Today we’d like to introduce you to Tatum Dodd.
Hi tatum, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been working in the creative and design world for a little over 14 years now, and honestly, my career has taken me places I never really expected.
I started out in graphic design and just kind of fell in love with it. I’ve always been a creative person, but once I realized I could actually make a career out of creating things, I was hooked. Over the years, I’ve gotten to work on everything from branding and packaging to print, social media, large-format graphics, and pretty much anything else you can put in front of a designer.
Eventually, I started my own creative business, Odd Fellow Creative. That was a huge learning experience because I quickly realized that running a creative business means being way more than just the person making the designs. I was suddenly managing clients, projects, vendors, timelines, budgets, production, and all of the little things that come with running a business. It definitely pushed me outside of my comfort zone and helped me grow in ways I probably wouldn’t have if I had stayed strictly behind the computer.
I’ve also been really fortunate to work on a pretty wide range of projects and with a lot of different types of people and organizations. I think that’s one of the things I enjoy most about what I do. I’m constantly learning something new, and I really enjoy taking someone’s idea, figuring out what they’re actually trying to say, and turning that into something people can see and connect with.
And probably one of the coolest parts of my journey is that my work has taken me beyond the computer too. Who knew I’d eventually be painting large-scale murals on buildings around Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee? Definitely not me when I started out. But I think that’s what I love about this career. You never really know where being creative is going to take you.
So at this point, I’m just excited to keep learning, keep creating, and see what the next chapter looks like.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not. I don’t think anyone’s road is ever really as smooth as it looks from the outside.
There have been a lot of ups and downs in both my career and my personal life. Building my own business has been one of the biggest challenges because there’s no real safety net when you’re the person responsible for finding the work, keeping clients happy, managing the business, and still trying to be creative.
And then there’s the side of owning a business that nobody really prepares you for. I had been a W2 employee my entire life, so suddenly having to figure out business taxes, bookkeeping, expenses, invoices, and all of the financial side of running a business was a whole new ball game. I definitely learned a lot through trial and error. There were plenty of moments where I thought, “I’m a designer. Why am I suddenly having to understand taxes?” But it taught me a lot and made me much more confident in running my own business.
On a personal level, I’ve also had to navigate losing two important people in my life, my best friend and my dad. Those were incredibly difficult experiences, and they definitely changed my perspective on life. They reminded me how important the people around us are and how quickly things can change. As hard as those losses were, they’ve also taught me a lot about resilience, gratitude, and not taking the people or opportunities in my life for granted.
I’ve definitely had moments where I questioned whether I was doing the right thing or if I should take a completely different direction. But I’ve learned that things don’t always go according to plan, and that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re failing. Sometimes you just have to adjust, learn from it, and keep moving.
I’m still figuring things out, honestly, but I think that’s part of the journey. The difficult parts have made me more adaptable, more resilient, and much more comfortable with figuring things out as I go.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a graphic designer and creative director with over 14 years of experience, and I specialize in helping businesses and organizations figure out how to visually tell their story.
A lot of my work revolves around branding, but I’ve never really seen myself as just a “logo designer.” I like looking at the bigger picture. What does the brand feel like? How does it communicate? How does that identity carry through a website, packaging, social media, print materials, signage, or even a giant wall? I really enjoy creating those connected pieces so everything feels intentional and cohesive.
I’ve worked across a pretty wide range of industries and projects, which has probably become one of my biggest strengths. I can go from developing a brand identity to designing packaging, creating a social campaign, working on large-format graphics, or figuring out how to turn an idea into a mural on the side of a building. I like that no two projects are exactly the same.
What I’m probably most proud of is building Odd Fellow Creative. I started it because I wanted to create something that felt like more than just another design studio. I wanted to be a creative partner for businesses and organizations that may not need a full-time designer but still need someone who can understand their vision, think strategically, and actually help bring it to life.
I’m also really proud of how much I’ve grown beyond just the creative side of the job. I’ve learned how to communicate with clients, manage projects and vendors, understand budgets and production, solve problems when things don’t go according to plan, and run an actual business. Those are things you don’t necessarily learn in design school, but they’ve become a huge part of who I am as a creative professional.
I think what sets me apart is that I genuinely care about the “why” behind the work. I don’t want to just make something that looks good. I want to understand what we’re trying to accomplish and why it matters. I’m also not afraid to get my hands dirty and figure something out if I don’t know how to do it yet.
And I think the fact that I’ve gone from sitting behind a computer designing to literally painting large-scale murals on buildings in Franklin and Nashville says a lot about how I approach creativity. I’m always willing to try something new, learn as I go, and see where an idea can take me.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was definitely the awkward kid growing up. I never really felt like I completely fit in, and I think I spent a lot of time trying to figure out where I belonged. I was always a little different and honestly more comfortable with a pencil and a sketchbook than I was trying to figure out how to fit in socially.
Art became a really important outlet for me. I found a lot of peace in it, and it was one of the places where I felt like I could just be myself. I took my first graphics class in middle school, and I remember pretty quickly thinking, “Oh, this is what I want to do.” From that point on, I never really changed my mind. I knew I wanted to be a designer.
When I got into high school, I really started discovering that I could actually draw, and I absolutely loved it. I would spend hours drawing and creating things just because I enjoyed it. It was something that came naturally to me and gave me a sense of confidence that I didn’t always have in other areas.
Then, of course, I had a teacher tell me I would never make it as an artist.
I don’t think they realized it at the time, but that probably became one of the biggest motivating factors in my life. I guess you could say it became my life’s mission to prove them wrong.
Looking back, I think being the kid who didn’t always feel like I fit in actually shaped me in a good way. Art gave me a place where I did feel like I belonged, and eventually I realized I didn’t need to fit into someone else’s idea of who I was supposed to be. I could create my own path.
And more than 14 years into a career in design, I guess that kid with the sketchbook wasn’t completely wrong about what they wanted to do after all.
Pricing:
- $1,500 – THE SUPPORT PLAN – Best for businesses that need a designer regularly, but don’t have enough work to justify a full-time hire.
- $2,500 – THE CREATIVE PARTNER – Best for Teams that have a steady stream of creative work and want someone who feels like part of the team.
- $4,000 – THE CREATIVE DEPARTMENT – Best for teams that need an experienced designer consistently involved in their marketing and creative output.
- One off projects are priced based upon scope of the project.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.oddfellowcreative.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oddfellowcreative
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oddfellowcreative
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oddfellowcreative
