Leslie McDougall

Leslie McDougall is a California native living in North Minneapolis. Her creative journey began as a kid by tracing letters from her father’s type specimen catalog.

After high school, Leslie took art classes at Cuesta College, a community college in San Luis Obispo, CA, where she rediscovered her creativity. At her father’s urging, Leslie put together a portfolio and applied to the Graphic Design Program at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. It was a relief to be accepted and a thrill to graduate a few years later.

Her first design position was for Pierre Rademaker Design in San Luis Obispo, California. The three-person boutique agency allowed her to learn a lot quickly by working on a variety of design projects including advertising, packaging, signage, menu, posters, branding, and even interior design. Within two years one of her wine label designs was awarded recognition in Communication Arts magazine.

Leslie has since enjoyed working for small, medium, and large creative agencies in San Francisco and Minneapolis. She is the creative director and owner of Stir Creative, a boutique design consultancy in Minneapolis; faculty at North Hennepin Community College’s Graphic Design Program, and is a co-chair for AIGA Minnesota’s annual renowned conference, Design Camp.