Meet Abby Richardson

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Abby Richardson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Abby, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
My biggest inspirations and role models growing up were my grandmother and especially my mother. My mom is an extraordinary individual, whose life journey has been marked by resilience and determination in the face of numerous challenges. Despite enduring multiple health setbacks over the years and a traumatic car accident in 2016, she has always maintained a bright spirit that radiates positivity. Her ability to navigate loss with grace is a testament to her inner strength and unwavering determination. She is an inspiring example to those around her of how one can face adversity with fortitude and emerge with a spirit that shines even brighter through life’s trials.

Because I was raised with two absolute powerhouses of strength, they prepared me for life’s challenges at a young age. I wouldn’t say my early teen and adult years were particularly normal – I definitely faced heartache in the form of loss and change multiple times, but having my mom by my side and always in my corner empowered me and gave me the strength to take one day at a time and keep going when I felt defeated.

After my father’s passing when I was an early teen, the dynamic between my mom and me began to shift. It was no longer just the typical nurturing mother-daughter bond; it transformed into something more profound. We became teammates, navigating the complexities of life together. This didn’t mean we didn’t have our differences or challenges, but rather that we approached them with a shared strategy and purpose. We started making decisions collaboratively, leaning on each other’s strengths. We celebrated victories together, no matter how small, and talked through solutions during setbacks. Our conversations were no longer just about guidance but about mutual respect, trust, and understanding. Though it wasn’t the typical early teen years I was expecting, it more than prepared me for life and I trust that I can face just about anything thrown at me thanks to her. I’ve learned to roll with the punches and be grateful for every little thing in life – each day is beautiful despite the negative moments.

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?
I have the incredible privilege to work for WDW Magazine, a print and digital publication dedicated to all things Disney. Our magazine provides in-depth, informative, accurate, and visually captivating content for Disney enthusiasts of all ages all over the world. Inside the pages, readers can expect to find a wealth of information about the park’s attractions, dining options, hotels, entertainment, and upcoming events of the place many of our readers call “home.”

As the Graphic Designer, my role is to infuse magic and creativity into the pages of our publication alongside the Creative Director. I’m responsible for visually translating the enchanting world of Walt Disney into captivating layouts and eye-catching graphics with the help of stunning imagery from our photographers.

My day-to-day tasks involve conceptualizing and designing layouts for articles, creating advertisements, photographing new and exciting things happening in the parks, and selecting imagery that encapsulates the Disney experience. I take pride in crafting designs that convey the wonder, nostalgia, and excitement that Disney fans cherish. It’s an absolute dream to contribute to a publication that celebrates the magic of Disney, and I’m passionate about bringing the enchantment of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, the international parks, and Disney Cruise Line to life through my design work.

WDW Magazine has just celebrated 10 years in production and 122 issues to date. We also recently launched our newest publication, DLR Magazine, in 2022. We have recently completed a significant overhaul of our website and e-commerce platform to make it easier than ever for our customers to shop and manage their accounts. We’ve also just launched a brand new collection of WDW Magazine merchandise including apparel, accessories, wall art, puzzles, and more!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

  1. Talk to everyone. So much of my career-climbing over the past ten years has occurred just because of networking or simply striking up a conversation with someone. As an extroverted introvert, this isn’t always the most comfortable thing to do, but it’s an extremely valuable skill. You never know who knows who and what connections you may find; some of these connections have led me to job offers, which helped me gain valuable design (and life) skills, while others have led to meeting some of the most impactful people in my life.
  2. Don’t give up before you even start. As a perfectionist, I sometimes shut down an early idea in my head because I can’t visualize the finished product well enough and assume it’s a dud. However, don’t dismiss an idea prematurely without giving it a fair chance to prove its worth, you never know where it could lead.
  3. Don’t try to be better than others, just focus on being a better you than you were yesterday. I think it’s very easy to compare ourselves to others when we see them posting their accomplishments, relationships, and adventures on social media. But don’t quickly forget that social media only gives the curated highlight reel of someone’s life; it doesn’t often show the hardships, struggles, and the work they put in behind the scenes. So instead of fixating on trying to be like someone else, design better than someone else, or accomplish more than someone else, spend that time working on your own path – you’ll succeed faster and you’ll be much more content with your progress.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
From personal experience, I found focusing on my strengths enough to get my footing first allowed me to feel comfortable to then branch out and learn new skills to round myself out.

I knew from a very young age I wanted to be some kind of artist; I was always drawing, coloring, painting, or simply creating in some form. It wasn’t until 8th grade when I joined my school’s yearbook staff that I was certain I wanted to be a graphic designer. Since then, I now have my degree in Graphic Design and have been in the field for a few years post-grad. I’ve not only learned the programs and the technical aspect of design, but also found the best processes for me to constantly work on branching out and finding new trends, color schemes, and inspiration from the world around me. The design world is ever-changing, so keeping up can be daunting but also exciting.

Now that I feel more secure in what I do (though impostor syndrome still looms in the corner on occasion), I’ve recently been able to brush up on my photography. My mom gifted me a beautiful camera when I graduated high school, and for the first few years, it served as a tool for school-related projects and the occasional fun photoshoot with friends, but I never saw it as something that could assist me in my full-time career. Since joining WDW Magazine, I’ve slowly been incorporating it into my role when attending media events, dining, or simply walking around the parks. While I don’t consider myself a professional photographer by any means yet, I feel more confident to strengthen my skills as I already have the base of feeling confident in my designs. We work with extremely talented freelance photographers who deliver stunningly vibrant photos, so seeing their submissions and the passion behind it only inspires me even more. It brings me joy to know something that I once considered just a fun hobby can now be a part of my everyday life more seamlessly, and I know the more I shoot and edit, the stronger my ever-growing strengths will be.

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