Niki DiGaetano (Class of 2018)
Blogger Role: Art Alumni Guest Blogger
Major: BFA Graphic Design, 2018
Clubs/Activities: Campus Ministry, Student Activities Crew (honorary member…!)
Current Occupation: I have one primary job – in my major! – Senior Graphic Designer at Todas Design, which has enabled me to start a side business as a freelance copywriter, and another side passion on top of that, which is my death doula practice (too many jobs, but I’m here for it).
How long at current job: Seven years for Todas Design, three as a death doula at Numbered Days, and my copywriting studio, nikileiwrites, just launched this year!
Website: numbered-days.com and nikileiwrites.com
Social Media: @numbereddays.doula (Instagram) @nikileiwrites (Instagram) Niki Lei (LinkedIn)
What was your favorite part about studying art at Marywood?
I love the school as a whole, but the art department holds a special place in my heart. The classes were small and the faculty were top-notch. In addition to being experts at their craft, I could tell they cared deeply about us. They wanted us to succeed, and fostered a sense of community – not competitiveness – among our cohort.
How did your art education at Marywood help your career?
I arrived at Marywood as a transfer student with two full years of graphic design training under my belt. I quickly discovered that I still had lots to learn. Right away, I was impressed with not just the breadth of the art program, but the depth as well. Overall, my time in the art department equipped me with the foundations I needed when I was hired as a junior designer two months after graduation. I walked out of the program with a strong portfolio and a vigorous work ethic – things that both the curriculum and the professors helped nurture.
What attracted you to this career path?
I was always artistically inclined – the kid hunched over sketchpads in the corner, meticulously drawing horses, cartoons, landscapes, and eventually upgraded to portraits. I wasn’t sure what I wanted, but I figured I was bound for some career in the arts. When high school rolled around and it was time for me to give serious thought to a college major, I chose graphic design because I thought it was a nifty combination of art, creativity, digital tools, and marketing – all in one package.
Did your career path match your vision of a career path? What’s different?
Yes…and no. Yes, in the sense that, for the last seven years, I’ve held a steady job at one graphic design firm – a small-business owned by a former Under Armour creative director. He’s trained me up and helped me truly step into my own as a design professional. This role as a Senior Graphic Designer is my primary income, funding my lifestyle and allowing me to pursue my side businesses.
The first, a death doula practice called Numbered Days, sprung about in 2019 when I experienced a career and existential crisis. Then, I decided to lean further into my love for writing by starting my own copywriting studio. Strangely enough, all of these divergent career paths have Story at their core – telling brand stories through visuals, through word, and witnessing stories of grief – and since I’ve always adored stories, that common thread doesn’t surprise me at all.
What is your favorite thing about your current job?
I’m lucky to have a lot of independence in my role, in part because I work remotely. This was a privilege I was granted only after proving myself in-office for three years. In 2022, I navigated a flurry of significant life changes in quick succession. One of those changes included a cross-country move to Salt Lake City, Utah, where I kept that same job and now work out of my cozy home office beneath the mountains.
As well, I love the diversity of projects I get to touch: from retail quarterly print campaigns and tradeshow booths for construction brands, to larger-than-life murals for collegiate athletic programs in the Ivy League and beyond, I work on a wider array of projects than I likely would as an in-house designer. It keeps things interesting!
Are you currently working on any interesting side projects?
Yep! My doula business and copywriting studio! I’m nurturing them both while hustling through my design job. You know that phrase, “your 9-5 feeds your 5-9”? That’s pretty much how it is for me, only it’s more like my 7am-3pm since I work on East Coast time!
Alongside my work endeavors, I’m trying to find time to write my book. It tells the story of how discovering death doula work lifted me out of a mental health crisis while teaching me how to live – all set against the backdrop of a 900 mile hike along the Appalachian Trail.
What are some of the biggest rewards in your career?
For my design job, I love turning in a project well-done, one that exceeds client expectations. It’s highly satisfying to be a small part of a team that elevates brands across the country. There’s also a few choice moments when I spot my work in a retail store, which is always a great surprise.
For my side businesses, there’s a deeply rewarding sense of being able to “grow my own baby.” I love being the one to call the shots. I love diving headfirst into both businesses during busy seasons, or slowing down and resting when I want. My design job is what ultimately makes the other two businesses possible.
What inspires you?
Undoubtedly the mountains. It’s where my soul finds home. It’s an ego-boosting accomplishment to climb them, and yet, they remain a humbling reminder of how very small I am. I find a great deal of my spirituality outside, whether I’m trekking through the peaks or admiring them from afar.
I draw enormous inspiration to live, from, surprisingly, how we die – and this is a huge theme in my book. As difficult as thinking about death can be, I find that death asks beautiful, challenging questions: “How will you choose to live your numbered days? Who will you become?”
Any advice for current art students at Marywood?
Get to know your professors! They care about you, hope for your best interests, and are an absolute wellspring of knowledge and connections. Maintain relationships with as many of your classmates as you can; you never know where it could unexpectedly help you.
And above all, know that your feet may carry you down an unexpected path, and that’s okay. Go with it and trust yourself. Death doula work and copywriting entrepreneurship were certainly nowhere near my radar when I walked across the stage to receive my diploma. Know that you’re discovering yourself in all your messy unpredictableness, and that this is daring and beautiful.