Conversations with Paige Shepard

Today we’d like to introduce you to Paige Shepard.

Paige, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Personal Background:
I was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, but we bounced between Pennsylvania and the East Bay Area in California three times because of my dad’s job working for an international chemical corporation. As a result, I had a very bi-coastal upbringing in the 1960s and 1970s. My mother was a metal sculptor and an art teacher. My older brother and I grew up creating things – from arts and crafts of all kinds to welding and woodworking; you name it, we tried it. He became a carpenter and contractor.

I came to Colorado to attend the University of Colorado Boulder in 1980 and earned a BA in Psychology, which has proven particularly useful in design work, customer relations, and teamwork.

After CU, I moved to Boston and worked at several boutique agencies, primarily in account management. I also worked for a Retail Clothing Store chain and got sales and management training. In my last year in Boston, I worked for Graham Gund Architects as an Office Manager and assistant to the curator of his extensive art collection. It was a great job and exposed me to all sections of Boston and its arts and culture. I went to the Massachusetts College of Art at night to study graphic design.

I left because once you’ve lived in the West, it’s hard to live in the East again. I moved to Boulder, where I had several jobs. The two most impactful were at the Boulder Daily Camera and Leopard Communications. I worked as a dispatcher for the Camera, the art director, and an account executive for Leopard. My seven years at Leopard were truly the years that propelled me forward as an advertising and marketing professional. The agency went from 6 (I was the 6th) to 25 people by the time I left. Leopard was going to keep growing, and I really liked the smaller agency vibe better, so I decided to go out on my own in 1994. I was already living in Denver, so Paige Design started and has always been based here.

I have lived in Washington Park West, Sloan’s Lake, Wyman Historic District (20 yrs), City Park West and now I am in SE Denver by the Cherry Creek Country Club. Each neighborhood has a different vibe. I’ve enjoyed living in them all.

I am a big supporter of Denvers Arts and Culture organizations (Music, Art & Theater) and have done work for several. I was a long distance runner for decades and ran many races both local and even international. I love the outdoors and participate in many outdoor activities – hiking, biking, skiing, xcountry skiing, etc.

I have a bright, talented son who attends CU Boulder, majoring in Linguistics and Philosophy, and currently working on his accelerated master’s in Linguistics.

I have over 40 years of experience in marketing and advertising as an art director, account executive, branding specialist, graphic designer, project manager, creative partner, marketing consultant, and boutique agency owner. PLUS, an MBA (from CSU), a BA in Psychology (CU), and professional certifications in B2B Marketing Communications and Digital Marketing.

I love living Denver and am always discovering new hidden gems in arts and culture.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I have had decent smooth stretches, but I think all small businesses are a little more vulnerable to unexpected events.

Challenges:
• Economic instability – Dot Com bust – 2008 recession – Pandemic – Rebouding from losing a big client.
My business is very vulnerable to events that stop projects cold or change clients’ budgets and needs.
• Keeping up with technology – choosing what I need to learn or how much and when to hire out.
• Marketing myself – waffling between consultant, freelancer, agency with network of specialists
• Rates not increasing with the cost-of-living increases
• Getting new clients
• Balancing work with life’s challlenges
• Age Discrimination is big in the advertising/marketing industry

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My career story is really about my business, Paige Design LLC, and all its various forms over the past 30 years. I’ve included the copy from my website that outlines my pitch and provides a brief background on my qualifications and experience. I’ve included a brief personal history to explain my connection to Colorado.

The Paige Design pitch…

Paige Design – STRATEGIC MARKETING & DESIGN.
Creating strategies, designing solutions

Your brand deserves to stand out in today’s crowded market. That’s why I create traditional and digital marketing communications that capture the essence of your organization and compete in the right market through the proper channels, targeting the customers that matter most to you.

If you don’t have a strategy or a brand, I’ll create a plan and a brand on command, explicitly tailored to meet your objectives and exceed your expectations. I bring over 40 years of experience in marketing, along with an MBA, to the table. With a proven track record of creating solutions that address challenges and engage people to act, I have the expertise to deliver results that matter to your business.

