Conversations with Stephanie Whitehouse

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Whitehouse.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’m Stephanie Whitehouse—creative entrepreneur, founder of SPW Design Media, host of the “Creatives Off The Clock” podcast, and creative director and co-founder of The Feral Creatives Kollektiv Society (FCKS). My path here has been anything but linear—more of a bold evolution from structured corporate spaces to the wild, untamed realms of artistic freedom.

Growing up in Northern Virginia, I was immersed in creative expression from an early age—music, visual arts, theatre—each playing a role in shaping my artistic identity. That foundation, along with a fascination with psychology and human behavior, led me to study User Experience & Interactive Design (UX/UI) and digital marketing at James Madison University, where I also gained hands-on experience in media production (shout out to the Media Production Studio of JMU Libraries!). After graduation, I moved to Denver in 2020 and spent several years in nonprofit communications and digital marketing roles. While I gained invaluable skills, I found that traditional structures often constrained creative freedom, and, for my restless/feral/neurodivergent self, I knew I needed to build something of my own.

I launched **SPW Design Media** in 2019 as a way to offer vision-centered design services for change-makers and small businesses. What started as a one-person design studio has since evolved into a multifaceted creative platform. In 2022, I introduced the **“Creatives Off the Clock” podcast**, where I explore how people cultivate creativity in their lives and how creative expression fuels transformation and movement-building.

Somewhere in the swirling, chaotic mix of these conversations, a burst of inspiration (and my growing love for Denver’s underground music scene), **FCKS was born**—an entity to support immersive, hands-on DIY art workshops that blend creativity, community, local artists, and self-expression. Our events bring together high-energy, underground local EDM artists, makers, and vendors, while participants engage in low-barrier, high-reward projects like faux stained glass, kandi-making, and custom wearable art. The goal is two-fold— 1) to reclaim our creativity as something wild, communal, and deeply personal—free from commodification or constraint. We are ALL BORN creative. and 2) Give people a space outside the typical party scene, to focus on creative projects, community, and elevating local artists.

All that to say – at the heart of all my work is a commitment to **building spaces where creativity thrives**, guided by values of authenticity, curiosity, justice, and community. Whether through branding, podcasting, or FCKS events, my mission is to encourage people to embrace their raw, unfiltered creative power.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Breaking free from traditional corporate structures has been one of the biggest challenges. Even in nonprofit spaces, where I spent seven years, bureaucracy often stifled creative freedom. The pressure to package creativity into something predictable and easily marketable became suffocating. Taking the leap into independent creative work was a risk—both financially and professionally—but it was necessary to build something truly aligned with my values. This realization set off a series of deeply transformative shifts— not quite Irish goodbyes, but deliberate exits from opportunities that led me to this present moment.

Additionally, like many creatives, I spent too much time early on worrying about how I was perceived—whether by colleagues, friends, mentors, or even parental figures. Over time, I realized that true creative freedom isn’t about controlling how others see us, but about fully embracing the power of our own artistic instincts.

My work exists at the intersection of design, community-building, and radical creative expression. Through SPW Design Media, I offer branding and digital design services rooted in dynamic storytelling and creative collaboration. With FCKS, we’re really working to dismantle the idea that creativity needs to be tamed or commodified–instead, we’re fostering spaces where people can engage in unfiltered, joyful artistic expression, surrounded by good vibes.

With regards to FCKS, what sets us apart is the way we blend interactive art projects with music, community engagement, and social impact. The goal is to build a radically creative, socially conscious community where art, music, and mutual aid converge. We envision a world where staying feral means embracing authenticity, fueling creativity, and uplifting one another to create systemic and cultural change. At any given FCKS event, we’re not just making art—we’re building a culture of playfulness, experimentation, and connection, creating opportunities for people to rediscover creativity as a force for self-expression and collective empowerment to the backdrop of local artists.

What’s next?
Looking ahead, I’m excited to expand SPW Design Media, not just by offering more design and branding services but by deepening the sense of community woven into the work. At the same time, we’re witnessing FCKS growing into something even bigger. And so we’re looking ahead at creating better events, really investing into our network and partnerships, hosting more pop-ups, increasing our presence at festivals, and just continuing to be open to new initiatives that blend art, music, and mutual aid in ways that feel immersive, impactful, and accessible.

At the core of it all, my vision, whether it’s working with clients, speaking into a mic on the podcast, or throwing events with FCKS… is to cultivate a radically creative, socially conscious community—a space where people feel free to embrace their artistic power, support one another, and use creativity as a driving force for transformation.

Pricing:

• Contact Stephanie for a personalized consultation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://spwdesignmedia.com/ OR https://feralcreativesko.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/spwdesignmedia
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/FeralCreatives-Kollektiv-Society/61571304557228/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/s-p-whitehouse1/
• Soundcloud: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Vy15kr6DY5SVqBGcj23EB
• Other: http://instagram.com/feralcreatives.ko

Image Credits
Jason DeWitt (stool photos) of Jason DeWitt Photo, n/a