We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kris Stith a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kris, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
Creativity, to me, is the measure of your imagination in relation to your situation. Creativity has also been my blanket when the world becomes too cold for me to bear. Growing up as a young Black kid in what would be considered an underserved community, my kiddy choices had adult consequences. So I stayed in the house and out the way.
With no cellphone, no internet, and before social media was even a blip in the mind of some future tech billionaire; kids all around the world had hobbies. My hobby was drawing. I always had a drawing book, pencils and DBZ print-outs on hand in case I needed to retreat away from the world. It was a space where I could just be me without the troubles of the day. I continue this practice to this day sans the DBZ print-outs…
In closing, what keeps my creativity alive is my desire to find freedom from the troubles of the day. So no matter how big my problems may be, I know my respite is only a few pen strokes and a piece of paper away.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My name is Kris Stith and I am a creative. I always tell folks I do everything, especially if you have money. No task is too small or too nebulous for me to solve.
I started my consultancy, StithWorks LLC, back when I was a freshman in college—before I even knew what a consultancy was exactly. I started out doing fliers, and banners for student groups on campus and have since scaled up to commercials and ad campaigns for some of America’s most trusted agencies and social impact organizations. I would like to say my path was unconventional, but I think unrealistic is a more fitting word.
Opportunities literally feel into my lap. Well, I believe in saying “Yes.” to most things even if its out of my depth so I always had opportunities to grow. StithWorks has blossomed from the belief and trust others had in me to assist them in creating their vision of their future.
I am from DC originally but I have moved to Los Angeles and I’m looking for opportunities to assist others in creating their vision of their brand. If you or someone you know is looking for creative assistance, StithWorks.com is all you need; let’s connect!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. Say Yes. Saying Yes will switch your mind and your perspective from “I don’t know” to “I will find out”. That slight shift will make a bigger impact than you could imagine. When I first began to consult, I would struggle with projects I perceived to be outside of my comfort zone. When I shed the idea of “No” my abilities and opportunities expanded exponentially.
2. Be efficient. I am always clear with clients about the goals of a project. Transparency has always been a guide on my journey as a designer. It has allowed me to be efficient with my time, my work and my client relationships.
3. Stay Hip. I always do research on trends and new technologies in the world of design. AI, 3D, AR and motion are all things that did not exist when I began to study design but that didn’t stop me from learning these tools when they became available and now, they are standard tools in most designers’ toolbox. I feel it’s imperative as a designer to stay in the know of what’s happening in the creative field.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Books that really helped me as a designer were the 50th Law, the Autobiography of Malcom X, and Hart’s Hope. The 50th Law taught me the power of leveraging emotions in business. The Autobiography of Malcom X taught me to not be afraid to shed the lessons of the past even if they served me well because they may destroy my future. And finally, Hart’s Hope taught me no matter how talentless you may be in the eyes of others you have to maintain a positive view of your situation; you’re only one “yes” away.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://StithWorks.com
- Instagram: @stithworks
- Other: iamstory.com
Image Credits
Kris Stith.
