Conversations with Justin Gilbert

Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Gilbert. 

Hi Justin, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in a small town with a population around 1300 people located on the Southern Ute Reservation in Ignacio Colorado. I was surrounded with strong influences from my Southern Ute and Hispanic heritage, like the Bear Dance, Sun Dance, and grandparents that spoke Ute, Spanish and English. Being brought up with these influences is what made me who I am today. I was also fortunate enough to have loving parents and family that really supported and encouraged me in all the endeavors I reached for. Growing up next to Durango and Fort Lewis College I was able to play football and continue my higher education. In 2012 I was able to graduate with a Double Major in Business Administration and in Marketing. These accomplishments introduced me to a whole new but related career. After graduating, Sky Ute Casino Resort gave me the opportunity to become an intern within their marketing department. There I worked a number of different jobs but eventually fell upon a New Media Specialist position. In this new position, I was given the opportunity to create graphics for magazines, pay-per-click ads, flyers, poster, digital signage of all sizes, even things as small as table tents. Granted I had very little experience with design at the time, it opened up the door that brought me to where I am today. Having found a new path, I decided to peruse a Master’s Degree in Visual Communication and Design at Arizona State University. In my time at ASU, I was able to design many things, but I am most proud of the UMU game I created to help revitalize the Ute language. This is still a project I work on today that means so much to me. After graduating from ASU, I found jobs were hard to come by. It was the classic we want people with experience but we don’t want to give you experience scenario. So, I decided to create my own opportunities. I created Kuvua Design to focuses on uplifting our indigenous communities through design. Since I have created Kuvua I have had the chance to design for small indigenous businesses as well as large entitles ranging from beaders, clothing companies, nonprofits to designing a football helmet for ASU, helping create the newest issue of Turning Points Magazine, and working with the State of Colorado. My main goal is to help indigenous people with professional designed graphics to create a successful brand. First impressions are everything when it comes to a potential new customer and I hope to help our people with these challenges. I am still a new and small company, but I am learning more each day and each job I get the chance to work on and I am grateful for these opportunities. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think the biggest obstacle I ran into was trying to find a job. It seemed that having the education wasn’t enough. The good thing of running into this obstacle is that it helped me grow and overcome it. It helped me create Kuvua and I am truly happy I had this challenge. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
With Kuvua my focus is on identity design. This includes logo design, packaging design, business cards, letterheads, layout design, typography, and business guides. What I am most proud of is that majority of my designs have been to help indigenous communities in some kind of way. Like creating t-shirt designs encouraging the importance of Fatherhood or shirt designs encouraging the strength of the Ute people during the hard times of Covid. I feel like the most excited I have been was when I created a helmet design for ASU for Hispanic Heritage month. Seeing my design on the football field, helmets of the players, and seeing people walking around the stadium with the design on their back was breathtaking. Also knowing that it was on national television took my design to another level I feel. 

Kuvua Design has been a group effort from the support and design ideas from my wife Francine and really encouragement from my family back home in Ignacio and here in Apache junction. It wouldn’t be possible without them.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
JUST DO IT. It’s not just a tagline from Nike. I know it kind of sounds cliché but in my experience, I feel that the times I just told myself to do it was the times that led me to the most important moments in my life. From meeting my wife, creating my business, to taking on jobs I wasn’t 100% about. Having that frame of mind allowed me to have the courage to start new paths. 

Contact Info:

• Email: kuvuallc@gmail.com
• Website: www.kuvuadesign.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/kuvua_design/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kuvua-Design

Image Credits
Sun Devil Athletics