Tyler Newman

Tyler Newman does a lot. A recent Stanford graduate, she has also been running a design studio, leading a creator collective, filming content for social media, working on a novel – oh, and learning a new language while she’s at it. It’s busy, to say the least, but the hard work has paid off. From interning at Apple to working with Adobe, Tyler has built a name for herself by taking small steps and seizing larger opportunities. We find out what’s guided her along the way – and what cold emails, “everything journals”, and just doing the thing has had to do with it.

What I do

How would you describe what you do?
I’m a recent Stanford graduate and studied design, creative writing, and Mandarin Chinese. By night, I’m the founder and studio lead of The Design Kids, a novelist and a content creator.

Tyler reading in her dorm room

What are the main influences and inspirations behind your work?
Hayao Miyazaki has been a profound influence on my creative practice. I’ve long admired his masterful storytelling – how the imagery in his films can so effortlessly transport audiences into entirely new worlds. His ability to balance emotional depth with visual wonder has deeply shaped the way I think about both narrative and design.

It was through watching Miyazaki’s films that I first began to recognize the thread between design and storytelling. In my own work, whether through writing or visual design, I strive to create that same sense of resonance: stories that stay with you, long after the screen fades to black.

Would you say you need any specific training for what you do?
Not at all – anyone can pick up a pencil and create. That said, I do think I was primed for creative work from an early age. I grew up in a creative household, with a graphic designer for a father, so sketch pads and visual storytelling were staples of my everyday routine. I started sketching when I was in diapers and was experimenting with Adobe Creative Suite by the time I reached middle school.

Tyler posing with a painting she created with her father, Victor Newman

What’s been your favorite project to work on from the past year, and why?
Designing Stanford’s neighborhood crests. I served as the principal designer and led a team of students in creating the eight crests that now represent Stanford’s undergraduate neighborhoods. Over the course of a year and a half, we worked closely with the university administration, conducted two rounds of campus-wide student feedback and developed hundreds of design concepts before landing on the final set. It was unveiled in Fall 2024 and is now visible across campus.

This project was as much about leadership as it was about design. I initiated it by reaching out to the Stanford administration in 2023 with a proposal: that my student-run design studio, The Design Kids, take on the development of the crests. At the time, the university was seeking student input through surveys and I saw an opportunity for a student-led design team to contribute in a more meaningful, long-term way. To my surprise and excitement, they said yes.

What does a normal day-to-day usually look like for you?
A typical day for me involves bustling between classes, soaking in the California sunshine and exploring new corners of campus, as I’m a senior trying to make the most of my dwindling time at Stanford before I graduate.

Tyler posing at the d.school at Stanford University

Throughout the day, I find inspiration by listening to podcasts and DJ sets. Lately, I’ve been enjoying “aprtment life” on YouTube and “Read the Acknowledgements”, a podcast by The Black List that explores the business side of books.

In the evenings, I settle in to do homework and juggle several creative projects, including writing my novel series, leading on-campus groups like The Design Kids and NEXT Creator Collective, as well as filming content for my YouTube and Instagram, where I document my creative process as an artist.

If there was a starter pack for your job, what would be in it?
It would start with the essentials: a baseball cap, a dark shirt that reads “I’m getting an idea,” and a pair of stylish blue jeans with classic Adidas. I’m usually wearing my black AirPods Max and carrying my chronically heavy, black Dagne Dover backpack. On my laptop, I’m typically split-screening a DJ set on YouTube and a Scrivener document where I’m drafting my latest novel. Inside my bag? My planner, a Wacom tablet, a vlogging camera (normally my DJI Osmo Pocket 3) and my everything notebook.

Tyler's Starter Pack illustration

How I got here

What was your journey like when you were first starting out?
Well, I’m still finding my footing. As a senior graduating into an uncertain economy, I’m facing difficult – but meaningful – questions about what I want to do and where I want to be. That said, I consider it a privilege to even have a choice. To be at the precipice of so much possibility, even in difficult times, is something that I don’t take for granted.

This moment feels less like a landing and more like a launch. I don’t have all the answers yet but I’m excited to live my way toward them, step by step, as a creative navigating both art and the unknown.

