Rising Stars: Meet Cody Theil

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cody Theil. 

Hi Cody, 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 went to a small high school in Muskegon, MI where many of the students came from affluent families. They knew what their plan was for “The Real World” and knew how they were going to get there. I did not. 

In my junior year, I took a class at the Muskegon Area Career Tech Center. It was a graphic production course that I enrolled in because I REALLY wanted to make a T-Shirt. I thought that sounded like the coolest thing ever. Little did I know I had discovered my passion. After finishing the program at the top of the class and winning 3 regional skills competition medals, I had a feeling graphic design may be a strong skill set for me to pursue. My freelance career began then with small jobs for family friends where I practiced logo work for “clients.” (Looking back on the work, I’m sure my parents were paying them!) 

But after high school, I still had no plans. Until I met my (eventual) wife! 

She believed in me and encouraged me to enroll at Muskegon Community College. As a first-generation college student, I was extremely nervous and had no clue what higher education was all about. On top of that, I was financing it myself, working solely within the creative field. 2 years flew by, I learned more than I could have ever imagined, and walked away not only with my first degree but a substantial grant to start my own business on behalf of the college! 

My idea was to employ design students who struggled to get work due to their lack of experience and provide affordable marketing solutions to local companies. We killed it. Over 3 strong years, I tripled my grant money in revenue and put half of that back into West Michigan students’ pockets. 

I was also studying at Grand Valley by this point, another thing I never thought I would be able to accomplish in life. By the time the pandemic came around, it became too much to manage, and I made the tough decision to let it go. I was also getting job offers from local companies, wrapping up my Bachelor’s degree, AND planning a wedding! So, I let it dissolve into a steady freelance career, and I feel accomplished knowing that many of my friends that I worked with are now working in the creative fields they love. I hope I can take a little bit of credit for that. 

Today, my wife and I living & working around Grand Rapids with our two dogs. I practice freelance design, am involved with multiple design clubs and associations, and freelance whenever I can find the time. Not bad for a kid who felt lost just 7 years ago! 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The road has never been smooth or straight. But when it got rough, I put on bigger tires. 

There’s no one challenge that sticks out, but life constantly presents problems that we’ve got to learn how to solve. I’m no stranger to death, divorce, mental and physical sickness, moving, losing jobs, poverty – any of it. But I truly believe that the only thing we can do is to make the best out of any situation we’re given. For us and the ones we love. So even if I end a day only getting 1% better, at least I’ll never go backward. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Now, as a recent grad (and I’m done going back!) I am freelancing as well as working for a large design agency downtown. Transitioning from in-house design positions to a nationally acclaimed award-winning firm has been a massive change of pace. My coworkers are real professionals and skilled communicators. In many ways, I feel as if my education is just beginning. We approach every job trying to maximize our client’s voice to communicate to their market as clearly as possible. This always takes different forms, but we excel in simple, effective brand messaging. The key is to always do a little extra. 

How do you define success?
There isn’t a universal definition, but as I touched on earlier, I believe success is being able to rest happily at night knowing that your efforts have pushed yourself and the ones you love at least 1 percent forward. 

Contact Info:

• Portfolio:  codytheil.com
• Instagram: @codydavistheil
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cody.theil
• Other: https://www.behance.net/codytheil1?