Tayler Culligan — WTM Mentor
Hi there! My name is Tayler Culligan and I am a designer, art director, and sometimes educator in Dallas, Texas. As the only kid I knew that had a favorite font when they were 9, I eventually channeled my love of design and the visual arts into a career. I studied advertising art direction and graphic design at Columbia College Chicago, where I graduated as class Valedictorian (so, yes also a nerd). I’ve had nearly a decade of experience working in an array of design environments as well as in a variety of fields. I have re-invented my career focus multiple times, working at large design agencies, as well as boutique branding agencies. I also spent many years freelancing both in-house and with my own clients.
A lifetime believer of “don’t ask, don’t get,” I have landed my dream job multiple times, including at Peck Design Associates in Nashville and now at Matchbox Studio in Dallas. I worked very hard for my accomplishments, and believe anyone else can too. I am thankful for all the people I have learned from in my career, and am passionate about paying it forward through mentorship, teaching college courses, and community design groups. Now, I am a mom trying to juggle career and life goals, which is a topic that doesn’t get brought up a lot in design circles. At every stage of life, it has been a struggle trying to define what “balance” means, but it’s a conversation well worth having.
⭐ This is how I can Mentor you:
A few of the topics I can speak to and give advice on:
- Getting your dream job
- Portfolio reviews
- Interview skills and pitfalls
- Freelancing day-to-day
- Gaining and maintaining clients
- Behind the curtain design skills and tricks
- Finding what you really want to do or focus in
- Finding success at a full-time position
- Networking and relationships with other creatives
- Setting career, creative, and personal goals
- Making big career shifts
- Being a working parent
- Building a meaningful career