How did you go about landing your first few jobs, clients and/or commissions?
In the beginning, I had to create my own momentum. I was still a young and unestablished student, so I learned early on that I had to pitch myself. I approached Stanford with the idea of designing the university’s undergraduate neighborhood crests and they said yes. I cold-emailed over 50 employees at Wacom, asking if they’d consider supporting The Design Kids, the student design studio I founded. Not only did they donate tablets, but they invited me to create social content for them as well.

As I started to build a reputation, the dynamic shifted – clients began reaching out to me. I’ve since done multiple research sessions with IDEO and Adobe’s product teams, offering feedback on early-stage tools and helping shape how they evolve.

Over time, those small steps led to larger opportunities. I’ve now spoken about Gen Z, technology and creativity at more than 20 industry events – including Google’s Thread Count Summit, Instagram’s Story School, the Facebook x Instagram Civic Forum and Instagram Next. I’ve also appeared in CBS primetime news specials, like the Royal Wedding Special with Michelle Miller and Meghan and Harry Plus One with Gayle King.

If there’s one piece of advice I carry with me, it’s this: ask for what you want. I’ve built much of my career on the power of a well-crafted cold email. My friends joke that I’m a “cold email warrior” – but it’s true. The worst anyone can say is no. And sometimes, they say yes.

What has been your biggest challenge along the way?
For me, the greatest challenge has been prioritization. As someone drawn to creative and entrepreneurial work, I often find myself energized by new ideas and innovative opportunities. Early on, I said yes to almost everything – I wanted to do it all. But over time, I’ve learned that doing everything at once means doing nothing well.

As I’ve matured in my career, I’ve come to understand the value of focused energy. I can do many things – but not all at the same time. The quality of my work depends on my ability to choose wisely and commit fully. That’s why I’ve come to see “no” not as a closed door, but as an intentional act of making space. Saying no has allowed me to say yes with more purpose and to give my best to the projects that truly matter.

Tyler moderating the From Hobby to Career panel at Creators on Campus

What skills from your creative work have you found helpful – and vice versa?
The most valuable skill I’ve developed through my creative work is the courage to put myself out there. That instinct – to reach out, to ask, to invite – started in high school, when I began cold-messaging students from around the world, asking if they wanted to contribute their art or writing to my blog, Afro Puff Chronicles. I didn’t let getting rejected or ignored quell my momentum and that fearlessness was instrumental. It helped me grow APC into a global community of 13,000 followers, powered by an international team of over 80 girls of color, while gaining the confidence that set the foundation for the rest of my career.

Afro Puff Chronicles launch shoot

That willingness to share my vision and see who shows up has shaped every chapter since. It’s how I built The Design Kids, Stanford’s first student-led design studio, and NEXT Creator Collective, the university’s first club for content creators. It’s why I created “The Year of Mastery”, a gap year curriculum and community that connected over 1,000 students during the pandemic who were navigating the uncertainty of that moment. It’s what led me to co-found the Women of Color Conference in 2021, a virtual summit that garnered more than 5,000 registered attendees and awarded scholarships in partnership with Boba Guys.

The Women of Color Conference co-leads

I’ve become a sort of torchbearer – someone who leads by saying, “Here’s what I see. Want to build it with me?” And more often than not, people gather. Of course, with that kind of momentum comes the constant challenge of time management, a skill I’m still refining. But more than anything, my creative work has instilled in me a deep sense of confidence, an appetite for risk and an eye for opportunity. These aren’t just professional merits – they’ve become central to who I am as a creative.

How important are social media and self-promotion to your work?
As a creative and content creator, documenting my work and creative process through social media is fundamental. I use these platforms not only to showcase finished projects but also to share behind-the-scenes moments – highlighting the doubts, questions, and challenges I face along the way.

For every polished piece I post, I try to offer just as much insight into the process behind it. This helps me connect with my audience on a deeper level and counter the typical social media “highlight reel” by being as authentic and transparent as possible.

What are three things that you’ve found useful to your work or career, and why?
One of the most valuable tools I’ve adopted is something I call an everything journal. It’s a 5”x6” notepad where I jot down passing thoughts, the seeds of future creative projects, meeting notes – anything that feels worth remembering. Ideas don’t always surface when you anticipate and I’ve learned the hard way how quickly a great one can disappear if I don’t write it down.

