May 4, 2021
This episode of The K.P. Wee
Podcast features something a little different – a look at the
business of sports through the prism of digital design. K.P.
welcomes Sydney Noland, who has been the Seattle Seahawks’ in-house
digital designer since 2019. Her journey, which started somewhat
accidentally, has offered Sydney access to colleagues she enjoys, a
sport she has come to love and artistic challenges that make every
day an opportunity for growth.
An Indiana native, Sydney
initially moved to Seattle because it was where the Navy had based
her husband. She was a recent graduate of Ball State in search of
design experience of any kind. She applied for dozens of internship
positions, but the Seahawks were the only potential employer to
offer her an opportunity. She has since gone from football neophyte
to an integral part of a pro franchise, learning all the ins and
outs of the sport along the way!
Not only has Sydney helped
establish the Seahawks’ online presence with her contributions to
print media and digital platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and
Instagram, she has also worked on app development and created
templates that empower other members of the Seahawks team to
contribute digitally. Learn about what it’s like to be on a
professional sports team’s digital media team, including some
practical career advice and tips for managing potential bumps along
the way.
If you’re a fan of this
podcast’s intro music, please follow Roger Chong:
Twitter @chongroger and Instagram @chongroger
KEY TOPICS:
- (02:00) – Intro to Sydney and a
bit about her background.
- (05:00) – The existence of
“sports design” as an actual industry niche was all new to Sydney,
who fell into it through luck and circumstance.
- (05:50) – What a digital
designer’s day-to-day looks like, especially in the context of
promoting a sports team.
- (07:28) – When it comes to
planning digital campaigns and content, Sydney draws inspiration
mostly from her own imagination.
- (08:31) – The off-season
affords a little bit of a break, but Sydney’s calendar is still
busy year-round with new projects to plan and execute all the
time.
- (10:45) – Sydney delineates
some of the differences between various aspects of digital design
within different media contexts.
- (11:49) – The fun and less fun
elements of being a digital designer. It tilts heavily towards the
fun!
- (13:52) – Where Sydney was when
she first heard that pandemic was threatening to force a lockdown,
shut down offices and put a pause on all professional
sports.
- (16:28) – How the transition to
working remotely has impacted Sydney and others on the Seahawks
team used to a lot of face-to-face social interactions.
- (17:45) – How Sydney balances
work and family as well as structuring her time on the job at
home.
- (19:00) – How Sydney’s Bachelor
of Fine Arts supported her career ambitions and what inspired her
to pursue graphic design.
- (20:27) – How resilience played
a crucial role in Sydney’s dream. She was initially rejected by
Ball State’s art department but persevered!
- (21:56) – College provided the
basics, but actually entering the real-world practice of digital
design required some hands-on learning along the way. Participating
in Ball State’s “Digital Corps” was a critical piece, along with
internships Sydney lined up over her college years.
- (24:10) – Marketing tips for
aspiring digital designers who want to raise their profile and
cultivate their brand:
- Establish a personal website featuring your portfolio.
- Showcase work at online platforms like Behance.net.
- Network with other sports designers.
- Post frequently on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and other
social media websites.
- (26:12) – Finding a mentor
starts with reaching out. You never know which young creative will
be generous with their time.
- (27:43) – How Sydney initially
found out about the possibility of work with the Seattle Seahawks
via Glassdoor. She followed up by researching the team online and
staying open to learning about something entirely new.
- (29:05) – A few final thoughts
from Sydney for aspiring digital designers – especially those with
an interest in the sports sector.
KEY QUOTES:
- (04:40) – “I never had a
thought about football – barely knew anything about football –
compared to now!”
- (06:41) – “Nowadays we’re even
more into the digital realm because of COVID and pulling back on
print, realizing how valuable these digital spaces
are.”
- (09:44) – “People always ask,
‘What are you doing in the off-season?’ And the answer is A
LOT!”
- (11:50) – “The most fun part
about my job is just seeing a big campaign come together as
expected and looking great.”
- (12:02) – “I love the
creativity that goes into my job and that my co-workers are so
trusting of my abilities … We’re always trying to do something new,
something different.”
- (15:30) – “(Pandemic) was a
wild time for all of us, trying to figure out how everything was
going to work, which we eventually did. It was just a crazy
time.”
- (17:00) – “I’ve gotten closer
to my boss and other co-workers from the pandemic because we’re
messaging each other more … making time for each other. I’ve gotten
used to it, but it was weird at first.”
- (20:15) – “I’ve always just
loved art and been very passionate about it.”
- (21:13) – “To anyone listening
out there: Failure does not mean it’s the end!”
- (26:17) – “If you find someone
you’re inspired by and they’re willing to be a mentor, talk with
you, answer questions and give you feedback from time to time, I’d
say just reaching out is the first step.”
- (29:10) – “My biggest piece of
advice is, ’Don’t accept that failure is the end of the road.’
Sometimes you’re just being turned in a different direction for the
moment and there’s something better up ahead than what you had
planned.”
Follow Sydney:
Website: https://sydneynoland.com
@LinkedIn
Online portfolio website:
https://www.behance.net
About K.P. Wee:
K.P. Wee is the author of
multiple books and a regular contributor to sports radio programs
and websites. In addition to hosting The K.P. Wee Podcast, he also
enjoys writing sports and psychological fiction with a twist of
romance. He spent a decade working as a program developer and
instructor for a private school before joining the
Vancouver Canadians baseball club’s
media relations department.
You can find out more about books by K.P. Wee
here.
Follow K.P. Wee:
K.P. @Twitter
Additional episodes of the K.P.
Wee Podcast: https://kpwee.libsyn.com