Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristopher Bolleter.
Hi Kristopher, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
It all started for me back in high school. I was a “myspace kid” and loved coding up myspace pages. I was admitted to the San Antonio Magnet Arts program N.E.S.A. (or North East School of the Arts) for the film and animation program. This allowed me to pursue my passions and express myself through various art forms. While I love storytelling, filmmaking wasn’t my end goal. I always found ways to “market” or design for people’s films, title credits, movie posters, etc. The things people in the program didn’t enjoy doing as much as I truly did. Fast forward to college. I pursued a degree in graphic design, just “checking the box” for all the skills I had already cultivated in high school, and basically, I helped teach the web design and development class. I was blessed to be hired for a job before I had even graduated, working for a small political marketing shop in Austin, where I met many influential people who would help my career become what it is today. After “putting in my time” as a senior design lead, I moved over to a Creative Director position at Spindle 360 in Georgetown, TX, where I was again given a unique opportunity to collaborate closely with the in-house product design team, bringing products from concept to development and tapping into the whole process for the marketing funnel. After six years there, I jumped ship to pursue a full-time freelance career, flourishing for the last seven and a half years.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My struggle feels superficial- although I know that’s not true. I was diagnosed with M.S. shortly after going full-time freelance and just before my first son was due to be born. I have had my fair share of “trials and tribulations,” but I don’t get hung up on those struggles. Instead, I focus on injecting positivity into everything I do. I love setting the bar for the “happiest guy in the room” and finding ways to bring joy and smiles to everyone I engage with.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a brand strategist, website designer, and developer by day. Still, I have several “passion projects” I’m working on, including a children’s book soon to be self-published, some magnet toys, and a unique fanny pack design for conceal-carry. But more than that, I’m proud to be a father to my two incredible sons and a third kiddo on the way. They are the driving force for my passion projects and what inspired me to continue innovating and creating. My first son has autism, and he is fascinated with magnet toys. Still, all the magnet toys on the market are cheap and riddled with problems, easily breakable, and choking hazards – So I’ve worked with a good friend and product designer, Shane Gilbreath, to create the “apple perfection” of magnet toys, soon-to-be-released – PoliCubes. I am most proud of these products and things I’ve made with my two hands.
Who else deserves credit for your story?
The most significant credit goes to my wife. We’ve been together for 15 years, married for 10, and she’s always been a driving force pushing me to be the best version of myself and for our family. A close second would be my father, a true inspiration from an early age; he always encouraged me to inject passion into everything I did. Seeing him innovate in the medical field and never being afraid to keep trying was always a motivation. “You can’t hit a home run if you aren’t swinging,” I always recall him saying. It’s stuck with me to this day and has given me the true blessing of thriving in the (sometimes uncomfortable) situations of trying new things and not being afraid to take risks and push new boundaries.
Pricing:
- Digital Strategy Consulting – Starting at $2000/mo. or $250/hr
- Brand Strategy and Development – Starting at $5,000 /project rate
- Website Design and Development – Starting at $5,000 / project rate
- Misc. Design and Development Services $150/hr
Contact Info:
- Website: KristopherRay.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristopherray/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristopherraycreative/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopherray/
- Other: https://dribbble.com/kristopherray
Image Credits
Gabe Rene Photography – GabeRene.com
