Steve Hartman
Images courtesy of Steve Hartman
5(ish) Questions for is a chance to discover and learn about St. Louis Creatives, Community Champions, and, well, just interesting people in and around our city. It's a deep dive into what they love and where their passion lies. It's an opportunity for all of us to see our region from a different perspective. This written interview is a peek into their lives and their outlook on St. Louis.
Hi, Steve! Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m Vice President and Creative Director at Werremeyer Creative, an artist and an advocate for creativity. I oversee the creative output and strategy for our clients at Werremeyer–who are either in the healthcare sector or community services. Volunteerism is an important part of my career. I served on the national board of directors for AIGA, The Professional Association for Design; and served as President of the Local St. Louis AIGA chapter. I also served on the board of The Edwardsville Arts Center. I’m married to an amazing advocate of the Arts, Shawna Flanigan, who changes the world one creative kid at a time from her office at COCA. We have three boys who we hope will become three great men.
Why do you do the work you do?
I love art and being creative. It’s my superpower. Probably stemming from my Mom’s admiration of my creativity as a kid, I always gravitated to the fine arts. It’s what I do best, and it’s what I have to offer our community. There’s some self-satisfaction knowing I can help someone through my talents to make their life a little better.
How did you get started?
I found graphic design as a career option while I was in college. Failing in physics during an attempt to become an engineer gave me an epiphany that I should fall back on my passion for art. The practical side of me sought out a degree where I could see full-time employment out of college. I excelled in Eastern Illinois University’s program and landed a job at The Falk Design Group, now Falk Harrison, right out of college.
What impact are you making, or hope to make?
I hope I’m making lives better through design and marketing. Our clients are a mix of hospitals, senior care centers, and mass transit/community development. We are creating meaningful stories that might save a life or limb; that might help get more people to their job or their Doctor. If nothing else, I’m supporting our clients so that they can be successful in doing the harder work.
What drives you, what gets you out of bed every morning?
I’m driven to be the most creative person in the room. I have a competitive side. I realize that there isn’t race or competition to be no. 1 designer or artist, but I use that competitive edge to fuel my desire to always be better. In the end, this drive should have made one person’s life better.
What are some unique or innovative approaches you take?
Trust. Believe. Back off. I work on a lot of projects that include lots of people to pull off. There is the work, and there is the pre-work. The pre-work, I guess, could be considered as prequalifying the members of the team who are going to help pull off a magazine, or a film. That pre-work is me getting to know my colleagues and understanding their talents and abilities and sometimes, world view. Are they on the same page as me, are they driven to make lives better, too? Are they good? When I walk onto a set, on location, or on the printer floor, I want my friends to feel they have my trust, and that I believe they are great at what they do. It’s how I feel when I walk into my best client’s offices.
How is your industry evolving?
More established Designers are finding themselves in more of a strategic role. Our brains work differently, and the “C-Suite” has found out. On the tactical side, digital is going places further and faster than we can sometimes keep up, so the design teams we build are becoming much more diverse in expertise and knowledge.
What are some of your goals for the next year, or the next 5 years?
In the coming year(s), I’ll be working on helping Werremeyer grow in the health care space. My energy will be spent on keeping my creative mind sharp, learning more about how I as a creative thinker can assist my client’s missions.
What are some of the most important things that our audience can do to support you?
The broadest support that I can ask for is that our community understands the power of creativity in their life and their work. Artists and designers are wired differently, and we can be brave allies. All that I ask is that you consider harnessing that power to help you.
What is the history of design in STL?
I’m more excited about the future history of design in STL. We have some very influential female designers and designers that don’t look like me that are changing worlds through their efforts. As I write this, we just lost architect, Gyo Obata. The legacy of STL design will be how this small midwestern town was inspired by, and developed an inclusive and diverse cohort of great creative thinkers. Note: we still have work to do.
What inspires you about St. Louis?
That Arch. I drive by it daily. It gives me hope that our community does believe in thinking differently and embracing progress. This doesn’t seem possible in some of the most pessimistic voices, but that’s not me. I have hope that the leaders of our town will “get it.” That creativity is a powerful thing, and embracing the arts can elevate everything we seek to accomplish.
What is unique (or great about) about STL?
STL is a small town in big city pants. We love to know each other, and we love supporting each other and we have a lot of opportunities to grow.
What is a favorite neighborhood or favorite thing about the place you live or work?
I live in Edwardsville, IL and work in Webster Groves, MO. Both are very similar, and both have great historic downtown vibes. Sandwiched between these two home-baked cookies is a lot of cream-filled goodness that I like to hang out. There is a great restaurant in just about every neighborhood in STL, but lately, the SLU corridor and The Grove/ Tower Grove neighborhoods have been attracting our family. DeMun and the Central West End have our attention, as well. While we are comforted by our small-town vibes in Edwardsville, we are inspired by what we experience in the urban neighborhoods. That’s the balance that we like to experience with our whole family, to make sure we make memories in all kinds of environments.
What’s your current cultural obsession?
Soccer. It’s new to me, but definitely not to St. Louis. It’s what my sons love, and they’ve taught me to love it, too. We’re very excited about the St. Louis CITY SC coming soon. The footy community is a blast… the bars, the banter, even Ted Lasso and Roy “Fucking” Kent get me excited.
What do you do in your spare time?
Spare time? I create art. Paintings mostly, ceramics occasionally, and fine art photography. Remember when I said I chose design in college because I thought I could get a job? Art was my first passion. It’s what I was always happy doing and where I was always successful. So, I keep dabbling and making and sharing my art. Currently, my work is up in St. Louis Lambert International Airport as part of their Art + Travel program. It’s kind of side hustle, but any art that sells goes straight to our famili’s current cultural obsession of club sports fees and hopefully season tickets to see STLCITYSC games. If I retire from graphic design, I expect to keep my creative flame alive through art.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Sitting alone in a coffee shop or restaurant. There is a quiet recharge that happens when I can sit, be still, but be inspired by strangers and the space I’m experiencing. The guilt might set in as it might seem selfish, but really it’s not. Everyone could use some “me time.”
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