Meet Courtney Rutledge | Graphic Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Courtney Rutledge and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Courtney, why did you pursue a creative career?
I think something most people don’t realize about creative careers is that it takes extreme courage to pursue one. When faced with choosing a major, I chickened out and chose a path that felt stable and secure – a path many others have traveled before with almost guaranteed success. If I had the opportunity to chose a path like that, why wouldn’t I? But there’s something inside of every natural born creative that pulls them in. For me, it was an irresistible calling. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake it, and I’m so thankful for choosing this path less traveled because it taught me courage. It taught me strength. And it taught me to relentlessly follow the passions of my heart, no matter how risky.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I think what sets my work apart from others is that everything I create is rooted in a sense of excitement and appreciation for the world we live in. Obviously, there’s a lot of darkness in the world, but I believe my role is to fight it and bring light into those dark areas wherever possible. My work is marked by fun colors, explorative typography, and real life experiences like music and fashion.

The most important thing in my life are my relationships with others, and so I create with others in mind. How will X, Y, Z person react to this design? Whose living room can I see this print hanging in? Is there a singer/songwriter I admire who would use this design as their cover art? Would my boyfriend wear this design on a t-shirt? These are the questions I ask myself before calling a piece complete. I want my work to seamlessly live in the spaces of the people I love.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh man, this is a fun question. I’ve only lived in Atlanta for a year and have already come to call it home.

I consider myself a bit of a foodie, so I have a ton of restaurant recs. Grana would be my top suggestion – you have to start with the meatball flight. They give you 6 huge and unique meatballs to try and there’s not a bad one in the bunch. If you go for weekend brunch you have to order the breakfast pizza – bacon, sausage, eggs, cheese, and drizzled maple syrup (the game changer).

Another top pick is Tuk Tuk, a Thai food loft in Buckhead. You take an elevator up to the top, and there’s an amazing view of the sunset if you sit outside. Do not skip out on dessert here – the fried cheesecake served with coconut ice cream is the best in town.

Politan Row at Colony Square is a trendy food hall with a must-visit recent addition – a retro speakeasy known as Jojo’s Beloved. The most perfect nightcap to end your day.

Other than food, I spend a lot of time at Piedmont Park, exploring the Beltline, or enjoying some company at SweetWater, my favorite local brewery.
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The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wouldn’t be where I am without my best friend of 12 years, McKenzie. She’s been there with me through every stage of life – through the embarrassing middle school years, the naive high school ones, the eye-opening college ones, and every mountain and valley in between. I recently brought her on to help me with the business side of my side hustle, and she has been instrumental to its growth and success. Truly the best of the best. Couldn’t live without her!

Website: courtneyrutledge.com

Instagram: crutledgedesign

Linkedin: courtneyrutledge2020