Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brit Webber. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Brit, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re very focused on here – improving our ability to make decisions. Everyday, we’re faced with decisions that can impact the future of our careers, businesses, relationships and more and so one of the most impactful areas for personal development, in our view, is decision-making. Can you talk to us about how you developed or improved your decision-making skills?
I used to be absolutely fear-stricken at the thought of making the wrong decision and, for a long time, it was my greatest source of anxiety. I felt the pressure to always ‘choose right’ because I thought that doing so would mitigate failure but I realized (after years of personal development and trusting myself through making decisions) that thinking that way did more harm than good. A huge part of learning how to trust myself and my decisions came through arriving at the understanding that failure is not finite and risk, when understood, can actually be a good thing. Risk is defined as the likelihood of an irreversible, negative outcome and learning this really put the weight of my decisions into perspective. I remember thinking to myself, ‘how often have my decisions landed me in a situation that was negative AND irreversible?’. The answer to that question was ‘never’ and that helped me reframe my approach to navigating life and I’ve been able to apply the same approach to my art practice when faced with creative challenges.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My creative journey began to take shape after I graduated from college in 2019. I had studied architecture and immediately jumped into carving out my own creative path after coming to terms with the fact that I didn’t want to pursue architecture as a full-time career. As I neared the end of my program, it was clear that while I would always have a deep affinity for architecture and its role in shaping the way I view the world around me, it wasn’t going to provide me with the creative freedom that I so desperately longed for. In coming to that realization though, I knew that there would be aspects of what I’d learned that would serve me well on my creative journey and this was something that made me feel confident in my ability to give myself a chance at what I love. I went on to spend the most sacred moments at the beginning of it all making critical internal connections about my creativity, finding my ‘style’ and engaging with curiosities as they arose as a way to ground myself as an artist.
Today, I spend my time crafting bodies of work that reflect my interests in how ideas can be expressed through marks, patterns, textures, and colors and how abstraction can be used as a facilitator for dialogues around emotions and the human experience. I also work independently as a graphic + brand designer and last June, I officially launched my own design practice called TMPLT which functions with the core belief that the true power of design lies in its ability to create and foster relationships. With every project, my mission is to use creative strategies that help brands align with the people they serve, leaving a lasting impression that bolsters strong, meaningful connections.
I also love collaborating with other creatives and working at the intersection of all the disciplines that I’ve had the honor of working within. Year after year, I’ve found that what excites me most about all of this is all of the opportunities and connections I couldn’t have possibly imagined. By being open and receptive, I’ve met some of the most remarkable people and had the privilege of being part of incredible projects.
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 It In A Different Way
When faced with tough challenges, I learned the value of asking myself ‘what can I do?’ instead of ‘what should I do?’. At a glance, they seem to be asking the same thing but the first question leaves room for exploring multiple options to resolving problems or coming up with creative solutions whereas the latter is front-loaded with the expectation that there is only one answer/ solution. This can be applied to EVERYTHING!
2) Storytelling
Studying architecture taught me that there really is space (haha) for storytelling at every juncture of our creativity and although I obtained this knowledge in school, storytelling is a skill that is as old as humanity and deeply embedded in us as people. There are so many resources for learning how to master it and, when done well, it fosters clarity, connection, and understanding.
3) Your Network Is Your Net Worth
I want to preface this one by saying that you should always make connections from a genuine place instead of making connections based on what you believe a person can offer you. Making connections is about… well… being connected! Networking can take shape in many different ways and for many different reasons and it’s because of this that the most important question you can ask yourself after meeting someone is ‘was this a genuine, meaningful connection with a like-minded person?’ There are many exchanges in life that are just transactional by nature but when you’re making connections, the goal should be to connect with the person you’re talking to and gauge whether it’s a fit based on who you are. It’s also wise to ask yourself what you offer in the way of conversation, experience, and skill so that there is balance and mutual input.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
I moved to Portland, ME at the beginning of March and while I’m beyond excited to be here, I know that it will take some time to get acclimated and connected to the creative community here. I’m working on this by going to openings and artist talks, visiting local galleries like Cove Street Arts, and spending time at the Portland Museum of Art. I’m also taking the opportunity to talk with as many neighbors, local shopkeepers, and the like to better understand my new home. I know it will take some time but I’ve been here a month and I feel pretty great about how things are shaping up thus far!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://britwebberarts.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/britwebberarts
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/britwebber/
- Other: Design Website | www.studiotmplt.com
Image Credits
B+W Portrait | BEBO Captured Moments LLC
Museum Lobby Photo | Toni Smailagic (Cre8jax)
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
