Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Dolezal.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
From a very young age, I was obsessed with art, drawing, and logos. As a child, I spent a lot of time drawing the Nike Swoosh and Jumpman logos (Michael Jordan was a personal hero of mine at the time). When all of my classmates were in the band, I was in the classroom drawing. In high school, I took all of the available art classes until all that was left were independent studies.
All of this happened during the dark ages of technology where personal computers were not commonly found in homes, and design software was in its infancy – just old school pencil and paper. In college, I bounced around from department to department – Art Education, Biology/Pre-Dental, Economics. It wasn’t until I completed a degree in Economics from Kansas State University that I realized that I wanted nothing to do with Economics for my career.
Around this same time, I felt a pull towards making art and exercising my creative skills again. I returned to school and completed a design degree just a few years later. After graduation I took a job working for a fun little branding agency in Dallas, Texas called Kendall Creative. That opportunity allowed me to stretch and grow my foundational design and brand development skills.
From 2008 to 2011, I worked full time and also completed a Masters of Fine Arts degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. In 2012, I left Kendall Creative to pursue a full-time professor of design position at the University of Texas at Arlington… I have been there ever since. In 2018, I challenged myself to design a logo every day and post it to Instagram (you can see these by following @okayestlogo).
Throughout the year, I designed logos for the alphabet, numbers, local companies in need of a logo makeover, National Parks, U.S. States, and random pop culture references. This challenge helped me to recover from a creative slump and improve my design skills. I experienced a boost in my creative energy and willingness to experiment with design aesthetics that might have initially been outside of my comfort zone.
One additional side benefit of this project was the number of businesses and organizations that contacted me for help designing their logos (and brand identities). I picked up enough clients to go ahead and launch my own creative studio called “Homegrown Aesthetic.” (More to come on this later)
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?
Yes, it has been a relatively smooth road. The biggest challenge that I have found is finding time to manage my responsibilities to my family, to the University I teach at, and to my clients. It has taken some time, but I have learned how to be more organized and make better use of my time each day. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough hours in the day to do all of the things I would like to do.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Homegrown Aesthetic – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I (Ben Dolezal) am the Founder and Creative Director of Homegrown Aesthetic, a company that specializes in brand development, logo design, web design and development, packaging design, and creative strategy. We are a small creative firm based in the Lake Highlands area of Dallas, Texas.
I am most proud of the process our company uses to work with clients, Our team listens to client needs and develops custom solutions that get them the results they seek. This tailored approach ensures that the client and end-user needs are being met at every stage of the development process – from planning to testing and beyond.
What sets us apart is the quality of the work we do. Our passion for logo design and brand development has been recognized nationally by LogoLounge. Our award-winning team of designers delivers great work that is functional and filled with personality.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I would like to see Homegrown Aesthetic continue to grow and help new clients with their creative needs in 2019. My goal is to work closely with a variety of business, both locally and nationally.
We are currently working on a couple of projects for clients outside of the region that we are excited about. It would be great to continue to see that momentum continue and build this small creative team into a recognized and respected entity in the North Texas region.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.homegrownaesthetic.com
- Phone: 214-537-0452
- Email: dolezal@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/okayestlogo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/okayestlogo/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/okayestlogo
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
