PERSONAL
Tell us about your background: Who is Ashley Huhe and how did you get here?
I was prophetically professed “Best Artist” in my High School yearbook from a whopping 150 people. Pretty embarrassing these days but my love of making things was always a part of my identity. No vote needed. After a 3-year stint at a public university where I studied abroad in England for a year (aka the best year of my life) I transferred to the Minneapolis College of Art & Design where I spent three years and a semester abroad at the Bauhaus in Weimar, unexpectedly falling in love with the German language in the process. I interned with Printerette Press and had a brief moment of letterpress love. I will always love print, always. I spent a semester interning with the French Alliance of Minneapolis / St Paul and The Thorburn Group after graduation. After graduation I decided to nip one of my bucket list items in the butt and headed to Germany for a year to be an Au Pair and work on my German skills. Upon my return I started to work at The Thorburn Group again. Getting to this point has been a whirlwind of adventure that influences my work in perhaps ways I might never realize.
We love your bucket list! You mentioned accomplishing the bucket list item of living in Germany. Any other bucket list items you've crossed off?
I have a ungodly long bucket list and it grows more than things get checked off. My proudest bucket list “check-offs” include:
1. Living and working abroad to learn another language. After graduating I moved to Germany to be an Au Pair for a year. I met some pretty awesome kids (and adults), experienced the culture pretty in depth, and I am able to carry a pretty decent conversation in German. It’s not fluent but it’s conversational :)
2. I have Norwegian, Czech, English and German roots and I wanted to be able to visit all of these countries. I accomplished this in 2013.
3. I’ve gone out to a nice restaurant for dinner alone.
4. I’ve written a short story.
5. I’ve picked grapes for a vineyard (and no I will never do it again)
6. Win a hula-hooping contest (Ok, I didn’t win but I got 3rd!)
What do you do when you’re not working?
I’m passionate about travelling and so I like to do that as much as possible. I also enjoy hiking and yoga but there are days, however rare, where I stay in, drink coffee, and watch Netflix. I also like to socialize with humans after working on the computer for hours on end.
PROFESSIONAL
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I actually wanted to be a Zookeeper primarily so I could bring baby animals that were abandoned home with me in the evenings.
Proudest career moment?
Being offered work right after graduation.
Biggest career challenge-failure-mistake?
I won’t get into the gory details but I learned not to internalise mean-spirited clients. And sometimes regardless of the client's decisions and wants ALWAYS get a physical mock-up from their printer.
BONUS ROUND!
Last three things you Googled:
1. Where the 2018 Winter Olympics will be held (it’s South Korea)
2. Kittens meowing and talking
3. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade tips
Most significant creative influence, inspiration, or creative hero:
I think this is a melting pot of a couple things. First off travel is my most creative influence but with that comes many things like being outdoors and the textures, colors and shapes of nature. Also, being immersed in another culture and other human lives invigorates the mind and presents some of the most subtle changes in thought patterns that can make all the difference to a creative thought.
Current songs on repeat:
"Wenn sie kommen" - Namika
"Not On Drugs" - Tove Lo
"Christine (Tilted)" - Christine & The Queens
Favorite quote:
Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”
-Dumbledore / J.K. Rowling
Advice you’d give your high school self:
Work hard but don’t stress out so much -- it’s going to work out.
Also please don’t try Snus and definitely don’t do it twice -- it’s not going to be less potent in another country and you WILL throw up.
Two truths and a lie:
1. I’m allergic to horses
2. I’ve rode camels and slept in a tent in the Moroccan desert
3. Astronomy was the least useful class I took in College - Lie, it’s been one of the most useful as far as spewing random information out at people.
WNW Member whose work you admire and why:
Annie Ulku - Minnesota girl with some mad illustrative style and type skills
