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Walk into Flint Hills Design in North Newton, and you immediately know this is a place where art happens.
The loft-style office provides plenty of open space to think creatively and work on the many different kinds of projects this “jack-of-all-trades” design business handles.
They offer services ranging from graphic design to Web work to museum exhibits.
“I enjoy the variety,” said Joel Gaeddert, who owns the business. “It’s lots of fun to be able to work on a Web site in the morning, then go back in the shop and work with your hands. ... I really enjoy the flexibility and responsibility that comes along with owning your own business, choosing who you get to work with.”
Gaeddert is a Bethel College graduate and started Flint Hills Design about three years ago. He worked for Kauffman Museum for a while before starting his own business doing Web sites.
“That just sort of took off,” he said.
The business began receiving requests for other types of work and has done print materials, mobile apps (such as those for iPhones and iPads), marketing and more.
The business also collaborates with Kauffman Museum to create museum exhibits.
“The collaboration works well for both of us,” Gaeddert said. “We can put both of our groups of staff together ... to take on bigger projects than we would be able to take on by ourselves.”
Recently, they have worked on a traveling exhibit called “The Bison: American Icon,” a traveling exhibit for NEH on the Road, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and managed by Mid-America Arts Alliance in Kansas City.
The creative process
Gaeddert said the secret to good design is starting off the process by asking what you are trying to communicate through the project.
“Good design communicates well and communicates the message you are trying to tell clearly and succinctly in a way that’s interesting and exciting,” he said.
The creative process can include drawings, sketches, mock-ups, prototypes and full-size tests.
When the business works on a museum exhibit, they can create 3D computer renderings, but Gaeddert said it’s nice to create physical 3D models so you can play with the pieces, move them around and see what arrangement works best.
Flint Hills Design has three full-time employees, but Gaeddert also relies on a team of part-time employees and contract workers.
“It’s a great group of local artists and craftsmen,” he said.
Although he could have placed his business in a larger metropolitan area, he said he likes the feel of the community, and being in the Newton area simply feels right.
“I like the lifestyle and the pace of life around here,” he said. “...I’ve enjoyed working with lots of groups...in this region. That’s been lots of fun.”
For more information about Flint Hills Design and the services it offers, visit www.flinthillsdesign.com.
Walk into Flint Hills Design in North Newton, and you immediately know this is a place where art happens.
The loft-style office provides plenty of open space to think creatively and work on the many different kinds of projects this “jack-of-all-trades” design business handles.
They offer services ranging from graphic design to Web work to museum exhibits.
“I enjoy the variety,” said Joel Gaeddert, who owns the business. “It’s lots of fun to be able to work on a Web site in the morning, then go back in the shop and work with your hands. ... I really enjoy the flexibility and responsibility that comes along with owning your own business, choosing who you get to work with.”
Gaeddert is a Bethel College graduate and started Flint Hills Design about three years ago. He worked for Kauffman Museum for a while before starting his own business doing Web sites.
“That just sort of took off,” he said.
The business began receiving requests for other types of work and has done print materials, mobile apps (such as those for iPhones and iPads), marketing and more.
The business also collaborates with Kauffman Museum to create museum exhibits.
“The collaboration works well for both of us,” Gaeddert said. “We can put both of our groups of staff together ... to take on bigger projects than we would be able to take on by ourselves.”
Recently, they have worked on a traveling exhibit called “The Bison: American Icon,” a traveling exhibit for NEH on the Road, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and managed by Mid-America Arts Alliance in Kansas City.
The creative process
Gaeddert said the secret to good design is starting off the process by asking what you are trying to communicate through the project.
“Good design communicates well and communicates the message you are trying to tell clearly and succinctly in a way that’s interesting and exciting,” he said.
The creative process can include drawings, sketches, mock-ups, prototypes and full-size tests.
When the business works on a museum exhibit, they can create 3D computer renderings, but Gaeddert said it’s nice to create physical 3D models so you can play with the pieces, move them around and see what arrangement works best.
Flint Hills Design has three full-time employees, but Gaeddert also relies on a team of part-time employees and contract workers.
“It’s a great group of local artists and craftsmen,” he said.
Although he could have placed his business in a larger metropolitan area, he said he likes the feel of the community, and being in the Newton area simply feels right.
“I like the lifestyle and the pace of life around here,” he said. “...I’ve enjoyed working with lots of groups...in this region. That’s been lots of fun.”
For more information about Flint Hills Design and the services it offers, visit www.flinthillsdesign.com.