I can work in a variety of configurations, whether you need a freelancer, a contractor, or I can assemble a team of specialists to meet your company’s specific needs, budget, and deadlines. I adapt to serve clients by tailoring my approach to the scale, scope, and requirements of each project.

I value effective communication and collaboration, and winning solutions. By working closely with clients and building lasting relationships, I ensure that my work and service not only meet your needs but also exceed your expectations.
Whether you need to develop a new strategy, create a brand from scratch, or launch a marketing campaign, Paige Design is the partner you can trust to deliver marketing solutions with measurable results that drive your business forward.

About Paige Shepard
I have over 40 years of experience in marketing and advertising as an art director, account executive, branding specialist, graphic designer, project manager, creative partner, marketing consultant, and boutique agency owner. PLUS, an MBA, a BA in Psychology, and professional certifications in B2B Marketing Communications and Digital Marketing.

Paige Design’s projects encompass a diverse range of traditional and digital marketing deliverables, including branding, advertising, print, design, illustration, event promotion, packaging, product surface design, animation, photography, social media, and website development.

I continually adapt to market demands and economic shifts by staying up-to-date with relevant training and trends. And if I don’t have training in a specific expertise, I know who to bring in to meet objectives and keep your marketing up to industry standards.

Over the years, I have cultivated a diverse team of specialists and vendors, including copywriters, photographers, website developers, videographers, printers, and more, to meet the needs of clients spanning a range of industries, organizations, and nonprofits.

The Paige Design Story
After eight years of working for agencies as an account executive, designer, and art director, creating marketing communications in high-tech, healthcare, and nonprofit organizations, I established Paige Design in 1994. I continued to serve high-tech and nonprofit organizations, expanding into telecommunications, manufacturing, B2C, and small to medium-sized businesses across a range of industries. I provide design, art direction, and project management services for branding, print, advertising, website, social media, event promotion, presentations, packaging, product surface design, and illustration projects. I have established a network of specialists and vendors to expand Paige Design’s services and adapt to the evolving needs of clients and the marketing industry.

Early on, I established a creative partnership with Scharf Services, which continued until 2008 when Scharf Services’ principal became Executive Director of the Swallow Hill Music Association. I provided discounted and pro bono design and marketing services to Swallow Hill for five years, while continuing to serve my other clients.

Through the twists and turns of economic shifts, technological innovation, the introduction of digital marketing and AI, and other industry changes, I have stayed current with technology, trends, and my marketing and business education.
In 2019, I returned to school for my MBA at Colorado State University, focusing on “Impact” or Sustainable and Social Entrepreneurship. During that time, she also earned a professional certification in Digital Marketing from the American Marketing Association and the Digital Marketing Institute.

INDUSTRIES SERVED: You can ignore this, but it definitely sets me apart from other designers and marketers – working for myself has exposed me to a wide range of industries and projects.

• Nonprofit Organizations (Services, Causes, and Arts & Culture)
• Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs, and Start-ups
• High-tech and Telecommunications
• Educational Institutions
• Retail & Consumer Goods
• Professional Services – Law Offices, Executive Career Coaching & Training
• Healthcare & Healthcare Foundations
• Manufacturing (Commercial and Industrial)
• Publishers of Books, Magazines, & Newspapers
• Advertising/Marketing/Videographers
• Precious Metals Investment Event Management
• Financial Services
• Sports & Recreation Equipment
• Property Management & Hospitality
• Transportation
• Political Organizations
• Personal & Wellness Services
• Portable Stage Manufacturing & Rental

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I love doing digital artwork and illustrations from random photos I take. I’ve included a photo of a piece I did from flowers a client sent me as a thank you for a demanding stretch of event promotion work. I was inspired by some of the local public murals so I gave the flowers a graffiti design style.

Another sample of my digital artwork is the flowers behind my Paige Design photo.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://paigedesign.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paigesheparddesign/