My name is Laurel Kelley, and I’m a graphic designer based in Des Moines, Iowa. I live here with my boyfriend, and together we love frequenting local spots like The Breakfast Club, Barnes & Noble, and an amazing Mexican restaurant called El Rodeo. I work part-time as a client representative at a chiropractic clinic, where I get to practice customer service, social media marketing, and advertising skills. When I’m not working, reading, watching reality TV, or spending time with my boyfriend, you’ll often find me wandering bookstores with a vanilla latte in hand or sketching spontaneously on my iPad using Procreate.
My passion for art and design is clear, and my journey to earning my bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and Media Communications has been anything but typical. After graduating high school in 2019, I initially studied Interior Design at my local community college. I loved the creative process, but when COVID-19 forced classes online in 2020, the lack of in-person interaction made it challenging. I decided to take a break from school to focus on work and save money. During that time, my love for books deepened—not just the stories, but their covers, the smell of pages, and the charm of bookstores. This inspired me to combine my passion for books and design by pursuing graphic design, with the goal of creating unique and captivating fantasy book covers.
I sought a program that could accommodate my busy schedule while helping me grow as a designer, and in Summer 2025, I proudly graduated with my Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and Media Art. I continue to develop my skills and explore new creative directions every day.
If you’ve read this far, thank you! I’m proud of everything I’ve accomplished so far and excited for what’s ahead. I invite you to explore my work and connect with me on the social media platforms linked in the top and bottom right corners, where I share updates on my graphic and illustration projects, along with behind-the-scenes photos and videos. You’ll also find many of my designs on the "Works" page, where I explain my inspiration and creative process during different stages of my creative learning journey. Thanks for following along!
