Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Tingey.
Hi Megan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am the owner and graphic designer behind Megan Tingey Design. I was always a really academic kid, so I didn’t entertain an artistic or entrepreneurial route too much. The ironic thing is that I did not like my government class in high school. I spent a bunch of time in that class lettering and doodling in my planner, but went on to study Political Science and Nonprofit Management in college and instead of working in that field- today I own a small graphic design business.
I think my love for art and design grew as I started to pursue work in nonprofits. I was the intern adding doodles around volunteer schedule whiteboards. When I started work as a community outreach specialist for a local nonprofit, I fell in love with the public relations strategy surrounding the work and the design process for our marketing materials. I asked so many questions of anyone who had design know-how or experience, and one of my supervisors suggested a professional certificate as a way to really pick up the knowledge I was looking for.
I enrolled in a professional certificate program in Graphic Design and soon after, my husband and I moved to Los Angeles. In the process, I left my job in Utah, we had our first child, and design became a very slow process. I finished my professional certificate in March 2018 and from there applied what I had learned to projects for family and for church.
I started taking on a few projects for friends here or there, making trades or really lowballing my fees, because I just felt like such a novice at it all. I had started talking about “when I start my Etsy shop” or “my business,” but all of it felt so amorphous because I just didn’t know how to move forward. The thought of getting a small business off the ground overwhelmed me, so I think I just put it off for a while.
At the time, I was serving as a youth leader in my congregation when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints replaced its Personal Progress achievement program for young women with its Children and Youth goal-setting program in January of 2020. Obviously, it was a shock to us all two months later when the world shut down for the pandemic. My husband and I spent a lot of time orienting to our new normal and trying to support the youth in our church in creative socially-distanced ways or over Zoom meetings. I had known that I wanted to set and work on my own goals in order to support the young women I worked with. I started posting a picture here or there on my personal Facebook of a design project I had completed for a friend or family member. However, towards the end of 2020, I knew that the real goal I needed to focus on was starting my business.
I started meeting with the local small business development center over Zoom, and giving my mock logo from my design program a facelift. Before I knew it, my father-in-law was notarizing my incorporation documents for me. I felt so much like a fish out of water, but started an Instagram account with the goal of adding one post a week with my design work.
A lot of my first year involved creating graphics for another small business’ website and a few client projects here or there. This second year has seen an increase in my clientele, trying out my design on new mediums like shirts, journals, stickers and prints and starting to ramp up my online presence.
It was all such a whirlwind, but when I look back, it also feels so orchestrated by God. There’s no way I would have gotten here otherwise. If you had told me 10 years ago that my trajectory was headed towards being a small business owner, I would not have believed you, but looking back, I see how there were so many little steps guiding me to where I am now.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I would say that one of the biggest obstacles I have faced is getting over that imposter syndrome. I think because I put so much stock in more traditional forms of education in the past, I constantly felt like I was underprepared or lacking natural talent, but I’m so glad that I moved forward in spite of it all. That mindset has definitely kept me humble in terms of what I don’t know, but I still have to battle my doubts from time to time. I may have to start marketing a new product before my website is exactly the way I want it to be or I may be moving into uncharted territory without fully understanding the ins and outs of small business tax law, but I try to remember that I will be kicking myself five years down the road if I don’t take these baby steps now. Moving forward, even when I don’t feel “ready” (whatever that means) has come to be something I’m leaning more into these days. The other obstacle I would say is juggling all of the roles of a small business owner- designer, social media guru, logistics specialist, webmaster, etcetera all in the middle of my most important roles as wife and mom. To say I’ve got it all together is a far cry from the truth, but I’ve been so grateful for the encouragement of my husband and even my kids who like to draw with me from time to time, which is my favorite.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work has really evolved over the last couple of years. These days in addition to my temple art and various prints, I’ve taken custom jobs cutting vinyl and doing design work for events and home decor. Weddings are one of my favorite events to design for. I’ve loved creating custom wedding invitations, beautiful signage for my clients’ big days and even custom thank you cards for couples.
Recently, I’ve had the chance to apply my signature textured style to drawing a client’s home. I love the products that are starting to grow out of my business, but I also look forward to working with clients in the future on custom designs to elevate their homes and celebrations.
What matters most to you?
At the end of the day, it’s my family and faith that matter the most. This business has become such a beautiful outlet for me and has helped me grow in ways I never imagined, but I’m really proud that the subject matter of a lot of my work, especially the temple prints and journals, gives my customers a chance to connect with that same God who has been the ultimate caretaker and facilitator for my own dreams. It’s all taught me to dream big and to trust in God and my family as I take steps into the dark to fulfill those dreams.
Pricing:
- Journals: $7-12
- Stickers: $3.00
- Ornaments $7
- Prints $7-$17
Contact Info:
- Website: megantingeydesign.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/megantingeydesign/
- Facebook: facebook.com/megantingeydesign
- Other: rebrand.ly/TempleJournals
Image Credits
Buffalo Check with Salt Lake City Temple: Megan Tingey
I can do all things sticker: Megan Tingey
Hands holding Provo City Center Temple: Emma Robinson
Draper Temple and I can do all things print with green plant: Angela Roma
Three Temple Journals on Wood with Pens: Megan Tingey
Welcome to Our Forever Chalkboard: Megan Tingey
Salt Lake Temple Print with Pink Wall and Paper Plant: Karolina Grabowska
Hands holding Salt Lake Temple Journal- Emma Robinson
