Daily Inspiration: Meet Chris Rogge

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Rogge.

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?
Going into college I knew I wanted to be in the creative field, but that’s about it. I graduated from Texas State with a degree in Communication Design and although I felt a lot more knowledgeable about design coming out, I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I had grandiose visions about the future and what I wanted, but didn’t have the skills to back those up. For the first handful of years out of college I really struggled. I worked at a handful of jobs that I never really found true joy in and I realized that I still wasn’t getting noticed by the places I wanted to work at, so I took matters into my own hands. I worked after hours on side projects, personal projects, practicing my craft, you name it, I tried it. Honestly it was in these late nights that I truly felt like I became the Designer I had always wanted to be. I also reached out to many people in the community, and through a few connections, a lot of hard work, and a little luck, I landed at Favor Delivery. Instantly I knew I had found the job I had been looking for and put my head down to try and make an impact there. I went from Designer, to Art Director, to Creative Director, which is the position I’m currently at today. I still haven’t stopped burning the midnight oil, just a little less these days since my wife and I recently welcomed our first son into the world.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I didn’t have the easiest path, and to put it bluntly I was awful at design for a very long time. I had the passion and desire but my skills just weren’t there. I didn’t get the ins and outs, or see the bigger picture, and could never turn what was in my head into a visual I was excited about…which is unfortunate since I was trying to become a Designer. Because of that it took me a little over five years out of college to land the job that I wanted. I put in a lot of work to try and get noticed by the companies and people I wanted to work for, but for the longest time it didn’t work. Being a young designer I wanted to be part of the creative world and I kept searching for a job/outlet for that, but constantly facing rejection definitely took a toll. There were many days I felt like giving up on my career & giving up on myself. I think putting one foot in front of the other, taking it a day at a time, trying to stay inspired, and really put in the extra hours got me to where I’m at today.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I like to describe what I do as “Creative Director by day and a pixel pusher by night.” Creating things and solving problems is what keeps me going and I really love balancing my time to be able to do that. Being an in-house Creative Director is such an amazing gig. The team is kind, talented, hardworking, and impresses me every day. Being part of a younger, fast-growing company in such a new space really provides a lot of opportunities to create amazing, impactful creative that drives meaningful results. With any job there are limitations, which is where my “pixel pushing” work comes in. Which basically just means designing and illustrating a mix of freelance, personal projects, and whatever idea I have at the time. I enjoy getting to express myself and create unique designs in a style for which I’ve become known for. For me blurring the lines between all of those things to tell amazing stories and blend creativity, design & art is what keeps me going.

What matters most to you?
I didn’t grow up working in top-class agencies or with flashy clients. I cut my teeth in small humble shops that engrained a sense of work ethic and respect in me from the start. I knew that wherever I ended up in my career I always wanted to treat people with that same level of respect and keep up that same work ethic. Creating is important to me, but the people & connections I’ve made are the most important.

Contact Info:

• Email: roggedesign@gmail.com
• Website: www.roggedesign.net
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/roggedesign
• Other: www.dribbble.com/roggedesign