April Who?
My dog’s name is Nintendo. My cat’s name is Corgan.
That might tell you a bit about me! Obvi—I love animals! I have a 5-year-old son, who sparks my imagination and makes me so proud! My husband also works in the design field, so we bore our son often with convos about fonts or photoshop. I love 90’s music and obesess over the Smashing Pumpkins (hence Corgan, the Cat). Yoshimoto Nara is my favorite artist. And I have beaten almost all the Zeldas (get it? Nintendo, the dog).
Hello, I am April Befort, a graphic designer and creative manager with over 16 years of experience. I am looking for my next adventure! I want to be challenged and produce high-quality creative work, especially in an arts or humanities related field. I am also available for freelance work. If you are looking to hire someone full time, or need a freelance project completed with high quality and speed, please fill out the form.
I am an expert-level print designer. I design books, magazines, and brochures with great attention to detail, speed, and high quality. I also am an expert at large-format printing, environmental graphics, direct mail, organizational stationery, and signage. From business cards to billboards, I have done it all!
brand
I create unique brands and thorough guidelines to help businesses grow in their visual language and branch across platforms. The toolkits that I create contain everything a business needs — any logo file, stationary pieces, signage, color swatches and fonts — with the goal that staff can use these tools to create designs themselves.
digital
I design web graphics, web pages, social media posts (animated and static) and reels. I am skilled at creating web ads for clients, working with a small space but getting the best message for the click. I have worked with Sitecore SXA, Figma and Wordpress for website design. I can work on email campaign design within multiple platforms.
what it’s like to work with me:
I prefer to work with straightforward coworkers and managers. I value transparency and team work, but also autonomy when needed. I love a good laugh, and I don’t take myself too seriously. When something goes wrong, I don’t shut down. I rally and correct to the best of my ability. I can work with shoestring budgets. I think it’s important for people to foster creativity in themselves and within teams by doing creative activities, volunteering and attending workshops. I respond to positivity, not pessimism. And, I am a big picture person.
my design inspo
A few of my design heroes are April Greiman, Ellen Lupton, Art Chantry (who has become a great online friend showing me amazing designs and products from the past), and Massimo Vignelli. I love the books “Brave not Perfect” by Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code, and “Never Sleep” by Andre Andreev and Dan Covert. I am a big retro lover and the book “The Birth of Cool” is my mid-century dream!
current and former clients:
AltCap
Paterini & Associates, Inc.
Green RX packaging
Gloss RX
YesterNow Vintage
Dave's Shutters and Blinds
Dazium Design Soiutions
HumaNature Salon
Kansas City Kansas Police Department
KCUR
Kemper Museum Gift Shop
UMKC's Hand Print Press
U.S. Regional Arts Organizations
Mary Kennedy Associates
Sonja Stoskopf & Associates
Leslie Zimmer
Rebecca Blunk (former director of the New England Foundation for the Arts)
people have said…
“April is an inventive & practical designer who produces award winning work. Given high expectations and narrow perameters she comes up with elegant solutions!”
“You’ve brought Mid-America Arts Alliance’s branding into the future.”
“April has produced some very good pieces for the Visual Arts and Humanities division. When given the time, flexibility and freedom to step outside the box, she delivers excellent collaterals we are proud to claim.”
“The design is so nasty and edgy — I love it!”
“Fridays without April is like Tuesdays without Morrie”