Bio
My name is Shelby, and I come from a fine art and graphic design background. Creativity has always been at the center of my life, shaping the way I view and interact with the world. While my journey started in traditional art, I have since expanded into digital design, business strategy, and analytics, exploring how creativity intersects with data-driven decision-making.
I earned my bachelor’s degree from Southern Oregon University, where I focused on design and the arts. Later, I decided to pursue my MBA at the same university to deepen my understanding of business and how strategic thinking can complement creative problem-solving. My goal has never been to move into management or run my own design firm; rather, it has been to become a well-rounded designer who can think critically about business challenges and create visually compelling, strategically effective solutions.
One of my most memorable projects involved a graphic design course where I worked on a video game project. Although my primary role was creating the game’s soundtrack, I was also introduced to web development through Glitch’s platform. This experience provided me with a glimpse into Java scripting and how websites operate on a technical level. While I wouldn’t consider myself a web developer, I appreciate the way coding and design work together to create user-friendly experiences. This exposure to web development sparked my curiosity about digital platforms and how design choices impact user engagement and interaction. I remain open-minded to web design opportunities and am excited to explore how it can enhance my creative skill set.
Beyond visual design, I have a deep passion for sound design and its ability to shape experiences. My work on the video game project allowed me to experiment with composing and integrating audio into interactive media. Sound design is fascinating and has the power to evoke emotions and influence perception. Whether through music, ambient soundscapes, or audio branding, I enjoy exploring how sound can complement visual storytelling and create immersive experiences. I plan to continue incorporating sound into my creative projects, particularly in digital media and interactive design.
In addition to sound design, I also have a love for photography and makeup design. Photography allows me to capture moments and tell stories through composition, lighting, and perspective. I enjoy experimenting with different styles, from portrait photography to conceptual shoots that combine elements of fine art and digital manipulation. On the other hand, makeup design is another form of artistic expression that fascinates me. Whether it’s creating bold, avant-garde looks or enhancing natural beauty, I see makeup as a powerful tool for transformation and storytelling. Both photography and makeup design allow me to explore creativity in new ways and push the boundaries of visual expression.
On a more personal note, I’m passionate about creative expression in all forms. Whether painting, creating digital illustrations, or experimenting with new design tools, I find joy in bringing ideas to life visually. I also enjoy exploring ways to integrate art with technology, as both have the power to shape our experience of the world. I love immersing myself in creative projects that challenge my skills and push me to think outside the box. Art and design are not just hobbies for me; they are means of communication, evocation of emotions, and problem-solving in innovative ways.
In addition to my artistic background, I have always been intrigued by the intersection of design and psychology. Understanding how visual elements influence perception and decision-making has helped refine my approach to creating effective and engaging designs. Whether working on branding, advertising, or user interface design, I aim to craft experiences that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional.
As I continue to grow in my career, I’m eager to develop my skills further in digital marketing, website analytics, and user experience design. While I may not have built a website from scratch, I am excited to learn more about how visual storytelling and data-driven insights can enhance online engagement. I am particularly interested in how businesses use design and digital strategies to connect with their audiences and create meaningful interactions.
Thank you for taking the time to read a bit about me! Feel free to connect with me. I’d love to exchange ideas, collaborate on projects, or chat about design, business, and creativity.
Artwork by Shelby La Fleur
"Crafting Stories Through Sound, Design, and Art"
Hello Shelby,
Your introduction showcases your deep understanding of creativity’s power and ability to recognize its capacity to create significant effects across different fields. Your work stands out because you combine curiosity with intentional action in your approach. Your work combines multiple media to produce profound, interactive experiences through creative integration. Your professional path from traditional fine art to graphic design and further into sound and photography before reaching business strategy demonstrates a clear progression for someone who combines creative vision with analytical thinking. Finding someone who combines fluency in emotional storytelling through makeup and sound design with a passion for web analytics and data-driven UX design is uncommon. Combining artistic skills with strategic thinking is beneficial in the modern digital environment.
The video game project you mentioned represents a turning point because it initiated your experience with sound design and Glitch’s web platform while demonstrating your willingness to embrace new learning tools and explore unfamiliar territory. The adaptable mindset you’ve shown will prove beneficial as you explore digital marketing and UX design because both fields require experimental thinking alongside technical expertise. I value your focus on design psychology in your work. Your perspective on visual design extends past aesthetics by showing how it affects human behavior and emotions, which signifies your profound comprehension of design’s human aspect. Through this thinking, designers transform good design concepts into purposeful user experiences.
Your diverse interests in sound, photography, makeup, and interactive media are powerful strengths driving your creativity. You gain access to a distinctive creative resource set that enables innovative applications. You can lead innovative projects that combine these elements, possibly creating an immersive website with soundscapes and visual storytelling or developing a campaign that showcases identity and transformation through photography and makeup. Thanks for sharing your story—it’s genuinely inspiring. I look forward to seeing how you continue to integrate creativity with strategy and technology to create powerful stories and experiences on your next journey. Continue your exploration because your creative voice possesses both rarity and power.
Warm Regards,
Bryan La Fleur
Shelby, your creative range is seriously impressive! I love how you describe your work as creating “immersive experiences”—it feels like you’re building whole worlds rather than just visual assets. It’s especially cool that you’re bringing in elements like sound design and photography alongside graphic design. That kind of interdisciplinary approach feels really relevant in today’s marketing world, where storytelling spans so many mediums.
I also really appreciated how you connected your work to user perception and behavior. It’s clear you’re thinking not just about how something looks, but how it makes people feel and interact. That resonates with me a lot, especially as I think about designing inclusive and affirming spaces through my own project. I’m excited to see what you create this term and how you’ll bring those layers of intentionality into your work. ~Holden Hellmann
Hello there, Shelby!
I really enjoyed reading your bio. From your diverse background in fine art and graphic design to your experience in business strategy, it is impressive. It brings a unique perspective to your work by blending creativity with strategic thinking, which is such a valuable asset in design and marketing. As artists, we often have to evolve our minds into one of not just creativity but problem-solving and strategy.
Your experience with the video game project stood out to me, especially how it introduced you to both sound design and web development. I would love to hear more about or even collaborate with you about your game work moving forward, especially as I, too, want to break into that industry. It’s inspiring to see how you’ve embraced different forms of media and storytelling and how you’re continuously expanding your creative toolkit.
I also appreciated your thoughts on the psychological side of design; understanding how people interpret and engage with visual content is crucial to creating a meaningful experience. Combined with your passion for photography and makeup design, it’s clear you have a strong eye for detail and visual storytelling.
I’m looking forward to seeing how you incorporate all of these skills into your work throughout the term. Thanks for sharing!