"When you were in high school, what did you want to be? Are you making a living at it today? Angela Freeman Lewis is, although it took 30 years to get there. As a teenager, she had a burning desire to be an interior designer, "in spite of being shy," she said. No university in Arkansas offered an interior design curriculum, so after a couple of years studying art at Arkansas State University, she transferred to UK. Her father was from Bourbon County, and she had family in Central Kentucky. In 1976, Lewis graduated from UK with a bachelor's degree in interior design.
But getting a job in the field wasn't to be, at the time. She had taken an elective course in graphic design, suggested by her advisor, and a few months after graduation, she interviewed for a graphic design position at KET. The person who hired her was her former graphic design instructor. Ah yes, small world.
Lewis worked at KET for almost 29 years, moving through the different government levels of artist before becoming manager of the print graphics department. As the opportunity for retirement approached, she started planning her career as a self-employed interior designer. She retired from KET in December 2005, which she called her "freedom date," and spent most of that year getting ready for her new business. "I was working full time, doing volunteer work for YMCA Black Achievers organization and planning a new business," she said. "At one point, I said I can't do all this volunteering. It was hard, but I did it." She got her business license in January 2006 and started AF Creative Source Designs, offering interior design, floral design and graphic design.
Lewis took several classes offered by the Small Business Development Center, including QuickBooks, tax planning and writing a business plan. "It was a real learning experience," she said. She found that being self-employed was anything but a solo experience. "If you don't have a particular strength, find someone who (does)," she said.
This year, her first as an independent professional, she has also taken advantage of programs and networking opportunities at Commerce Lexington. "I've gone to more things this year," she said. "I've learned you have to network, network, network to make yourself available and known." Although she loves the freedom of self-employment, starting a business was no easy task. "You work seven days a week, even if it's just thinking. But I still like working for myself instead of someone else."
Because of her extensive background in graphic design, Lewis was able to make her own brochures. And she hasn't left graphic design by the wayside; in fact, she does more of it than interior design at this point. "I really would prefer to do more interior design business," she said. "I intend to grow." She has recently showcased her interior design skills at open houses for her dentist and a bed & breakfast. "I love color and think it is one of God's best gifts to mankind," she said. "I love texture and the feel of different fabrics." Whether it's with fabrics, florals or logos, Lewis feels her design skills create an atmosphere that can positively affect people's environments and moods.
Lewis has spent her first year of self-employment planting seeds and building a foundation for her business. "I've had to do more seed planting than I thought," she said. "I expect next year to be different." In the future, she'd like to have contract designers working for her, perhaps as employees. Now that she's the one calling on potential clients, she's become more respectful and sensitive to others who do the same. Telemarketers, for example. "I'm learning to be more compassionate. If I don't want their service, I can say 'no' in a nice way."
For her graphic design clients, she designs logos, business cards and letterhead, marketing materials, layouts for seminar handouts, and PDF files that can be converted into powerpoint presentations. Clients have been referred to her by some former KET coworkers. "You never know what a relationship can do for you, or what you can do for someone else," she said. "It's all about helping each other."
Even though graphic design will always be something she can "fall back on," Lewis's real passion is for interior design.
"I'll always love it and hope to do it forever," she said, "even if it's just for myself."
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