Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenderick Durant.
Hi Kenderick, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Growing up in a sports family, baseball was my life. While playing baseball in college at Florida A&M University, I came to a fork in the road. I could either change my major to criminal justice, which would allow me to keep playing baseball, or choose a major that I was passionate about and start learning about my future career. The decision was tremendously hard, but I knew what I had to do. I chose to major in Graphic Design with a minor in Photography.
At the start of my journey, I was very intimidated by the my peers and the major itself. One professor stated that “You should already know the majority of things about Graphic Design before you come to college. You are only here to sharpen what you already know.” Everyone around me were grew up an artist, but not me. I couldn’t even draw a straight line lol. Most of the design students in my classes had already had their own businesses outside of school. For the first time in my life, I had walked into a situation completely unprepared. Knowing that you are designer, the worst in the class came with many mental obstacles. Never before did I have to worry about being judged. Before this point in my life, I had always been known for being one of the best in whatever I was involved in. Luckily, the majority of my classmates at Florida A&M University were some amazing people. They did not make fun of me for not knowing anything when it came to Graphic Design and art in general. They gave me pointers and helped me out whenever I needed it. One thing about me, I always disliked being known as the worst at anything in life. This drove me the study and research what good Graphic Design looks like and what makes it good. I finished my college career as one ot the top designers in my class. I felt accomplished going from one of the worst to being one of the best.
After Graduation, I was fortunate to have a two part-time job lineup at Florida State University. There I worked as a security guard and as a Graphic Designer. Crazy combination, right? I know, lol. From there, I would continue to learn and grow as a Designer through different job opportunities and research. Eight years later, I am here in Orlando, FL, working as a full-time Graphic Designer while also running my own creative business on the side.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like anything in life, you will have your ups and downs. While working in my hometown of Tallahassee, FL, I was faced with many obstacles. Full-time Graphic Design jobs were hard to come by. I moved around through many Temporary employment agencies while living there. I have met some great people as well as some nasty people while moving from job to job. I’ve been laid off several times, and I’ve also landed some jobs that I didn’t think I was going to get. One day, I sat on my couch in Tallahassee and realizes that if wanted to grow as a designer and be compensated fairly for my work experience, I need to move to a place where there are many more job opportunities for Graphic Designers. I packed up everything and moved to Orlando, FL in 2018. Many challenges will come your way no matter what journey you embark on. I have a saying which I have to remind myself of to stay level-headed. “Never let the highs get too high and never let the lows get too low.”
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Graphic Designer who specializes in Branding, Print Design, and Multimedia Design. I like to think of myself as creative problem solver. Many Graphic Designers have different styles and will not go away from that style no matter what. Me on the other hand, I adapt. I simply get the job done. I believe that what sets me apart from others. Being versatile and wearing many different hats are what I am known for. I’d have to say that the project that I am most proud of is my “Back 2 School” campaign for Volusia County. My designs were place on the city buses for thousands of people to see. This was a project that was completed earlier in my career.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I really admire the many different nationalities of the people in our city. Coming from Tallahassee, FL, I was not used to seeing so many different cultures. What I like least about our city is the traffic. I had to change my work hours just to dodge some of that traffic.
Contact Info:
- Email: Design35LLC@yahoo.com
- Website: Design35LLC.com
- Instagram: Design 35, LLC
- Facebook: Design 35, LLC
