We have the pleasure of introducing you to our graphic designer Sarah Laatsch. Sarah received her degree in graphic design from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. She has been with the company in a variety of roles for about three years now before settling into her role on the marketing team this past January.
Sarah’s stunning designs can be seen in a variety of A Grade Ahead products, including the company website and any and all advertising such as books and posters. Sarah is a highly talented graphic designer who is the face behind the visual brand of A Grade Ahead.
We sat down with Sarah and asked her a few questions so that you all could get to know her a little better. Enjoy!
What is your favorite part of working for A Grade Ahead?
My coworkers! They make every day a lot of fun, and I really enjoy working with people who are passionate about what they do. It’s also really exciting to brainstorm and create new projects as part of the marketing team.
What would you like to do most in the future? (Either professionally or personally)
One day, I would like to try rock climbing and mountaineering. I am afraid of heights though, so we’ll see how that goes! I would also love to live overseas at some point.
What is your favorite subject in school and why?
My favorite subject growing up was English. I loved writing stories and was constantly going to the library for a new stack of books to read, which made the subject less challenging for me. Nowadays, I sometimes try my hand at copywriting for projects.
What do you like to do for fun?
Most of my free time is spent playing hockey: I currently play on three ice hockey teams, and I started playing roller hockey this summer.
I love to travel with my husband or with friends – last year I went to China, Montreal, and Japan, and this year’s trips include Mexico City, Seattle, and Kenya. I am also a beginner backpacker, and try to hike and camp whenever I get the chance.
Describe one teacher or educational experience that changed your life.
My college drawing professor helped me view learning in a more positive way. Instead of comparing my work to students with different talents and skills, she emphasized individual progress and pushed me to improve my own abilities. Competition in school did not work for my learning style, so this has helped me stop worrying about others and focus on my own personal growth.
What is your favorite educational or motivational quote?
“A different world cannot be built by indifferent people.” – Author Unknown
What are the steps in your creative process as a graphic designer?
When working on a new design, I like to sketch graphics and layout ideas as a starting point, occasionally making searches for inspiration. I then begin the digital process, using Adobe InDesign and Illustrator to create and refine my vision until it looks just right. A lot of times during this stage, new ideas will pop into my head and the end result is completely different from what I originally imagined.
It sometimes feels like a puzzle: I have to figure out where each piece goes. Projects are finalized once they have been reviewed by the manager or academy owner who made the request and all revisions have been completed.
Tell me about your favorite design piece.
I am really proud of A Grade Ahead’s new website, which we launched in July. This was my first time designing an entire site, and a lot of effort was put into it by our whole team. It’s been so rewarding to see months of work finally paying off, with a beautiful site to share with parents – it’s more user-friendly, has a lot of great information about our company and programs, and is more consistent with our branding.
My favorite part is the mountain graphic under “Our Programs” – I took inspiration from one of my hikes!
What A Grade Ahead design is your favorite?
Author: Nate Baltzer, Teacher at A Grade Ahead
