Today we’d like to introduce you to Shauntel Barron.
Shauntel, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Surprisingly I never thought that I would have a business of my own, but I realized that starting a creative, focused business is what happened for me right in front of my eyes without even realizing it. Since I could remember creating nothing into something has been my thing even as a little kid. My mom and grandma would tell me stories about how I would make, create and imagine. Vividly explained as if I was always in my own lil’ world.
Knowing my whole life that creativity literally and figuratively pumped through my veins I decided to pursue design in college which was a given. It wasn’t until my junior/senior year of college when I started taking notice that maybe I could create for a living. My first projects consisted of designing a few clients’ was my roommate’s sister wedding save the dates and wedding invites following being known as the person who created graduation cap designs, and that was just the beginning.
After graduating college I somewhat still didn’t have a grip on what I wanted to do so like any other graduate I spent countless hours applying for jobs and interviewing for any and almost every position you could think of. It wasn’t the best moment in my life very much stressful and discouraging knowing that I had this passion yearning inside to create but didn’t have, “enough experience,” which led to me somewhat compromising for the time being. I realized in the season of me working at a job that didn’t satisfy my hunger to create. It seemed out of nowhere, but I started to receive projects through word of mouth to create a plethora of things which sparked delight in my life.
Once that began I knew that I had to continue to pursue the passion while perfecting and practicing the craft to create. So, I went back to the drawing board and applied for internships, apprenticeships paid and non-paid opportunities just so that I could learn and do what I didn’t mind doing for free. (I know it sounds cliche but following the passion isn’t a made-up thing) So I want to say for the next year to two years I would be working as a design intern for two companies and would take on the role as an art director for a pop-agency based in Dallas. These opportunities allowed me to see the ins and out of running a business, working with people, what it meant to be responsible, how to be well-rounded when it came to creating and not just one dimensional, and the list goes on.
In the midst of all of these jobs, I would be applying tips learned to my actual business, and I can say while it wasn’t easy I can say that every job that I ever had prepared me in different ways to create my own. Still, to this day I can’t believe that I have gotten this far with room to keep evolving and stretch to places that one has never been before.
Where I am today is still loading. How I got to where I am today is definitely because of my faith in God and the support system that I’ve been blessed to have around me. I don’t think I would be where I am today with those things.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has been far from smooth, but I feel that the good outweighs the not so smooth moments that I have faced. Many times I’ve thought to myself whether or not this was worth it and if it even made sense to pursue something that no one around me understood. But this inkling in my soul that wouldn’t allow me to quit nor stop.
Its as if when I had those moments, I would be reassured by receiving a phone call or email for a new project which opened my eyes never to give up when times got tough. *inserts a line you would hear from a Rocky Balboa movie*
There have also been moments where I’ve lost clients and just honestly dropped the ball after being overwhelmed which sucked but I learned plenty of lessons along the way that has helped me become better at what I do.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
None Of The Above was officially named and taken seriously during post-grad life. Going back to knowing that I’ve always deviated from the straight and narrow path taken I wanted to make sure that the work I created for clients portrayed that same concept.
N.O.T.A. mission is to bring our client’s vision to reality through A to Z conceptualized visual design.
I’m a designer and art director specializing in visual design that ranges from both print and digital design this including conceptualizing campaign strategies, directing video and photography, curating branding collateral for a business/individual, website wireframing and set-up, creating social media activation via Snapchat and social posts, formatting and working to produce print material.
N.O.T.A. is known for most recently animated videos but from the beginning of time, N.O.T.A. has been known for creating logo designs and building websites.
I’m proud that I haven’t I’ve continued to press forward although it gets hard. I’m excited to see that people see the vision that I have as I continue on this journey to make a life of creating.
N.O.T.A. set apart by being purpose-driven, educating clients and having that sense of relatability and connection with every customer no matter how big or small.
What were you like growing up?
As a child, I was very inquisitive… I questioned everything, and I still question everything as an adult. I thought I wanted to be a chef because I used to watch Emeril Lagasse. Then I thought I wanted to be a model after watching loads of Tyra Banks America’s Next Top Model and lastly I had this idea that I could be a race car driver after consuming my mind with a bunch of Need For Speed Underground. I was very friendly and adventurous.
I remember praise dancing up to elementary school then slowly transitioning to playing volleyball and running track all the way up to high school. I found my love for all types of music except for country… seeing that I was around a lot of older people, I caught a wave of all of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s classics which I still listen to til this day.
Like I said previously I was very inquisitive, so I remember cooking by myself and just throwing things together in a pan and baking it, and I remember another instance when I saw pieces of wood in the garage, and I decided to build a bush house in the backyard because there clearly wasn’t a tree. This goes to say that I was very much outgoing and optimistic beyond my time.
Contact Info:
- Website: nota.world
- Email: info@nota.world
- Instagram: nota.world
- Other: shauntelbarron.com
Image Credit:
@ikantv
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