Makenzie Cooper: Driven By Design

We’re an interconnected nationwide team, but we each have our own reasons for being passionate about the work we do. This month, get to know Makenzie Cooper, senior graphic designer.

What’s your background and how did you become a graphic designer at Kittelson?

I’m a small-town Oregon gal. I’ve always been creative and knew at an early age that I wanted to pursue design for a living. But after high school, I went to Oregon Tech (OT) for radiology because I wanted to work at Shriners Hospital in Portland after having a series of leg surgeries there. I didn’t complete the program and instead took time to serve Youth With a Mission (YWAM) for a while in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where I realized I was made to be a designer. So, I went back to school at The Art Institute in Portland, and a few years after graduating, I joined Kittelson. I found out about Kittelson from my friend Miranda Barrus who was in the civil engineering program at OT while I was there and got me connected with Kittelson’s art director, Susan Mah.

To keep my creative juices going, I search for new fire lookouts to stay in, work on house projects, and go off the grid to recharge.

What is the most interesting and rewarding part of your work?

I love working on projects where I have a personal connection with the area. One of my favorites has been a transit project in Pacific City, on the Oregon coast with Susie Wright. I have great memories there and to help in a small way gave me so much joy.

What do you think are the most important skills for someone in your position?

Creativity, flexibility, humility, communication, and problem solving. And of course, proficiency in Adobe products.

Walk us through your creative process. How do you take a concept and turn it into a design?

Research is the most important part and takes the most time. I need a good understanding of the target audience and what information is necessary to find a solution. Then the design happens and is executed. But it doesn’t always flow this way. Creativity is not linear.

What about transportation inspires you?

Transportation brings people together. All my favorite memories used a mode of transportation to see people I love. And I love that.