Daily Inspiration: Meet Kandace Parker-Earle

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kandace Parker-Earle.

Hi Kandace, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My creative journey unexpectedly begins with Bill Clinton. Yes, that Bill Clinton.

As a high-school senior in Arkansas, the art room was my safe place. For financial reasons, the year before I had to switch from a small private school and found myself at a massive public school. I had gone from a class of 70 kids to a class of over 700. A complete deer in headlights, my art teacher took me under her wing. I ate lunch in that art room. I made friends there. My friends and I would go to art gallery openings together on Friday nights. (Mostly for the uncarded free alcohol, but we marketed it as “culture”.)

One morning, my teacher announced that there would be a poster competition for a charity benefiting the urban arts. Former President (and Arkansas native) Bill Clinton hosted this event, and the winner would be decided by the late world-renowned artist George Rodrigue.

To this day, I can’t believe I won. That W gave me the confidence to pursue my graphic design career and apply to Watkins College of Design & Film in Nashville, Tennessee.

I spent a year in art school before stepping away to study design independently. Spending a lot of money on art school was difficult, so I researched artists who had taken alternative routes. At the time, I was deeply influenced by the artist Peter Beard and wanted to live a life like his. Like him, I spent some time studying artisans in East Africa. I bought a few books on Photoshop and kept my head down for several years to figure out how to be a graphic artist.

I had my first agency job at twenty-one and experienced burnout for the first time at twenty-four. Recognizing it was time for a change, I resigned from that role in 2017 to hike the Appalachian Trail. (I’m sure everyone can relate to the feeling of looking at your email inbox and dreaming of walking into the woods indefinitely – I actually did that.) This season in the woods gave me time to reflect on what I wanted out of my career. My husband was about to begin law school at the University of Texas in Austin, and I knew I wasn’t ready to throw myself back into agency life.

So I decided to take the leap into the world of freelance designing.

One of my first clients was the Broad Collective, a local experiential marketing group. Founders Ali Parker and Whitney Tocco took me under their wing, and I now serve as their Creative Director. Since working with them, I’ve been fortunate to create for incredible brands like Red Bull, DryBar, Bumble, Teva, and Variety.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’ve learned that nothing rewarding is ever easy, and I’ve chosen a non-traditional route that lends itself to many dead ends. A few of these dead-ends felt like the absolute end, but it’s important to remember that’s never the case.

I’ve had clients wear me down, and I’ve said yes when I knew I should’ve said no. It’s important to be kind to yourself and trust your gut, and you’ll never regret listening to that inner knowing.

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?
I am a graphic designer by trade, and I specialize in building brands, websites, and design strategies. I love clever approaches and unique color palettes that help my projects stand out among the rest. At the Broad Collective, I assist my team in the design assets needed to pull off events.

I’m most proud of my ability to visually bring someone’s idea to life. With the Broad Collective, I have the rare privilege of designing ideas with my team and watching people interact with art that came directly out of our brains. When I create a design for a new business, and they tell me, “It finally feels real!” I completely light up. I’m in the business of making that unbelievable dream real for you.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
There is plenty of work for everyone, and thirsty is never a good look. Focus on being kind and the best at what you do, and you’ll attract the work that’s perfect for you.

To quote the incredible Kid Cudi, “I wanted this shit my whole life but had all this stress on my mind. Until I realized, things pan out when it’s right, in the meantime, Imma grind.”

Contact Info:

• Email: kandace@kandaceearle.com
• Website: thebroadcollective.co, www.kandaceearle.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kandaceearle/

Image Credits
Photos of me by Katie Childs: http://katiechildsphoto.com/ Project photos from The Broad Collective: https://thebroadcollective.co