 Hi! I'm Kaiti Lenhart, owner and freelance designer here at Designs On Fire. I've been working professionally as a graphic designer for 10 years, in a myriad of different working environments: big companies, small companies, stressful and wearisome offices, casual and peaceful offices, satellite offices and now finally my home office. I love the creative freedom of my job and I am thankful that each day I have the opportunity to meet all types of people from all over the U.S. and learn something from each one of you.
My journey into design started years ago when I was working as a receptionist for a horse trader magazine in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The staff designer suddenly quit and I was pleasantly surprised when the owner offered to train me for the position. I've always been a creative person and I have a deep appreciation for art and design. While in college, I explored fine arts but they never became my focus because I am intensely hypercritical of my own work (drawing, painting, etc.). Thankfully, I found my niche in digital art and design and I have learned there is always a reward for honesty and hard work, along with the willingness to learn.
Graphic design has come quite naturally, I love computers and I have been blessed to find this outlet for my imagination. You've probably heard that creativity isn't something you can teach a person, which is true. However, this is not advice for you stop dreaming - it just so happens that my clients, friends and family who admittedly don't have a creative bone in their body often come to me with the BEST ideas! That's why they love working with me, I can help turn their ideas into reality.
I love getting to know each client personally, I take the time to study their business or organization and translate their vision onto a digital canvas. I embrace the opportunity to learn something new with each project - which I believe makes my services much different than other designers who are in the business to quickly produce mediocre designs and high profits.
To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wildflower
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour...
- William Blake
When people ask me about my education and I always say that experience truly is the best teacher. I've done my time in the world of academia, my diploma (BA, Psychology) from the University of Central Florida hangs proudly above my desk. Working through college as a graphic designer, I've learned what they can't teach you in school - real world experience, in very fast-paced, professional working environments. It would be difficult to estimate the hours I've dedicated to studying graphic design and Web development in my free time, I haven't stopped since that fateful day in 1999. Each opened door exposes a new realm of information, the more you learn only guarantees there's more to learn. The study of design and particularly Web design must be a continual task considering the rate of technological change. Education, for me, is a full-time job.
The majority of my experience was made possible with the help of my coworkers, friends and mentors along the way, especially the folks at Elinarnia and T2E. Thanks for being so generously patient and willing to share.
Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.
- Oliver Wendell Holmes
When I'm not designing, I enjoy freshwater and saltwater fishing, camping and the outdoors. Other interests include nature photography, herbal medicine, psychology and anthropology, sociopolitical debates, gardening, playing my acoustic guitar, reading, laughing, family and friends.
My husband and I live in Palm Coast, Florida and I started a new blog to document our urban gardening adventures: http://partners-in-thyme.blogspot.com
Any other questions, just ask! Send me an email.
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