I love design, but I’m not a traditionally trained designer. I have a good eye for visual art and a great appreciation for it, but I’m not a trained visual artist. (I’m looking to change those two facts in the coming year but for the moment these statements are indisputable truths. More on my future art plans in a forthcoming post…) My brother-in-law, Kyle, is a truly gifted, trained artist. He has an eye and a heart for creating art and design that the world has got to see or it will be our collective loss. I’m doing my part of get his work out of his head and into the world.
At Dan’s suggestion, I talked to Kyle this weekend about designing a different book cover for my e-book Hope in Progress. I love Dan because he gives me criticism in the kindest, most constructive way possible with sparing a shred of honesty. “I love your book, Christa,” he said to me on the train to Philly. “It’s such great content and you deserve a cover that does the content justice. Get a real designer. They’re worth it.” Noted. Thank you, Dan. (If you don’t have a friend like Dan, please get one. Your life and work will be better for having him as a trusted ally.)
Before pushing out Hope in Progress in a variety of formats in a variety of channels, Kyle is going to whip up that cover art for me to replace my current cover. I told him why I chose the photograph that’s currently on the cover of Hope in Progress and in about 5 seconds flat, Kyle took my verbal description and designed a cover in his head that ran circles around my poor several-hour attempt to choose a font and photo to paste into a Word document. (To her credit, my sister, Weez, had the same color scheme idea as Kyle had thought of before he even said it. Apparently being married to an artist can enhance our artistic point-of-view. Check.) This isn’t surprising – I sent him a couple-line email a few months back about designing a logo for Compass Yoga and 30 minutes later he sent me back a logo that I love. Check it out here.
After talking with him about art over the weekend, I also told Kyle I have another project on tap for him – the book I’m working on that uses the principles of yoga to inform personal finance decisions. I have some fun ideas in mind for visuals, which I will sketch out in stick figures and words, then leave it up to Kyle to work his magic. Dan was right – the value of a visual artist as a collaborator cannot be overestimated. Like Dan’s advice, Kyle’s vision is golden, leaving a halo effect on every creative project he touches. I highly recommend him for your next creative venture. A dab of high design goes a long way.
Published by Christa Avampato
The short of it:
Writer. Health, education, and art advocate. Theater and film producer. Visual artist. Product geek. Proud alumnae of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA). Inspired by ancient wisdom & modern tech. Proliferator of goodness. Opener of doors. Friend to animals. Fan of creative work in all its wondrous forms. I use my business skills to create passion projects that build a better world. I’ve been called the happiest New Yorker, and I try hard to live up to that title every day.
The long of it:
My career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, entertainment, technology, and financial services. I’ve been a product developer and product manager, theater manager, strategic consultant, marketer, voice over artist, , teacher, and fundraiser. I use my business and storytelling to support and sustain passion projects that build a better world. In every experience, I’ve used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events.
While building a business career, I also built a strong portfolio as a journalist, novelist, freelance writer, interviewer, presenter, and public speaker. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, PBS.org, Boston.com, Royal Media Partners publications, and The Motley Fool on a wide range of topics including business, technology, science, health, education, culture, and lifestyle. I have also been an invited speaker at SXSW, Teach for America, Avon headquarters, Games for Change, NYU, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The first book in my young adult book series, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was acquired by a publisher and launched in November 2017. I’m currently working on the second book in the series.
A recovering multi-tasker, I’m equally at home in front of my Mac, on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phineas, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching. I also cut up small bits of paper and put them back together as a collage artist.
My company:
I’m bringing together all of my business and creative career paths as the Founder of Double or Nothing Media:
• I craft products, programs, and projects that make a difference;
• I build the business plans that make what I craft financially sustainable;
• I tell the stories that matter about the people, places, and products that inspire me.
Follow my adventures on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christanyc and Instagram at https://instagram.com/christarosenyc.
View all posts by Christa Avampato
I love design, but I’m not a traditionally trained designer. I have a good eye for visual art and a great appreciation for it, but I’m not a trained visual artist. (I’m looking to change those two facts in the coming year but for the moment these statements are indisputable truths. More on my future art plans in a forthcoming post…) My brother-in-law, Kyle, is a truly gifted, trained artist. He has an eye and a heart for creating art and design that the world has got to see or it will be our collective loss. I’m doing my part of get his work out of his head and into the world. 
Christa Avampato 