Megan and I met through an advertising club/class at Chapman. She is so bubbly and creative and one of the most adventurous people I know! She used to live in LA, but recently moved to Wyoming and is a graphic designer that works on some of the biggest brands. If you have any questions, reach out to her directly with the contact info at the bottom of the post!
Name: Megan Chovanec
Age: 27
City: Jackson, WY
Company: NVE Experience Agency
Title: Brand Designer
# of years at company: 1 year, 11 months (My work anniversary is Sept 2nd!)
How did you hear about the position and what was the interview process like?
A former co-worker reached out to me letting me know their company, NVE Experience Agency, was hiring. I was content with my current job but I thought, “What do I have to lose by going through the interview process?” After three rounds of interviews, I was offered the job. The initial job offer was close to what I wanted but not perfect. I sent back one round of revisions and the company accepted. I’ve been happily employed by NVE for almost two years now!
What past experience do you think helped you land your current role?
My ability to be a multi-faceted designer really helped. I am NVE’s internal brand designer so on any given day I will be designing a motion graphic, presentation deck, editing a video or creating an entire new brand identity for my company!
Growing up my dad always said it was important to make yourself invaluable as an employee. I think my ability to learn new design programs has allowed me to do that!
What tasks does your job entail?
I work at NVE Experience Agency, a “creative marketing agency that helps brands cultivate deeper, more meaningful relationships with their customers,” as a brand designer. My role is split between internal and client-facing work.
As the internal brand designer, I design anything NVE-related, which includes assets for NVE’s website, socials, email, and all internal events. I am the only internal designer so all these assets fall on me. I work closely with most department leads to ensure all their design needs are met.
When I work on client-facing projects, I am a part of a larger team with accounts and production members, creative/art directors, and experiential designers. Client-facing work is a much more collaborative and iterative process with lots of rounds of designs for approvals.
My day-to-day will usually consist of meetings, sourcing design inspiration, and creating any and all types of design material. It’s a dream job but like most dream jobs, it’s a lot of hard work, but I have become a better designer because of it!
What are the skills needed to be successful at your job?
I think the biggest skill needed to be successful at any company is the desire to want to learn/become better. Design is a subjective craft. What one person may like, another hates. But there are a few design rules that are universal. It’s important to learn the foundational rules of design and then expand upon them.
Once you’ve become complacent in learning new things is when you start to lose your grip on success. (Trust me, I’ve learned the hard way!) It’s important to push your boundaries to keep learning. As a graphic designer, I regularly use Adobe’s creative suite (which consists of programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, AfterEffects, Premiere Pro and InDesign).
Who do you directly report to and does anyone report to you?
As NVE’s internal brand designer, I work most closely with the marketing department and report to the Director of Marketing. I also am in contact with most department leads to make sure all of their design needs are met.
When I work on client-facing projects, I report to a creative and/or art director to get my designs approved.
Do you work from home, office, or hybrid?
I work from home full-time. After the pandemic, I moved out of California. I feel very lucky that my company allows their employees to be fully remote!
How many vacation days do you get per year?
NVE Experience Agency offers flexible paid time off. As long as the work is getting done and the PTO request is submitted in a timely manner, employees can get as much time off as is needed.
What do you do to help your work/life balance?
This is a tough one… Maintaining a work/life balance is SO important to avoid burnout. I try to set boundaries to maintain balance. I typically log off by 6:30 everyday to give myself evenings to go outside, cook, and spend time with my dog.
However, there are days when I am burning the midnight oil. These moments are inevitable in the industry I work in. It’s a team effort to make tough deadlines so I’m not the only one working late into the night.
Weekends are sacred though. If possible, I will always avoid working on Saturdays or Sundays. I would much rather work longer during the week.
Have you been promoted at your current company and what do you think factored into your promotion?
I have not been promoted at the current company I work for. But I know if I keep working hard, that could change in the next few years!
What is your favorite part of your job?
I have not worked at a company that values its culture as much as NVE. People who work at NVE work hard, but also play hard. There’s a sense of camaraderie that is really inspiring. I know my coworkers would have my back in any situation.
(It also doesn’t hurt that NVE has an impressive list of dream clients. It makes the work feel that much more important!)
What has been your proudest moment at your job?
I was initially hired on to rebrand NVE Experience Agency. This was no small feat and took over a year to complete! There were countless hours spent ideating, providing revisions and working closely with the executive team. You can check out NVE’s new look on our website at experiencenve.com.
What’s the biggest lesson(s) you’ll take away from this job?
I feel lucky to say I’ve learned more lessons while working at NVE than I have in my entire design career. I could list countless lessons BUT here’s the biggest lesson I’ve learned—surround yourself with people who you find inspiring.
It’s easy to get stuck in a creative rut and produce mediocre work. I sometimes find myself feeling creatively ‘stuck’. When this happens, I can turn to my fellow designers and ask for their feedback and gain invaluable insights. Feeling inspired by the people I work with has increased the quality of my work.
Any advice for people who want to work at your company or in your general field?
It’s just a job. As a creative, it’s easy to take feedback personally and feel like you aren’t up to par. But again, IT’S JUST A JOB. Once you remember this piece of advice, it takes the pressure off. With a clear mind and less stress, you can design more creatively and push boundaries that you may have been hesitant to push otherwise.
Have you worked anywhere else in the past?
Prior to working at NVE Experience Agency, I worked at Rogers & Cowan and Unfold Agency.
If people want to connect with you and learn more, how can they reach you?
Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn and shoot me a message! I always love to set up Zoom coffee chats and learn more about people and their aspirations! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganchovanec/
Last Fast 5 with Megan Chovanec
- Last tv show/movie: Yellowstone. You could say I’m slightly obsessed!
- Last book: My goal for 2023 is to read two books a month! Last month I read Killers of the Flower Moon and West with Giraffes.
- Last concert: How sad—I can’t remember! This is my sign to buy concert tickets immediately!
- Last restaurant: Corsa, an Italian restaurant in Jackson Hole’s ski village. I live in Jackson, WY and my parents came to visit to celebrate my mom’s birthday.
- Last vacation: Las Vegas to visit my parents. They retired in Las Vegas a few years ago and it’s such a great place to visit, especially if you explore off of the strip!
Thanks for sharing, Megan!
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