I’ve been an animal lover all my life. I grew up with a ton of pets but missed out on having that companionship while in college. After I graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (as an advertising design major) I decided to adopt a pet. I went to about ten different shelters trying to find the perfect animal, but along the way I realized I wanted to help save more than just one.

That’s when I discovered MARS (Midwest Animal Rescue Services). They’re a no-kill rescue organization. After going through their volunteer training, I concluded that most volunteers were interested in doing hands-on work with the animals but none were skilled to market MARS. I told the organization that I wanted to help strengthen the voice of MARS through their online and offline presence.

Now I’m designing print work for them (brochures, etc.) and advertisements. I’m an administrator on their Facebook page, where I respond directly to future and current adopters. I’m also helping to organize fundraising events for 2012.

In the future, I would like to continue volunteering as a freelance designer for nonprofits. I feel the way a charity presents itself to the world has a tremendous effect on how many resources it can generate in order to give back.

Throughout my four years in high school, I was in the National Honor Society. During that time, I collected for local food shelters, organized fundraising events and tutored as an ELS (English as a Second Language) teacher. Since I did so much volunteering in high school, I wanted to find a way to fit it into my life again, even though I work full time as a designer and model. Nothing in my life can compare to the feeling of giving back to others.


Taylor with a her cat, Luke, that she adopted.

BIO

As a kid, Taylor Olson always wanted to model. As she got older, she wasn’t sure if she should pursue modeling or go to college. She chose to focus on college but throughout her time there, people continually told her to consider modeling. After graduating in 2011, she went for it and got in contact with a salon to model for them in their hair show last summer. That was the first real modeling opportunity for Taylor. Then, while shopping at the Mall of America, getting an outfit for the show, Taylor was discovered by Anna Alschbach of The Network, who asked her to consider being on Remodeled.

Taylor is an artist at heart and loves to paint and draw. Now that she’s working in the commercial side of art, she has become interested in digital art. She also loves to cook and bake and has a food blog at http://taylorskye.wordpress.com/. She is very excited to be blogging for The Network Community as well!