Today we’d like to introduce you to Trenton Laffoon.
Hi Trenton, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in the Springfield, MO area and attended Evangel University before getting married and moving to the Chicago area. I was in full-time pastoral ministry for nearly 10 years. In 2021, my wife and I began starting a church, and I also decided to pursue freelance creative work on the side. By 2023, I decided to commit fully to my creative work and officially launched the Creative Arts Department.
We chose to relocate our family to the Kansas City area because we had several strong network connections and wanted to be closer to family. My goal with the business was to serve as an extension of the creative department for churches and nonprofits. Fast forward to today, and I never imagined I would become a consultant and designer for churches and nonprofits all across the country and even globally. I have had the privilege of designing visuals and branding for universities, missionaries, startup nonprofits, and both small and large churches.
I have always valued creativity and have felt most connected to God through art and nature. Being able to use these gifts as a career and witnessing the impact on organizations’ abilities to communicate clearly is both fulfilling and rewarding.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s never a smooth journey, that’s for sure! Moving across the country, changing careers, learning how to be an entrepreneur, and building a business while raising five kids all create quite a challenging situation. I have faced a lot of internal resistance, often questioning whether I can succeed without any formal training or degrees. At times, I’ve even tried to take alternative career paths to make things “easier.” However, it seems that God always closes those doors, guiding me to stay on the path of building this creative business.
When you put yourself out there and work on building a business, you inevitably struggle with self-doubt and insecurity. You want people to value what you do and see you as a credible option, all while trying to ensure that your work doesn’t define your identity.
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?
We specialize in strategic visual communication. This means we take the time to listen to your vision, identify the barriers that are preventing your growth, and create compelling graphics and creative elements to help you achieve your goals.
Our focus is on brand strategy, designing brand identities, and developing campaign visuals.
What sets me apart is my firsthand experience as a pastor and in executive leadership roles. I have served in various capacities on church staff, which gives me a deep understanding of the complexities that staff and leaders face when communicating their vision.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
If you lead an organization, company, or are part of a church with design and branding needs, email me: [email protected]
You can also visit creativeartsdepartment.com to learn more about who we are and what we do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Creativeartsdepartment.com
- Instagram: Creativeartsdept
- Facebook: Creativeartsdept
