A Seat at the Table

A Seat at the TableDESIGN + DESIRE

When you sit face-to-face with Daryl Bell, two things immediately stand out:

One, there’s no questioning the fact you’re in the presence of a very bright, self-aware, extremely creative, deeply determined, and quite formidable woman; and Two, Mrs. Bell seems to be still getting used to the idea that she’s being recognized more everyday in the rough-and-tumble business world for bringing these same qualities to bear as a professional in her craft.

The Owner and President of Design Brilliance here in Lawrence has had her share of tough moments and doubts as she’s risen to be clearly recognized as one of the top Brand Marketing and Design companies in the Midwest. She explains, “When I first started this company six years ago,

and I had very few clients – and some days very little work and barely a work table – I’d still jump out of bed and get dressed for the day as if I had multiple clients and meetings, and conduct my day in a way that made me feel like I was already successful.”

She continues, “And then, as I acquired more and more clients and began to receive recognition both in the industry and in the business world, I actually started having to deal with ‘Impostor Syndrome.’ I found myself constantly asking internally, ‘Do I really deserve this? And, in a broader, external sense as a woman in a male-dominated business environment, am I even supposed to have A Seat At The Table?’”

And, herein lies the dichotomy of a Bright Star: It shines so ebulliently that it’s impossible for everyone not to notice, but at the same time that star remains floating in an infinite universe, utterly and fully dependent on it’s very own energy to survive. Without the intangible rocket fuel of self-acceptance and self-worth, both the star and the human being’s very survival hang in the balance.

Bell graduated from KU in 2007 with a degree in Visual Communications. It didn’t take long for her prowess to be acknowledged,

as she garnered an A-7 Design Award from AIGA KC that very same year. As she continued to further both her craft and her business acumen, 2013 saw her become a Graduate of Leadership Lawrence. 2014 followed with a tremendous honor in being named Kansas Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the Kansas Department of Commerce.

Through it all, Daryl has chosen clients and projects based on integrity and passion, as opposed to just chasing money. She clearly reasons, “In my view, there’s no such thing as ‘work-life balance.’

You’re always making a trade of some sort, and the most important choices I make are with my time. I’ve made a conscious choice to be open to the idea that people and creativity, combined with passion, provide far more fertile ground for success than simply money. At the end of the day, I’ve always wanted to be client-based, as opposed to just business-based, because to me, the quality of the people involved in a project can ensure its success.”

This idea of ‘quality people’ runs as a consistent thread in all that Bell does — proven-out by the excitement around another business she recently founded, Hey Sister, a networking and co-wroking initiative for women and gender non-conforming people, with her sister-in-law, Kerry Bell. In an office space for almost four years as she began Design Brilliance, she discovered that the overhead associated with this amenity became unnecessary, as true solutions for her clients dovetailed her creative thoughts with both her phone and her computer.

Still, in giving up her office space, she found a double-edge to that sword. Bell expands, “I noticed that, while I didn’t miss the costs associated with my office,

I definitely missed the interaction I was having by simply getting out into the world and talking to people. Working from home didn’t provide that. I also craved the insight and motivation I could draw from networking with other people in various, inspiring places around town, and from these reflections and more, Hey Sister was born.”

From Vision Board Workshops at the beginning of each year to Special Events like the recent Galentine’s Day Celebration in February, the Bells have constructed Hey Sister to function as a thriving network

amongst women and a genuine opportunity to bond with and learn from one another in an encouraging environment. The tone beneath each get-together is one of acceptance, inspiration, and support, and Bell finds the number of women interested in and joining Hey Sister continues to multiply by the month.

She surmises, “I really believe that so many women deal with issues like questioning selfworth, self-doubt, and the idea of chasing ‘success’ that has been defined for them. I know I’ve dealt with this so much myself, and I feel like we as women deserve to feel good about ourselves and one another, especially within the context of achieving in our everyday lives. I believe we deserve to define success for ourselves, and I wanted Hey Sister to be a vehicle that can drive this type of empowerment amongst women.”

Having recently been awarded the 2018 American Package Design Award by GDUSA - as well as an honor just weeks ago in receiving the prestigious 2019 Gold Addy Award in Cross-Platform Promotional Design by The American Advertising Federation Topeka – Bell insists that the process of continuing to work with passionate clients and do her very best for them stands as her daily pursuit.

The consummate professional, she never wants to rest on her laurels or forget the days of jumping out of bed in the morning and finding a reason to work diligently at her craft and get better, whether she had a table to sit at or not. In those lean days full of questioning, she discovered a great deal about herself - her desire to achieve, her willingness to go the extra mile for her clients, and her resolve.

And, in looking to the future, Daryl Bell can honestly say that through sheer determination, persistence, and perseverance, she ultimately found her chair, walked it right over, and MADE SURE she now truly has A Seat At The Table!!