Meet Taryn Kealani

Today we’d like to introduce you to Taryn Kealani.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was lucky to have a family who always encouraged me to be creative. I got my start in design during high school. I made t-shirts for my high school clubs, prom invites, and pretty much anything anyone asked me to make. I was hooked. My drawings and doodles went from being the thing that got me in trouble in class to something I was known for and so proud of. When I left home in Hawai’i for college in Texas, drawing helped keep me grounded during a very challenging transition. It was (and still is) art therapy for me to help explore and express how I’m feeling.

My first advertising job was to be an intern at a small ad agency that was just starting off. It was an extremely special place where design was revered. Now that small ad agency is a big famous place and I’m so grateful I got to be a part of something so magical. Working there really shaped how I approach my work – both in design and my art. I learned that the best work should make you feel something. Through strategy, we get a creative opportunity to connect with an audience. Being able to make them feel something is art in its own way – there are parallels between my personal art and my design work.

I’ve been very fortunate to continue to work at ad agencies where I’m surrounded by brilliant minds and very talented designers, writers, strategists, producers, account people, and more. It has really shown me that great work is great but work that you are proud of? That’s gold. I want to be able to look back at the work I’ve done and be proud of how it turned out but also how the process went for myself and the people I worked with.

I still feel very lucky that I have a job where I get to bring my love for design and art together. Whether it is a project where I get to be a creative director, designer, illustrator, or artist my goal is to keep making work I’m proud of in a way I can be proud of.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It is really easy to be burnt out in an industry and world where “rise and grind” are the mantra repeated by most companies and I’ve had my share of burnouts. Once again, returning to art and self-expression has helped me connect back to myself and remind myself what is important. I took a sabbatical after my mom passed in 2021, moving from LA back to Colorado. That time helped me to quiet my mind, and clear up the noise I was so used to hearing in my head. It was scary to sit with myself after staying so busy consistently for so long. But again leaning back into my art brought me some peace.

I could sit outside in the sun and write out the fears and dreams I was scared to speak out loud. Sharing those pieces on Instagram has also become a part of my ritual, I call them my journals and they date back to 2015. I can still remember what I was feeling when I look back at them. Coming back online after my sabbatical helped me to focus on the work I was excited about. Being a freelancer means I get to work with really amazing people across a wide range of clients. It helped me to be passionate about the work I get to do again.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a freelance creative, I work on a spectrum of projects ranging from branding, creative campaigns, art illustration, digital design, and packaging. Regardless of the type of project I’m working on, the Japanese principle of Shoshin, having a student’s mindset has been a guiding principle for me in my life. Every project is an opportunity to push myself creatively and to learn from the very talented people around me both professionally and personally. Connecting with people through my art and my work has always been something I’m proud of.

Working in a creative field means that there are always opportunities to learn from very talented people and push me creatively. I love that each project has its own metrics for success and I get to be challenged in different ways to grow not only as a creative but as a person. Connecting with people through my art and my work has always been something I’m proud of.

What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
There will always be more lessons to learn, but I would say that right now, the lesson that has shaped my life the most is that relationships and connections with others and myself are the most important parts of my job.

At the end of the day if I can make work that people connect with and I can feel proud of how I handled the process and treated those around me with respect, then that is a success. The Maya Angelou quote “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” is a powerful reminder of this lesson.

Contact Info:

• Website: tarynkealani.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarynkealani/ 

Image Credits
Lou Mora, Victor Won, Alden Bonecutter, John Miller, and Joe Friend