Spotlight on Staff | Kim Spears, Principal

Kim Spears, the head of WHA’s Architectural Graphics Studio, provides strong leadership and project management skills to a creative team of graphic designers to produce and deliver exceptional quality work for city submittal packages and entitlement approvals, multi-media presentations for city meetings and marketing graphics for new home sales. Please join us for a Q&A session with Kim.

1.) When did you realize that you wanted to be a Graphic Designer?

I excelled in art, all through school, which lead me to go to the University of Michigan for a dual degree in Graphic Design and Industrial Design.  I enjoyed both but my passion was in Graphic Design, print collateral and corporate branding.   When I started interviewing, I stumbled upon a few architectural firms looking for a Graphic Designer.

Well, it came down to two offers: a printing company and an architectural firm.  I loved the concept of designing for a homebuyer and the creative expression of graphic communication for selling homes (Industrial Design +Graphic Design).  I also enjoyed corporate design for firm’s marketing efforts, designing logos and newsletters and developing the corporate look of the firm (Graphic Design).

2.) Tell us about your journey to become a Graphic Designer in field of Architecture?

Well, my junior high school Biology teacher knew I was creative, interested in art and excelled in art and painting. That teacher wondered if I might be interested in the field of architecture, which I was. I took an interior design pre-college course and had a great time prior to graduating from high school.

After looking at colleges, art schools and universities, I chose the University of Michigan.  There were a lot of possibilities.  It was a well-rounded school and it had a lot of creative areas which helped in the admission process. The art school was together with the School of Architecture. There was a lot of creative energy, creative people and amazing teachers – a lot of late nights.

Graphic Design was the passion, Industrial design provided insight into the creative process, ideation, creation and tangible products. Classes in art history, while interesting, were boring to me.  How many times can you analyze a Madonna and Child?  On the other hand, Architectural history, and learning about details, buildings and planning concepts was off the charts, due to an amazing professor.  All in all, the University created a huge opportunity for many things.  Freelance projects included logo design, TV animation and other print collateral.

My first “real” job, during high school summers, was working for the local County and their facility management department. I had fun creating presentations, project photography and print collateral for booklets and marketing materials for the various city departments.  Being a lifeguard was fun and I learned a lot about being patience, teaching kids to swim but it wasn’t a career builder.

My first job in architecture was with Danielian Associates. I designed their logo, working in the marketing area and then onto graphics for their design projects. I stayed there for eight years.  I left to work with a co-worker in Las Vegas at an Engineering & Architectural firm called G.C. Wallace but I missed the trees… the trees and the beach.  I came back to Southern California and joined WHA; that was 20 years ago.

3.) What’s your favorite thing about WHA?

The creative energy and a diverse office culture made from extremely talented individuals.  I also love the idea of taking an idea, making it tangible and from a blank piece of paper (or computer,) creating the vision of the project, which comes to life.  Having the opportunity to shape my career and grow with the firm was been very rewarding. Thanks Bill!

4.) What was the most exciting project you’ve worked on at WHA?

There have been so many it’s hard to decide.  I truly have enjoyed working throughout the process from the beginning through the life of the project and how it can impact the home buyer on the biggest purchase of their life.

The Projects…

The Bluffs along the Santa Barbara Coast. From its beginning in 2001 to the final built project in 2007, working from the start of the design process and city entitlements to providing the marketing graphics for homes sales was a nuts and bolts experience.

Ladera. Starting with the first village through all of the WHA projects and developments we have created with our great clients, to our newest submittals for The Ranch: Esencia, and now the next phase.

The Villages of Lakeview. Learning about the processing of a master planned community, working on multi-media presentations for all of the city, neighborhood and staff meetings. I really got an understanding of the design process including city requirements and the demands from the outpouring of local homeowners.

Vista Del Puerto.  An interesting and creative design project in Dana Point which inter-connected three city blocks with a variety of projects.  It included a creative submittal from design, rendering concepts and design solutions.

Lastly, all the notable Gold Nugget entries which I have worked on from the beginning of design to city entitlements. I helped to generate the submittal packages which have been prepared over the years for many award winning projects.

5.) Do you have anything to say to young people who are interested in graphic design and want to join this industry?

It’s a great and creative industry and it impacts how we live. You get to meet a lot of interesting and talented individuals (from clients to consultants and co-workers) who all work towards creating interesting communities and developing placemakeing environments in which we live and thrive.

Also, learn from your teachers and professors in school.  Listen and grow and get inspired from our industry leaders and those you work with.  Learn all the software programs you can in school.  If you have the tools and software behind you, you can learn anything.  Do something you are passionate about and your work will be endlessly fun and creative.

6.) What do you do in your free time?

I love to travel and see great and amazing places.  According to MSN just recently I have seen half of the 25 world’s greatest museums in the world.  I feel honored to have had the ability to do so.

– Enjoying wine destination trips and vacations with our friends across the country. It helps when your husband is a sommelier in the wine industry.

– Play golf when time permits.

– Enjoy sharing a good bottle of wine with our family and friends.