Hailey Akkerman

Background

About Hailey Akkerman

In the words of my dad, I am one "creative cat" who started doodling as a child and never stopped. From drawing fanart of anime as a child to illustrating work for full-blown product campaigns, the one constant in my life is that I've always been drawing. Sure, I could've pursued something more practical or prestigious, but at the end of the day as long as I'm illustrating I'm happy! I grew up in Idaho and headed to college at Northwest Nazarene University (a lengthy 7 minutes from home) to study Graphic Design. As someone who's always been skilled in technology,(starting off with a Nintendo Gamecube) I loved getting to dig deep into graphic design and learn programs that truly translate the ideas I had in my head into tangible work. I took a semester abroad to study at Dongseo University in Busan, South Korea. Despite not knowing how to read/speak Korean and knowing no one, I took the plunge and was rewarded by experiencing a wonderful country with even more wonderful people. I was so inspired by the city and the mingling of modern culture with the deep-rooted Korean traditions. From ancient hillside temples, to the sandy beaches of Gwangali beach, to the nights out dancing at 3am my thirst for creative inspiration only grew. After getting a taste of adventure in college it was difficult graduating into the pandemic in 2020. Being trapped in lockdown during what was supposed to be a celebration of finishing a great milestone was a major gut-punch. Nevertheless, it furthered my resolve to explore the world around me and take in everything that I can. I want to see all the world has to offer and seek out all the creative inspiration I can find. I currently work at Scentsy as a graphic designer. My job consists of designing many different types of things such as wax bar labels, social media posts, various other packaging, and designing catalogs and brochures. A very rewarding position that is never dull or the same design twice! My co-workers know me as the gal who's desk is completely decorated in art and figurines (I've currently got 28 figures up there), a talented illustrator, and someone who always has something funny to add. There is so much out there still to create and so many ideas to bring to life. I'm excited to be able to grab a pencil and get to work.