In Conversation with Liz Wertheimer

Tell us about your background: 

My career path is the opposite of linear. I feel like I fortuitously stumbled into my profession but had always loved graphic design before I even knew what it was. I would sign off letters with a logo instead of my name and my bedroom walls were covered with CD packaging art and pages I liked from magazines. I grew up in Westchester County which is just north of NYC and Manhattan became the backdrop to my professional and personal journey.

At one point I thought I had wanted to be a writer, specifically a music journalist. When I was 16, I worked up the nerve to cold call my way as an intern for high school credit at this independently run magazine called SPIN. I tried to soak up all I could but kept finding myself bored writing up meeting notes and I would wander into the art department, happy to be scanning images all day. That boredom never went away but I didn’t listen to it. After attending non-fiction writing workshops and my first year of college, I traveled cross-country to San Francisco with a friend and taught silk-screening to kids in a local community center while also working at a silk-screening/design studio - I was a total nightmare for my parents who just wanted me back in college! But at that point, I had learned how to earn my own way and that graphic design was a passion worth pursuing. I ended up leaving Oberlin College (in Ohio) and transferring my credits to School of Visual Arts (in NYC) where I studied Graphic Design and Advertising. 

Graduating in 2001 was a hard time to find employment, so I freelanced within magazine marketing departments and non-profit agencies focused on rebuilding Lower Manhattan. Word of mouth got me more jobs at magazines like Allure, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Rolling Stone to name a few. After a few years, I had wanted to branch out of publishing and to start moving up in position. An opportunity arose with a small branding and retail store design firm looking for someone to lead their graphics department. It was a period of amazing collaboration, award-winning designs, incredibly long hours, and personality management. I quickly got burnt out though and after freelancing again in publishing, I joined PVH Corp’s Creative Services department. We were responsible for multiple fashion brands, but I was mainly on Van Heusen for print, digital, and video projects domestically and internationally. We did photo shoots with huge budgets for Pro-Football Hall of Famers as well as small side projects. I left to be a consultant after my son was born with them as my biggest client. I spent the last few years with PVH Corp’s web design department, helping them with a multi-brand e-commerce website launch by art directing imagery as well as designing digital marketing material alongside in-house developers. Right before the pandemic hit our shores, I was beginning to look for full-time employment again where I connected with Kristy Hurt hoping she would represent me or have a lead. After a great conversation, we started working together helping people with their career profiles and streamlining their CVs into one-page resumes. I’ve also recently started working with The CO-LAB helping with design and branding—it has been an amazing experience to be able to connect with others right now. 

What do you wish you’d known when you started out?

I wish I’d had known that mentors come in all forms. I was always looking for this one person in the industry who would help me find my way and voice. It took me a long time to realize friends, bad bosses, great bosses, clients, vendors, and co-workers can all be impactful — that mentors are everywhere. Relationships are so extremely important and successful projects come out of an environment where sharing ideas and collaboration is welcomed.

Best career advice you've ever received?

To show up and work hard. That it is OK to be scared because that means it is a risk worth taking. Being creative in a business setting can be challenging because you are putting yourself out there and design can be subjective, but everyone will immediately recognize hard work.

What has been the biggest challenge in your career so far? 

Anyone who knows me knows that I much prefer to be behind the scenes or the camera. Being in any sort of spotlight is the opposite of my comfort zone. Pretty early in my career, I had to learn that public speaking or presenting with an authentic voice is extremely important for growth and that I can help starting designers (who feel the same) find their way.

And for fun, what is your favorite wardrobe staple?

I am a big fan of mixing vintage finds from local shops or travels with a really good pair of jeans but you will never see me without my rose gold GOOSE ring. Goose is my son’s nickname and I really like looking down while I work and being reminded of him, especially when I am at my most stressed.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizwedesign/

Portfolio: www.lizwertheimer.com