SMC³ Behind the Scenes: Rachel Turpin
Authored by SMC³ on March 14, 2025
Recently, I had the privilege to chat with SMC³’s graphic/UI designer Rachel Turpin, to talk about all things Rachel – her role, her inspiration and the importance of her design work that our customers see every day!
What inspired you to become a graphic designer, and how did you end up in this role with us?
From a young age, I had an unusual fascination with logos. While other kids were busy drawing princesses or superheroes, I was perfecting my sketches of the Nike, Adidas, and Reebok logos. It wasn’t until high school, when I enrolled in a digital design class, that I discovered graphic design as a potential college major and career path.
Before joining SMC3, I worked as a graphic designer for a government contractor, where I felt my skills were underutilized. My primary responsibility was creating technical graphics for Department of Defense (DoD) proposals. Although I am grateful to my first employer for giving me an opportunity right out of college, I was eager to transition into a more creative role. SMC3 provided me with that chance.
How do you stay current with design trends and ensure our products remain visually appealing?
I follow several graphic designers on social media and frequently visit my favorite design firm websites for inspiration. It’s incredible how much you can learn just by following people on Instagram or YouTube. We live in an era where everyone is eager to share their work, and they do so often. However, it can be challenging to distinguish between genuine design evolution and fleeting bad design trends. The key is to filter through the noise by focusing on designs that are grounded in fundamental principles and communicate effectively. While it’s important to push the envelope, it’s crucial not to venture into the realm of fine art. When designing for products, the primary focus should be on the consumer, not on gaining approval from avant-garde designers.
User feedback is so important, how do you incorporate it into your design work?
Given that my work is inherently visual and subject to diverse opinions, feedback is an integral part of the process. In User Interface (UI) design, I rely heavily on feedback. The primary goal of UI design is to ensure that users can interact with the product effortlessly. The only way to confirm I’m on the right track is by presenting the product to users and asking for their input on areas for improvement. It’s a puzzle I enjoy solving, and it can only be completed with feedback.
Can you share an example of a time when your design significantly improved the user experience?
The 2015 corporate website redesign marked my first significant contribution to enhancing the user experience. As part of the marketing team, we completely overhauled the design, copy, and functionality of our website. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many people praising the substantial improvements over the previous site. The project spanned a year and involved multiple teams, making it a major win for the company. It also served as my introduction to UI design.
When you’re not working, what do you like to do for fun?
Oh man, I love questions like these! I’m someone who works to live, not lives to work, so I fully embrace the fun. Right now, I’m working on Halloween decorations for my front yard. I’m cutting out and painting four-foot Peanuts characters to recreate the story “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” So far, I’ve completed two of the ten characters. When I’m not painting Peanuts in my garage, I’m busy designing the interior of our home, reading, or spending time with my three boys and husband.