Check Out Crystal Whitlow’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Whitlow.

Hi Crystal, 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 story begins in a small town in Upstate New York. I’m very proud to say that I’m from New York, but it’s far from the Big Apple. I come from a town that has more cows than people, tucked between Rochester and Buffalo.

I always knew I wanted to be a designer. I find myself very fortunate that I have always known that I wanted a career in design. I did well in school, but my art classes were always my favorite. My mother told me when choosing my career, I had to follow two rules: 1 – I had to get my bachelor’s degree and 2- I have to love what I do. My father always told me to try my best. So, with those guidelines, I set out to become the best graphic designer I could be.

In high school, I had the opportunity to do a graphic design course during my junior and senior years. That solidified that I definitely wanted to continue to pursue this as a major.

After growing up in the public school system out in the country, I wanted to spread my wings and attend a private Christian University. Growing up as a Seventh-day Adventist Christian, I chose to go to Southern Adventist Unversity located near Chattanooga, Tennessee.

While in college, I was very passionate about my classes and work. I jokingly tell people that I had the “Ash Ketchum” attitude for my studies. Anyone who is familiar with the early Pokemon Theme song would recall the phrase: “I’m gonna do my very best! The best that ever was!” I didn’t socialize much, which is bizarre as I’m very extroverted. I also extremely struggled with physical insecurities that really prevented me from making friends. However, with my nose to the grind, I chugged through four years of relentless classes and graduated in 2016.

After graduation, I hopped around different parts of the country and found myself in Kansas City. I was lucky to begin working at Gear for Sports in Lenexa in the Champion design division. It was awesome to get settled in a new state with great co-workers and friends. Though I always had this burning passion to start my own business which became an obsession. I would work full time and then get home and work on passive incomes streams (which are anything but passive) and pick up freelance work and attend networking events.

Just shy of two years, I was hungry to begin freelancing. I’ll admit, I definitely started freelancing before I had all my ducks in a row, but we live and we learn, right? While freelancing, I’m thankful that I was able to travel to Valencia, Spain for two and a half months. It truly was the (pre-covid) millennial dream of traveling and working remotely.

After a few more moves, I found myself back in Kansas City. What can I say, I really love the midwest! I was freelancing, but I was getting pretty burnt out. Reflecting back, I see that I really needed to delegate more tasks. I tried to do too much by myself to save money, but overall I think it cost me a lot more.

During this phase, Tray Conrad reached out to tell me that the company he works for, EK Success owned by American Crafts, was hiring. Tray Conrad is a talented local graphic designer who sells amazing KC prints in local shops like Made in KC. I had bought one of his prints a while back and reached out on social media to say that I’m a fan of his work. Luckily, he remembered me when his company was hiring and suggested that I apply.

Again I find myself extremely fortunate to have been hired to work at EK Success. Initially, I felt like accepting this position meant that I failed at my own business. However, after talking to a friend and my father, they both encouraged me to believe that accepting this position doesn’t mean that I failed at my own business but rather that this is a step in my career growth.

I’ve been employed at EK Success for eight months now, and it has been such a great experience. Every day I am inspired by my talented co-workers and creative director. In this position, I am able to design crafting stickers, tools, and social media posts. I love encouraging people to express their creativity, however that may flourish, and now I make products that do just that. It truly is my dream job.

However, fate has something else in mind for me. Due to the global shipping crisis and tariff increases happening now, American Crafts was forced to lay off 30% of their staff starting with the newest hires, one from each department. Therefore, I was included in the cut. I was unconsolable the day I was let go, but I’m optimistic that things will be okay. I am looking forward to building freelance connections again and adding new products to my online shops.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh, definitely not, but that’s personal growth, right?

I had to learn to delegate tasks, even if I *could* do them if it saved me time. I think it’s important to reach out to people who have an interest in helping instead of expecting close friends or family members to help. It’s been my experience that it’s better to pay someone to do a good job than to hope that someone is going to do it cheaper or for free.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
When I was freelancing, I was specializing in surface pattern design. This is designing patterns that go on fabrics such as children’s clothing, wallpaper, and gifting items.

I’m really proud that RSVLTS has asked me to do a few commission patterns for them! This company is so fun with vibrant and trendy patterns. It’s totally a look and a vibe.

Here are two I designed:
https://www.rsvlts.com/products/san-dimas-kunuflex-short-sleeve-shirt
https://www.rsvlts.com/products/welcome-to-the-jungle-kunuflex-short-sleeve-shirt

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Oh, great question, I feel like I meet so many supportive and encouraging friends wherever I go.

My family is in New York, and they are very proud of my accomplishments, and that means the world to me.

Locally, I have gotten very involved in the Latin Dance and West Coast Swing community here in KC. When I’m not designing, I love dancing or rather, learning to dance. But what makes dance amazing is the people in the community. I look forward to going to Viva Dance Studio in Shawnee weekly to see my friends and have fun together. I’m always asked about my work, and they are all so encouraging and excited that I have a pretty cool creative career.

Contact Info:

• Email: crystal@cwdesign.studio
• Website: www.cwdesign.studio
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crystal_whitlow/
• Other: https://dribbble.com/Crystal_Whitlow

Image Credits
Oh super! Ok! The Chester and Pearl was a logo design for @chester.and.pearl The pretty woman with the sunflower shirt was a co-lab project with her sewing blog: @sew_help_me The woman with Mickey’s ears was an project to design the lasor cut for the mandala theme mickey ears: @magicalleyshop The cat toys are fabrics that I sell on Spoonflower, that Chester and Pearl use for their products. And the avocado masks were made by @kozysaila a fashion designer.