Tori Boykins, Graphic Designer, Kansas City Royals by Makers of Sport®

<p><a href="https://twitter.com/toriboykins">Tori Boykins</a> is a creative with many layers. A boxer, entrepeneur, graphic designer and gritty midwesterner, Tori joined the show to discuss her long journey breaking into the sports design scene, first at the Kansas City Chiefs, and currently as a graphic designer with the Kansas City Royals.</p>

<p>From majoring in interior design at a Big Ten university known for engineering, to starting a business in college and running it six years, Tori has had quite an eclectic career. We attempt to peel back the many layers of her story beginning with a love of art and geek culture as a kid in Cincinnati, Ohio.</p>

<p>We discuss how she got sucked into "old school mentality" choosing to attend community college to get an associates in graphic design after already obtaining a Bachelors in Interior Design years earlier and founding a small business.</p>

<p>Tori also elaborates on how a black-owned design studio in Texas gave her a chance as a design intern, as well as how pitching free projects to real, underserved sports brands such as women's boxing and a local basketball team led her to an interview with an NBA team and an eventual gig in the NFL.</p>

<p>Throughout the episode, we discover a common theme of Tori's midwestern grit and hustle, as well as how important humility and risk-taking are when it comes to pursuing your dreams in the sports business.</p>

<p>Lastly, Tori touches on the importance of learning new skills and why she hopes to leave a positive legacy for minorities that come after her in the sports design industy.</p>

<p>Mentions Include:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://toriboykins.com">Tori Boykins Portfolio</a></li>
<li><a href="https://instagram.com/toriboykins">Tori Boykins on Instagram</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/toriboykins">Tori Boykins on Twitter</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.j12designs.com">J12 Designs</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AlamoCityAztecs/">Alamo City Aztecs</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BWycABnHNQF/">Tori's WBC &amp; IBF women's boxing poster</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/">UnderConsideration's Brand New</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/ashleystrauss">Ashley Strauss, Creative Director, Detroit Lions</a></li>
<li><a href="https://makersofsport.com/episodes/57/ashley-strauss">Ashley Strauss on MoS</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/Its_Gies">Jordan Giesler, Brand &amp; Creative Manager, Kansas City Chiefs</a></li>
<li><a href="https://makersofsport.com/episodes/105/jordan-giesler">Jordan Giesler on MoS</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/Wienck">Caitlin Wienck, Design Manager, Kansas City Chiefs</a></li>
</ul>

<p>My next guest is <a href="https://instagram.com/matthalfhill">Matt Halfhill</a>, the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of <a href="https://twitter.com/nicekicks">Nice Kicks</a>. Matt is an early 2000s Interent entrepeneur that has made a living his entire life working for himself providing breaking news, commentary and history in the sneaker industry.</p>

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<p>Additionally, if you enjoyed this episode, please rate and/or write a review of the show on <a href="https://makersofsport.com/itunes"> Podcasts</a> and be sure to follow host <a href="https://twitter.com/tadammartin">@TAdamMartin</a> and Makers of Sport® on <a href="https://twitter.com/makersofsport">Twitter</a> &amp; <a href="https://instagram.com/makersofsport">Instagram</a>.</p>