Meet Trailblazer Bridget Stec

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bridget Stec.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Seeing me as a baby moving my hands around in the air, my grammy declared I was going to be creative. She was right! My childhood was spent drawing, writing, sculpting miniature clay food, creating detailed maps, drawing clothes, naming imaginary products, and designing characters. I was a busy girl.

One of my passions – communicating stories through design elements – took the form of a graphic design degree in college. When I finished school, I found a poster designer whose work I admired, emailed him to ask if he took interns, and moved to Nashville after graduation to work with him. After that chapter, I was a freelance stationery designer for a while, then found a great in-house position designing packaging. It’s been really neat to incorporate what I’ve learned from these various design areas into what I do now as a freelance graphic designer, illustrator, and fabric designer!

Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way? Any advice for other women, particularly young women who are just starting their journey?
My advice to young women starting out would be to give yourself time to become an expert and respect the fact that you won’t be one right away – and that’s OKAY! Be a sponge – learn, work hard, and also give yourself a break when you need it.

Savor the excitement of all the possibilities before you. Be prepared for disappointments and setbacks – they are inevitable, and they will teach you. But the best thing about them is that you will ALWAYS come out stronger, more confident, and smarter as a result. That’s a true gift… and one you can only get by navigating imperfect situations.

Another piece of advice I’d give is to take initiative and just go for something you are interested in. Obviously, factors like finances need to be taken into account, but there are creative ways to support yourself while you pursue a dream or experience. Mark Twain was right when he said, “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” I try to live by that.

One other thing to remember is that at the end of the day, you could hypothetically reach all your professional goals, and still not feel fulfilled! In other words, seek balance by recognizing that even though your goals will be awesome to fulfill, things like loved ones, purpose, and the yearnings of your heart are of utmost value.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I’m a graphic designer and illustrator focusing on packaging, illustration for fabric and home goods, and branding. I create in order to lift spirits through beauty, encouragement, and humor. I design because I love the challenge of communicating visually. I’m relentless in pursuing originality, and I think the personality and heart in my work is its strong point – I like to think I walk the line between elegance and spunk.

Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
Make sure that you are cultivating genuine relationships with people you encounter professionally (and otherwise, for that matter). When you do that, things fall into place.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bridgetstec.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/bstecdesign
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/frolicpapershop

Image Credit:
David Sao (profile photograph)

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