Kate Prange, a distinguished graphic designer and former creative director, has experienced an extraordinary journey that took her to various corners of the world. Her journey of self-discovery, exploration and growth from a fast-paced industry steered her home to the slower pace of community, this time as a dedicated professor at Lakeland University.
Prange, who grew up in Sheboygan and attended Sheboygan North High, believed that her upbringing in this tight-knit community had a profound influence on her character. “I never got rid of those Midwestern values,” she said. While pursuing her education in Milwaukee, Chicago, and even across the globe to cities like London and Paris, she eventually realized that her hometown held a special place in her heart. “I went away, did my thing and missed my hometown.” Prange stated, “I never understood what home really meant until I left.”
Her first experience living independently in Milwaukee took an unexpected turn when her landlord, a drug dealer, blew up her house, a shocking event that opened her eyes to the realities of the world outside her small-town bubble. “That was the first time I thought, ‘I should have never went away.’ I lost my art portfolio, I had to start over, but that was an enlightening experience for me. I didn’t know anything. I trusted people and it was a different world out there.”
Prange’s journey continued as a first-generation student with no internship experience before graduation. Her determination and big ideas led her to her first job at the John Michael Kohler Art Center. “I literally went into Ruth Kohler’s office. That was my first job, that really set the stage for the rest of my career to be honest.” With a career spanning major brands like Pepsi and collaborations with celebrities like Cher, Scottie Pippen from the Chicago Bulls, and Aerosmith, it has given her insights into the field. “I don’t know how I got these opportunities, but I did and got to meet people I never thought I was big enough to meet.” She encourages her students to dream big and emphasizes the importance of ideas, creativity, and presentation. Prange envisions one day seeing her students receive an academy award. She expressed, “I envision my students in places doing things they’re telling me they want to do right now. I envision them there. That’s my role.”
Transitioning to Lakeland University, Prange noticed a significant shift in pace compared to her previous roles. “Everything was so fast before, expectations were fast pace, it wasn’t even high, it was just different. There were people everywhere. Here, I drive through a cornfield and get stuck behind a tractor and it slowed me down.” This slower pace, combined with the pandemic-induced slowdown, allowed her to assess her goals and aspirations. “Lakeland allows you to do that. It’s not slow-paced at all. Maybe it’s the drive here, the pace of life in a smaller community that allows you to really focus and figure out what you really want.”
One very unique suggestion Prange offers her students is to consider taking an acting class. She credits her passion for the arts from enrolling in a course during her junior year of high school with Linda Ellsworth. “I just needed it as an elective and realized I loved the arts. I started doing theater set designs and I was the student director with the plays then.” Her only art course was during her senior year where she made a flamingo bass guitar. “People called me ‘flamingo’ because I was tall. That was my first exhibition at the art center. I truly believe I succeeded because I took acting classes.” While it may seem unconventional, she emphasized the importance of performance. “It’s not necessary that you have to act to get a job,” she clarifies, “but it’s the performance and ability to understand how to engage an audience or present information.”
Her advice to aspiring designers: “If you feel you’re not good enough, make the effort to show them that you are.” In a competitive field, hard work and dedication are essential, but Prange encourages designers to push beyond self-imposed limitations. “There are no limits for them,” she said. “Being from a small town, I never saw the glass ceiling. I never want my students to feel like there is one, because if I can do it, anyone can.”
Sharing her experiences with her students, she wanted them to realize that there are no limits to what they can achieve, regardless of their backgrounds. Emphasizing that the big takeaway from graphic design to creative direction and anything in life is that there are no limits. Prange said, “do what you want to do, now is the time to make it happen. That’s why I get so excited about teaching, because I see the potential in these students.”
Her return to the slower pace of Lakeland’s small community has given her a unique perspective on life. “A rolling stone never collects moss,” a friend once told her, and Prange has taken this to heart. Lakeland’s slower pace has allowed her to focus on her career goals and take on the challenge of shaping the next generation of designers. We are glad to welcome Prange back to her hometown and look forward to the impact she will have on the community.
