Meet Trailblazer Alyssa Teboda

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Teboda.

Alyssa, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been in love with art! Growing up, I was obsessed with it, I really enjoyed learning about different techniques, art history movements, and artists and then taking that knowledge and applying it to my own projects. At one point, I dreamt about becoming an art historian and traveling the world curating art for museums but that dream didn’t last long when I learned it would involve a lot of writing and research. I preferred being behind a canvas with a paintbrush, it was where I felt most comfortable being myself and expressing my ideas so naturally, I wanted to pursue a similar creative outlet with my career.

It’s kind of funny to reflect back on when it all started because to be honest I was a little naive about graphic design and didn’t realize how much it impacts everyday life. My high school art teacher was the one who first suggested it to me and I did a lot of research on the industry and it seemed like the perfect fit. When I took my first design class, I knew I made the right decision, it was exciting to convey ideas through layout, color, and typography. It was a whole new creative world for me to explore!

After college, I started working as a Graphic Designer in the agricultural industry. I loved that job and I learned so much from it, but I spent my entire life in the Midwest and I had this deep yearning to travel and discover the world. About five years ago, my boyfriend (now my husband) and I took a roadtrip to Beaver Creek to snowboard for a week and as soon as we returned we both wanted to move to Colorado. One month after our trip, we packed up a U-Haul with all of our belongings and moved across the country to our new home in Denver!

The best thing about being a graphic designer is you can work from anywhere as long as you have a computer, design software, and clients who need work. While I searched for a full-time position in Denver, I did a lot of freelance work for my old company and other connections I made in college. I thought about being a full-time freelancer but back then I wanted to be a part of a creative team so I could grow my design skills. There is so much you can learn from collaborating with other designers.

Eventually, I found my way into the commercial real estate industry and I work in it to this day, but I still do a lot of freelance work in my spare time. I refer to that work as my passion projects, it’s very satisfying to help entrepreneurs and small businesses tell their story through stunning marketing materials that also help them attract more clients and grow their business. This summer, I’ve taken a break from taking on new freelance business in order to completely rebrand my website. I wanted to create a brand that was bigger than myself and my online presence to be more than just a portfolio of work. I’m revamping my website to be a resource for DIYers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses with tips and tricks on how to elevate their branding and marketing efforts in order to attract their ideal customers and stand out from the crowd. I also see it as a creative outlet where I can share my own personal design projects and stories of my daily adventures in the mountains. It’s been a lot of work but I’m so pleased with how it is turning out and I’m thrilled to launch Voyage Seeker Design Co. this fall.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The journey to get to where I am today definitely has not been a smooth road, but over the years I have learned so many necessary lessons that helped grow and shape me into the designer I am and I couldn’t be more grateful for that. I’ve struggled with getting a job, rejection, sexism, management turnover, and creative burnout. I feel as if many of the struggles I’ve dealt with are fairly common for a woman working in such a competitive field.

There are a few key pieces of advice I always give to young designers. Never give up on your dreams, don’t take criticism personally, never stop learning, and have fun with it! Not every client or every co-worker is going to like your work 100% of the time and learning to separate your personal feelings from your creative projects will save you a lot of heartache and frustration and that’s why I tell young designers not to give up on their dreams. Just because one person doesn’t like your work doesn’t mean you are not a good designer and won’t get that dream job or dream client one day. Continue to work hard, learn new skills, expand your portfolio, build meaningful relationships and it will pay off. Most of us get into the design industry because we enjoy being creative and helping others, while you should take your job seriously you should also have fun doing it because life is short after all!

Please tell us about Voyage Seeker Design Co. – what should we know?
I craft one-of-a-kind creative solutions tailored to my client’s unique business needs. Whether they have an established business or are just starting out I’m here to be an extension of their team and to help tell their story and attract their ideal customers. I specialize in brand identities, customized squarespace websites, and marketing collateral. A strong brand identity is crucial to the success of any business and it’s more than just a logo, it is the entire collection of experiences your customers associate with your business. Building an effective brand identity can set your business apart, attract the right audience, and create brand loyalty so they keep coming back for more. Your branding extends to your website, social media, print materials, digital advertisements, newsletters, email distribution, and the list goes on! I help clients with all these different marketing materials depending on what is necessary for their business.

I’ve been told by clients that my simple yet in-depth process is unique but it’s very essential for me so I can learn about the heart and soul of the business especially when it comes to new clients. Like I mentioned before, I try to be an extension of my client’s team and that means taking the time to discover their values, mission, audience, business goals, culture, and also follow up with market research on their industry and competition. All these items are crucial to discuss in order to put together an effective design and marketing strategy. Once the planning and research phase is complete, I present my client with a mood board for their brand to ensure we are both on the same page before any design work is done. I’ve found my process to be highly effective in ensuring I’m taking my clients in the right direction.

We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
While there are so many truly remarkable women in design the truth is many of us don’t have women in leadership roles at our own companies and this creates a lack of role models and mentors for younger females. I believe mentorship and interaction with female leaders provide younger designers with more confidence in themselves, the company, and a stronger commitment to the organization as a whole. There are many great companies out there that are investing in changing their culture and values to be more inclusive but sometimes up and coming female leaders don’t have a day to day interactions with the individuals who promote within the organization and this can create another barrier for advancement. I would suggest to any woman who doesn’t feel they have mentorship within their company to join an industry organization especially a female-focused one to find that support system. We need to connect and support each other and I think through that we can create change!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.voyageseekerdesignco.com
• Phone: 720-765-3290
• Email: alyssa.teboda@gmail.com

Image Credit:
April O’Hare (for my headshot only)

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