Bringing an Edge to Local Design

SEELEY LAKE – When Brandy Wyckoff moved to Seeley Lake this past summer many of her clients in Seattle, Wash. did not even realized she moved. Owner of the freelance graphic design business B-design, Wyckoff works primarily online so she is able to provide uninterrupted service to her current clients while enjoying a simpler life in Seeley Lake. She looks forward to getting more involved in the community and putting her 20 years of graphic design experience to work for local individuals, businesses and organizations.

Wyckoff grew up in Missoula, spending time during the summer recreating in Seeley Lake. When she was a senior in high school, a representative from the Art Institute of Seattle gave a presentation to her class. This was Wyckoff's first exposure to graphic design.

"I've always been interested in art and more on the creative side. I'm very visual," said Wyckoff. "While I didn't have any clear direction in high school, I knew [after that presentation] graphic design was exactly what I wanted to do."

She attended the Art Institute graduating with a degree in Visual Communications with an emphasis in Graphic Design and Illustration. She returned to Missoula working for the Missoula Independent and The Messenger.

"I decided to go back to Seattle because there were bigger opportunities there," said Wyckoff. "Most of my career has been working in-house with software companies."

Wyckoff started B-design five years ago after her company in Seattle went through a big layoff.

"I had made so many connections and people still needed designers, so they were still using me on a freelance term," said Wyckoff. "So right now, most of my business is still coming from Seattle. I'm definitely wanting to bring it in locally as well."

Wyckoff moved back to Seeley Lake in July in search of simplicity. The travel and cost of living "is insane. I love Seattle but I was just really craving something simple. I don't want to feel all the stress that is not necessary."

B-design offers everything visual with a forte in print and digital design. Services include: digital illustration including vector art; logo design; marketing design including posters, brochures, fliers, newsletters, digital downloadable PDFs and eBooks; invitations; email layouts; and web design including landing pages, pop-ups and banner ads.

Wyckoff's goal for her customers is to give them the best product that conveys their message. Because she has so many years of experience, "I know what I'm doing and I like when the client or customer is really happy with the end product. It makes me feel good."

Wyckoff feels her main strengths as a designer are her willingness to work with her customers and her experience to tackle any task. If it is something new, she enjoys learning how to do it while she is producing the product.

"I'm very responsive," said Wyckoff. "My approach is you can get in touch with me, I'll respond to you, I meet my deadlines, I'm usually ahead of schedule, I'm easy to communicate with and I'm typically a yes person."

Wyckoff looks forward to growing her business while plugging in locally. In the past six months she worked on a logo for Seeley Lake Elementary Eagles and has started working with 2 Valleys Stage and Alpine Artisans, Inc. While she really enjoys designing posters and helping to promote the arts and music, "It's often less about what I'm doing and more about who I'm working with," said Wyckoff.

When Wyckoff is not working she enjoys painting, printmaking, cooking, drinking wine, playing with her eight-month-old shepherd mix and being outdoors recreating on the lake and trying to get used to the snow again.

For more information visit B-design's website at http://www.b-design.biz/ or email brandyw@b-design.biz.