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

Hi David, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I take on too many projects at one time. My two most significant endeavors are my freelance business and the arts organization I helped found, Denton Makers. DM started as a passion project between myself and a close friend, Madison Mercer. We connect creatives to the community by collaborating with venues and events. What began as a small monthly art sale has become an organization that hosts events with thousands of attendees and tons of vendors, live music, and creative activities.

I started my business to supplement my income as I worked my way through design school. We started Denton Makers because there was a need for a large-scale show accessible to up-and-coming businesses and creatives. I use my business to grow and advertise for Denton Makers. In addition, I use Denton Makers to make cool and experimental work that supports my freelance business. The symbiotic relationship between the two endeavors has created a perpetual motion machine of upward mobility for me. The better I get at design, the better the arts organization does. Likewise, the more I work on and experiment with the arts organization, the better my design work gets.

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.
One of the best things about running an arts organization is the gratification of watching our vendors make connections, boost their business, and make sales. While helping other creatives is enough to make the insane amount of hours I pour into this company worth it, there is also a substantial personal benefit to the work. I oversee all of the branding and marketing for DM. Creative Directing for Denton Makers has afforded me the rare opportunity to have total creative freedom over a brand that is not constrained by the visual limitations that come with more traditional businesses. This lack of restraint has allowed us to test experimental advertising campaigns, try new design methods, and attempt nonconventional means of promotion. Once the new advertising method is out in the world, we can sit back at our computers and look at the incoming data from various sources. We can then use this data to improve future promotional efforts. Naturally, this is quite a bit of work, especially considering I also organize the events, run the social media, find sponsors, and do everything else that comes with running a show. However, with this massive undertaking comes massive amounts of learning. I have taken what I have learned about starting a company and translated that into my freelance business. Through this experience, I can offer my clients a more holistic understanding of how to start, maintain, and grow a business.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to shout out my wife, Ríagáin Lynch, for supporting me unconditionally. I would also like to thank everyone who participates in Denton Makers, both on my team and in our community. Finally, I want to give all my clients a massive shout-out. Y’all keep me creative and well-fed.

Website: www.davidbaker.design

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-b-baker/

Other: www.dentonfest.com

Image Credits
ERS Photograpy

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