Taylor Loughry ’21
Posted on: October 26, 2023
Digital Media
Occupation: Graphic Designer
Taylor Loughry (’21) found her gift at North Greenville University (NGU).
“More than anything, NGU helped me find my creative spirit,” she said. “After taking my first graphic design course, I was hooked. I began freelancing, and my professors and peers were so encouraging.”
Serving as the Editor-in-Chief of NGU’s student news website, The Vision Online, during her time at NGU, Loughry began laying a foundation for her career.
“This taught me leadership skills and paired alongside my design portfolio, I believe it’s what led Altar’d State’s Creative Director to recruit me for their graphic design position in Knoxville, Tennessee,” she said. “I’ve gotten to do things I never would have dreamed of in under two years’ time. Altar’d State launched an athleisure brand, AS Revival, and I designed the logo and branding, which was such a huge career goal of mine.”
Loughry recently illustrated “An Octopus Named Olivia: What Could You Do With Eight Arms?” by Joli Oliver Elder.
“A family friend saw my work on my graphic design Instagram account, so she reached out, asking if I would illustrate a children’s book she had written,” she said. “I had never done anything like it before, so it was intimidating at first. Two years later, all of the hard work paid off, and the book was published. It’s currently being sold in Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and Amazon stores. I couldn’t be more proud, and I would absolutely say it’s one of my biggest accomplishments.”
Since illustrating her first children’s book, Loughry has been asked to participate in two more similar projects. She said being available and open to new experiences has allowed her to succeed.
“My advice to any young designer is to say yes to any and every project you can get your hands on,” she said. “Freelancing and internships were a great way for me to do this, and they were both instrumental in growing me as a designer. It’s what has made all the difference in the world for me. As a designer, your eyes will constantly be growing and evolving; you will notice things that you never would have noticed a year prior. I see this consistently when looking back at my old work, and it makes me really happy knowing that I’m improving every day with every project I do.”
With new opportunities on the horizon, Loughry said she hopes to continue using her skills to make a difference.
“I recently decided to take a job for Palmetto Moon’s corporate office as a graphic designer, and I’m so excited for the growth and opportunity that is ahead of me. I am so excited to get to know this brand better while growing as a designer, a leader, and a creative. I have many goals that I am constantly working towards, but I have my sights set on Charleston for the foreseeable future, and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me there,” Loughry said.
