Katherine Hutchison

Founding partner and artist, Project7 Design

Age: 37

Spouse: Eric Hutchison 

Reasons she is a Forty: She owns a business that actively gives back to nonprofits in her community through design, art and marketing. She has the ability to forge strong, positive and lasting personal relationships that flow into her business relationships. She has a unique combination of creativity, marketing, and practical and technical skills that make her a strong role model for youths in the community.

What are your goals in your role at your company? My goals are always to foster a workplace that is warm, welcoming, productive, kind, creative and fun; to work with clients that have goals that align with our values and do good things for the individuals and communities they serve; and to create art and design that adds value to our city.

What are your goals for your community involvement? As board president of the After School Arts Program and board secretary of Girls Rock Des Moines, I am actively working to make learning art and music of all kinds accessible for marginalized and underserved populations in our city. Both organizations strive to make sure that access is not denied due to socioeconomic status. It is important to both organizations as well to foster creative, inclusive and caring environments for young people to learn.

What's your biggest passion, and why? My biggest passion is doing good things. As our motto at Project7 Design, we strive to work with businesses and organizations that allow us to think creatively, do good work, and in turn make an impact to help drive business and nonprofit initiatives forward for those we work with.

What is it that drives you? It has always been important to me to use my time and talents to give back to those in need. It has just been ingrained into who I am since my teenage years, as I found so much inspiration volunteering at the community center where I grew up. I feel like there is so much inequity around us and those who are able must give back to those in need to create a better balance.

What are your future aspirations? I would love for Project7 to do more work to bring art and color to our community. That could be anything from public art installations to a mural on the side of your business, school or nonprofit.

Three hobbies: I am an avid crafter, specifically in fiber arts – embroidery, crochet, sewing, punch needle. I am also really into music, going to shows, being outdoors, traveling and yoga.

Fun fact: She once took a motorcycle trip to the Himalayan mountains with a group of 11 other women after knowing how to ride a motorcycle for only six months.

One word to describe you: Crafty.

What is your wish for the Central Iowa business community? Specifically for Des Moines, I would wish for an additional local music venue that has a 1,500-or-so capacity.

What's one piece of advice that you would give to a young professional? A piece of advice I received when we started Project7 was in regards to pricing our services, and it is still on a Post-it note on my desk. Three words: want, afford, fair. If you consider this every time a deal is proposed, it will work out. Make sure the work is something you want your business to do and that it is something the client also wants. Make sure it is affordable on both ends financially, and fair for all involved.

What is one issue you would like to see Central Iowa leaders address? Protecting our youth from lawmakers who are imposing anti-LGBTQ laws that are forcibly outing transgender students.

Anything else you haven't addressed that people must know about you? I believe in equity for all. I believe in giving back to those in need. I believe in taking care of one another. I believe in kindness. Kind is cool.