Creativity Without Boundaries: Barbara Kagan’s Desire for Creativity

Barbara, delves into her unexpected path to a successful career in graphic design working as a newspaper designer and illustrator. Through a 40-year career, Barbara has contributed to various fields such as newspapers, theater, and marketing.

In our latest Creativity Without Boundaries blog, we connected with Barbara Kagan. Barbara has been loyal to QuarkXPress since the 1980s and uses it for all her design needs.

How did you get started in the world of design, and can you tell me a little bit about your journey?

I was always interested in art but unclear as to how to make a living as an artist. I'm not even sure I knew what graphic design was. What changed my life was the summer travelling after graduating from high school. I toured in West Asia with a group of other art students, and we spent the last month of the tour taking classes at Bezalel Academy in Jerusalem.

I then went to Boston University as a Liberal Arts major, which I quickly realized was a mistake, and finally decided to study graphic design only after taking a 10-year gap between my first and second years of college. During that time, I held several different positions at a large, local daily newspaper. It was there that I saw first-hand the careers available for designers.

At age 30, I finally went back to college and got a degree in Graphic Design at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

I recently retired after a 40-year career as a newspaper designer and illustrator, art director for a regional theatre, and marketing designer for a local university. I now work part-time at a local library. I have been very grateful to those who have helped me on my journey.

I held several different positions at a large, local daily newspaper. It was there that I saw first-hand the careers available for designers.

What is it about the world of design that you enjoy the most?  

I love the challenge of taking bits and pieces of information, visuals and putting the puzzle together in a way that captures the reader's interest.

Tell us about a project that you've worked on in the last 12 months that's near and dear to your heart?

I created a series of posters for a local library to promote their seed library. The posters hang in their lobby and describe the process for the viewer.

Can you tell us why you enjoy using QuarkXPress and how it differs from other software?

I began using QuarkXPress while working for a daily newspaper as an illustrator and designer in the early '80s. We were all new to the software and had just come from the world of paste-ups and mechanicals.

The way QuarkXPress made our jobs so much easier was a revelation. I have been loyal to QuarkXPress ever since and use it for all my design needs; I like the familiarity of the software and ease of use.

The way QuarkXPress made our jobs so much easier was a revelation. I have been loyal to QuarkXPress ever since and use it for all my design needs.

What are some challenges you've found with design?

My biggest challenges as a designer are often with clients. Quark lets me create multiple options to show clients, and the ease to quickly change anything the client might have an issue with.

What advice would you offer somebody who is very early in their design career?

Do lots of visual research, read lots of design books, stay informed about the world around you and look at everything for inspiration. Pick your battles and never forget to pay it forward.

Thanks for reading! We'd love to hear from you, so let us know what you liked or what you would like to read more of in this series? And, if you would like to be featured in an upcoming post, get in touch! Contact us at  [email protected]

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