A curated online presence has also been essential. For Gen Z, social media is often the new Google. People search Instagram, TikTok, or LinkedIn before they ever find your website. As a creative, I think it’s important to curate multiple access points where people can engage with your work, your perspective and your story. Personally, I’ve shared highlights and milestones on LinkedIn since high school, just one post at a time. Over the years, that consistency has built a following and opened unexpected doors, such as my first internship at Apple. Whether you’re deeply invested in social media or just dipping your toes in, I always encourage people to make their work discoverable. Visibility builds credibility – and credibility builds opportunity.

Tyler posing with The Design Kids studio team

Finally, a personal board of trustees. Behind every creative is a constellation of trusted voices. I call mine my “board of trustees.” It’s not a formal group – just a handful of people I respect and turn to for guidance, like mentors, friends and family. What they all share is a deep investment in my success and a dedication to my best interest. As creatives, we’re often too close to our own work to see it clearly. When I need to zoom out, these are the people I call on to give me honest feedback. They help me ask the big questions. Is this aligned with my values? Am I still growing? They remind me to refine, to recenter, and to keep evolving – not just as a creative, but as a human being.

Photography for MINT Magazine

What have been your greatest learnings with making money and supporting yourself as a creative?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is this: if you’re a content creator or freelancer, you are a business. Even if you’re not operating under the roof of a traditional company, your work is real – and it deserves to be treated with professionalism and care. That means maintaining relationships with past clients, actively seeking new opportunities and sharing successful projects publicly so others can see what you’re capable of.

The Women of Color Conference partners: Afro Puff Chronicles, Zenerations, Dear Asian Youth, and Diversify Your Narrative

Freelancing has taught me to see myself not just as a creative, but as both the business and the product. That shift in mindset has changed everything. It’s made me more intentional about my online presence – how I show up, what I share and the kind of work I want to attract.

Beyond the mindset shift, there are practical steps too. One of the best investments I’ve made was establishing an LLC. It was a way of formalizing what I already knew: that my creative work is not a hobby but a profession that deserves to be structured, protected and taken seriously.

My Advice

What’s the best career-related advice you’ve ever received?
“Say yes and figure it out later,” said my professor, Allison Kluger.

During a strategic communication course, she spoke about the confidence gap: how women often wait until they’re 100% certain of success before pursuing an opportunity, while men typically move forward once they’re 60% confident. Her message was simple but powerful: bridge the gap. Jump before you’re ready. More often than not, you’re more qualified than you think.

As artists, we’re often hesitant to act on our ideas unless we have external validation or guaranteed success. But creative work doesn’t come with guarantees. Sometimes, you have to “do the thing” simply because you believe in it. Your interest and instincts are valid forms of proof. That in itself is permission enough.

Tyler organizing a Figma 101 workshop at Stanford for over 80 students

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into a similar role?
My favorite piece of advice is simple: just do it. Don’t wait until you have the perfect plan, the perfect tools, or the perfect moment – just start. Too often, we get stuck in the loop of overthinking and overplanning, imagining every possible outcome instead of learning through experience.

No amount of planning will ever replace the insights you gain from simply “doing the thing!” Planning, at best, is an educated guess. Action gives you real data – it allows you to calibrate, adjust, and grow with intention. Mistakes are inevitable, but they’re also your greatest teachers. So whatever it is – your idea, your project, your next step – start now. Even if it’s messy. Especially if it’s messy.

Where do you go to feel connected as a creative?
For me, connection often begins online. During the height of the pandemic, I found an unexpected sense of community on YouTube. I wasn’t posting then – just watching. I immersed myself in the lives and creative processes of artists I admired, many of whom shared their work from bedrooms and studios that looked a lot like mine. It was comforting and instructive, a digital lifeline that kept me grounded and inspired when I needed it most. That digital connection has since evolved into something more reciprocal. Today, YouTube is also where I share my own work, documenting my creative process in real time and inviting others into the journey.

But I also believe deeply in the power of in-person community. In April, I helped organize Stanford’s first ever content creator conference through NEXT Creator Co., the university’s inaugural club for content creators. The one-day event brought together some of the internet’s most dynamic voices as well as representatives from TikTok, Adobe and YouTube.

Whether online or in real life, I’m drawn to spaces where creative energy is contagious. I find joy in being surrounded by people who are building, experimenting, and sharing – and I’m always looking for ways to bring those people together.