Life and Work with Britt Felton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Britt Felton.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Britt. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have always been creative, as long as I can remember I’ve always created little things, drawn pictures, in the 6th grade I drew comics and made little clay figures. In high school I took my first graphic design class. I remember being so amazed that that was a real job, to get to draw pictures and create brands and get paid was literally the dream job.

That’s when I really became interested in the field I currently work in. I’ve always been an athlete as well. I received a scholarship to run at a prestigious running program in Colorado. The lucky part about that was that this school had a really amazing art program. My professors were really amazing, and because it was a smaller school I got a ton of quality time with them. To this day, I can’t believe what an unbelievable group of people they are. I feel really lucky to have studied under all of them.

After university, my running career was actually going really well, I qualified for the 2008 Olympic Trials so that was my focus, I was working at a local brewery in Alamosa Co. but Training was my real Job. I didn’t attend my graduation, I was in Indiana at the time, trying to lower my time within my event, meet agents and start looking at training with a professional team. I ended up making it to the Trials, in Oregon and it was such an incredible experience… but I was also really burnt out. Though I love running to this day, I realized that being and artist, and creating was my real passion. I decided not to continue running at an elite level and begin to pursue my career as a Designer/Illustrator.

That was honestly one of the hardest decisions I made. It meant completely shifting my entire life, even down to my identity. I think a lot of athletes go through this, and it isn’t talked about enough, but once you retire from your sport, because, I believe, for most of us… we put in so much time and work and surround ourselves with the people that pursuing this same things, that your identity becomes so wrapped up with and attached to the sport that once you retire, you go through somewhat of an identity crisis. I really had to work hard to figure out who I was without running, which was not easy. The other hardship I faced was that I was behind. The Marketing/Design field is a fast-moving train, and trying to get on and step off that train is tough. Because I had only had a few internships, while most of my peers were working on building their portfolio, I was working out in the gym and putting in miles on the trail.

My portfolio, the number one thing that employers would look at to understand my skill level and work ethic was behind for my age and where I should have been after School. It was a little defeating, but I landed a job working as the production manager at the local paper in Alamosa. That job was hard, in a ton of ways, I had a HUGE learning curve, but what I also found is that I drew on a TON of things that my authentic career taught me, calm under pressure, managing and working with various personalities as team, juggling schedules and timelines, discipline, patience, and hard work. I realized that to get the job I wanted I would need to create my own projects to showcase what I was capable of. So, over the next few years, I create mock-projects, change jobs… a lot to build the skills I wanted for myself. I worked for the Federal government in a creative department, working on digital work, I worked for an HOA in Tahoe, I taught Graphic Design to High School Students, and worked at a few different Ski Resorts, within their Marketing Departments. All of it taught me different things and I picked up a TON of knowledge and skill. All the while working Freelance on the side. On a whim, I applied for a job at a small agency in Vail Colorado and got the job. That job brought me back to Colorado and has been so great because I’ve been able to grow my personal business, alongside it. To fit the needs of different clients. I’ve been here for six years now, I’ve been able to grow my family, live a life I love and do work that I am truly passionate about.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The tallest mountains are the hardest to climb, right? I’ve had so many challenges along the way, a lot of self-doubt. As I mentioned I started off late with my career, with a small portfolio, I ended up doing a ton of free work for friends, and honestly made up projects I wanted to do as concept work to show what I could do. I’ve had so many jobs I didn’t love, haha soo many, when I think about how many jobs I had, I have to laugh. But honestly, the reason I changed jobs so much is because I knew in my heart of hearts I could get to THE job, the dream, ya know. Not every job we have is THE Job, some jobs are the job between the jobs, or put you in a place where you learn a ton about something you want to build for your “skill tool box”. I think advice I would give to other women, is don’t beat yourself up too badly for mistakes made. It’s cliché to say, but you really do learn so much when you mess up. Don’t settle for a job you hate, nothing is worth your unhappiness, and I mean that, NOTHING. If it makes you unhappy – lose it, change it, because there is that same thing out there that WILL make you happy. But every job, even the ones you hate, teaches you about what you do or don’t want in that dream job. Trust your gut on what makes you happy.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am a Creative Director, Brand Designer and Illustrator. My personal process is different, about eight years ago I really started to use my intuition within my work, and it’s changed everything, I am an Empath, which for a lot of my life I viewed as a bad thing. But with what I do, I am really able to connect with my clients and their business in a way that verbal communication can’t. I really feel my work has a unique outcome because of that. I am very inspired by the natural world, nature, astrology and the cosmos drive my work, and I find that I tend to work with clients that feel the same way.

I’ve always been the kid that wanted to do it all, so, in true Gemini fashion I have two jobs that I LOVE. Britt Makes freelance business, it’s my passion work. I’ve worked really hard to create a bundle of clients that are truly remarkable. My clientele are mostly female entrepreneurs that do amazing things, I seriously sit is such awe of them most of the time. I get to learn about their businesses and make them look good. (I know, I know, dream job for sure.) I am most proud of the women I’ve been able to connect with and the work we’ve done together, its truly some of my favorite humans, that I’ve met through creating.

I also Creative Direct with an agency here in Vail called 970 Design, I love creative directing, working with a team of amazingly talented humans and we get to work with larger clients. I always say that it’s hard to have a bad day when you get to draw and create all day, I am most proud of the impact I’ve had with the team there and what we’ve been able to create together.

Both of these business fill me up in different ways and I love that I am able to provide beautiful graphic design to clients of all sizes.

Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
I think, aside from what I already mentioned I would say, dream big, and work hard; because chances are, in a decade you will look back and realize you used to dream about where you are. For me, ten years ago I dreamed of being a creative director, working with amazing clients in a beautiful mountain town. The big dreams are the destination, but the hard work is the journey. It’s been a magical journey, struggles and all.

Contact Info:

• Website: brittfelton.com
• Email: hello@brittfelton.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/britt.makes/
• Other: https://dribbble.com/britt-makes

Image Credit:
Kellie McKenzie, Buca Botanicals

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