Horseshoe Hill Cafe, Lonesome Dove Steakhouse and Uncle Julios! When want a good lunch I would tell me to try out Joe T’s and site outside on their amazing patio or Zoe’s Kitchen for something quicker! When they wake up go down to Old South Pancake House and get them a fat stack of pancakes. If they have a sweet tooth I would tell them to drop into Nothing Bundt Cakes and grab a White Chocolate Raspberry Bundtlet! If they brought their dancing shoes well then they better go ahead and check out The White Elephant Saloon and then go on up the hill and grab a Wild Ass Indian at Cadillac’s. If it wasn’t country music they were craving then I would suggest going over to Studio 80 or Pete’s Piano Bar at Sundance Square after a good comedy show at Four Day Weekend.

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?
When I was little my mimi (grandma) would let me tag along to her art classes at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. She always encouraged me to be creative. I wanted to be a cowgirl and she wanted me to be an artist. When I was in college for my Ag Business degree she told me that I just need to go to art school and go do what I am good at! So I did it! So I guess I owe her a big thank you for always pushing me to let my artistic side shine. I also owe a huge thanks to every business that trusted me with their vision and my husband for spending many many hours watching me draw and take my work on the road with us!

Website: www.katyjadedesigns.com
Instagram: @misskatyjade

Image Credits
Lyndsey Garber Photography is who took the photos of me and my husband. I have rights to the photos!

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