Emily Gudeman, Senior Designer, is the spotlight of our April employee profile. We sat down for a Q&A to deep dive into her refreshing way of thinking and insightful vision that drives our team every day.
Tell us about where you grew up?
Good old Tucson Arizona. Home of the world’s best slushies… Eegees. If you know you know.
What brand is your personality most aligned with and why?
“Who Gives a Crap”. Ok listen, it might not be a well-known brand but once you know it, it’s unforgettable. Love this brand. It’s punny, colorful in design and language, eco-friendly, socially conscious and always shows up when you need it. Truly everything I hope to be when I grow up.
What led you to choose this field of work?
I blame Harriet the Spy, because of her I grew up dreaming of being a journalist. I was constantly trying to interview people, trying to find some untold story around every corner and eventually ran both my high school and college newspapers because of it. I loved meeting new people, hearing their stories and perspectives and finding an interesting hook or angel to present it in print. To balance the speed of journalism’s tight deadlines and crazy schedules, I started taking art classes. Soon, I found during my interviews or story writing that I was doodling imagery in the margins that felt to fit the story. Then, it just all kind of clicked— I was visually storytelling, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
Who inspires you? Who do you aspire to be like?
I have four incredible sisters in life. Three by marriage and one who was stuck with me from day one. All these women inspire me with their drive, confidence, poise, and creativity. I hope to carry a fraction of it with me every day.
What’s your most irrational fear?
Driving behind a logging truck, we can all thank Final Destination 2 for that irrational fear that I must face more than I like living in the PNW.
If you could keep only 5 possessions, what would they be?
- Headphones // Spotify. I’m a podcast addict.
- Paint // Pad. I’m definitely cheating with all these dual answers but I’m fine with it.
- Deck of cards. There’s never a wrong time for a card game.
- Kindle. Fully loaded.
- Hot sauce. I’m from Arizona, what did you expect?
What are you drinking come five o’clock?
Love me a spicy marg or a hazy IPA.
What’s the best book you’ve read so far this year? Ever?
This year: “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.” It’s just a fantastically distracting book.
All time: This might seem like a cop-out but it’s the truth. The Harry Potter series is something I can re-read time and again unapologetically.
When you’re in need of creative inspiration, where do you go? What do you do?
I love going for a walk in the city. I really let my extrovert flag fly when I’m creatively stuck. I feel so inspired by the energy of people, how they choose to spend their time and what they create, whether that be a wall mural, a window display, or a rainbow bagel. Living outside of Portland really allows for a lot of afternoons at food cart pods or beer gardens surrounded by creative energy.
What was the last picture you took with your phone?
A funny photo of my dog sleeping, because I’m the type of person who half their camera is just photos of dogs.
If you could give your younger self any advice, what would it be?
Don’t take life too seriously because it’s definitely not taking you seriously.