The arts always held a special place in 2011 graduate Kelcie Marquardt’s heart, but she didn’t know throughout high school and college that the career path she chose in high school would lead her to be a brand designer for Nerf, which she said is “commonly referred to as the coolest job in the world.” Now, her life is filled with a mixture of trips to different cities for toy fairs, time spent sketching new designs for a Nerf guns and “cubicle blaster battles” with her co-workers.

However, Marquardt spent her high school career sampling a variety of classes, from art to advanced math, and remaining involved multiple of clubs and activities, such as volleyball, debate, forensics, swing dance and track, which she believes all contributed to her future in design.

“Having a base of biology, anatomy, math and English helps me interpret all of this different information and produce a graphic representation that is authentic and easy to understand,” Marquardt said via email. “Yes, yes, I happily admit it, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Rodkey, Mrs. Deuschle, Mrs. Mattingly, Mr. Strickland, Mr. Hileman, your respective subjects have helped me in my creative field.”

Specifically, teachers like gifted facilitator Carmen Shelly influenced Marquardt in a way that still affects her today.

“When it came to making decisions, Mrs. Shelly and [paraeducator Debbie] Likes were not afraid to ask, ‘Where do you want to be? What will it take to get there? Are you willing to do what it takes?’” Marquardt said. “Every few steps forward, I continue to ask myself those questions. That gut check – that self awareness – is incredibly important to me.”

According to Shelly, Marquardt’s activeness and willingness in school also contributed to her current career.

“Kelcie always had an idea accompanied by the energy to make it a reality. Her ideas came from her insatiable curiosity,” Shelly said. “She had so many ideas that she just needed to talk them into focus and then the time to bring them to completion. She had the ideas, and I supported her efforts by moving them through any school channels for permission.”

After enrolling in a graphic design class through the Olathe Northwest vocational technology program her junior year, Marquardt knew that design was what she wanted to do once she graduated.

“Graphic design offered the creative outlet I craved paired with the analytical substance I needed. At its very simplest, design is creative problem solving. And design is everywhere. The logo on your sneakers, the design on your T-shirt, the lock-screen on your phone, the school you are walking through – all intentionally designed,” Marquardt said. “Once I started to see that, things started to change. I realized that everyone, in every industry, needs design in some capacity. That is what makes being a designer so interesting; every day is a little different from the last.”

Before working for Hasbro, Marquardt had a 6-month internship through the company and Drexel College, which later led to her full-time job there.

“She took the basic job description of the internship and worked her way into other aspects of the business because she has the skills and the energy,” Shelly said. “I’m not surprised that Hasbro wanted her on their staff after her graduation. They must have realized the multifaceted gem they have.”

Marquardt views her job at Hasbro as something to look forward to when it comes to both the people and work.

“I consider myself one of the lucky ones; I love going to my job every single day. The Nerf team is an incredibly talented group of product designers, marketers, engineers and graphic designers that I feel inspired to work alongside. Each person brings a very specific skill set to the table, [and] it is thrilling to see a product line come together,” Marquardt said. “It’s also exciting to brainstorm new concepts for segments or products with such an eclectic group of people. It’s not normal to talk about zombies regularly at work, but it is a staple part of my job to imagine what blaster qualities would best take out a zombie horde.”

However, moving away at the age of 18 and remaining away from home proved to be a feat for Marquardt.

“Kansas holds a very special place in my heart. But, I felt it was important to take a calculated risk and move to Philadelphia to pursue a bachelor of science degree in graphic design. That is not to say that the process was not difficult, but I did chose the right college for me,” Marquardt said. “At the time, it wasn’t necessarily a permanent move in my head. It was a four-year commitment. Then I would reevaluate and transition to the career phase of my life. Simply put, choosing a university in the northeast put my friends in the northeast, my love in the northeast and my career in the northeast. The next step is trying to make a home in the northeast. That just takes time.”

Regardless of her struggles, Marquardt used to ability to travel because of school and work to her advantage.

“Give yourself the opportunity to study abroad or travel at some point in your life. Trust me, it is so worth it. Seeing New York, San Francisco, Dublin, London, Paris, Rome, Tokyo and (perhaps more importantly) the precious towns in between has had a profound effect on me as a designer and me as a person,” Marquardt said. “To be honest, traveling has helped me appreciate my home in Kansas that much more, and I can totally seeing myself returning someday.”

In the end, Marquardt believes that she chose the best career path for herself.

“Aside from being on the Nerf team, being a part of the Hasbro family is a treat. Regularly seeing the innovation from the My Little Pony, Disney Princess, Transformers, Monopoly, Marvel and Star Wars teams is endlessly fun. Hasbro is the perfect place for a kid at heart.” Marquardt said. “Being in the toy industry is the best – I can’t help but smile thinking about it.”

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