We had the good fortune of connecting with Jordan Tate and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jordan, what makes you happy? Why?
The things that make me happy are the things that I value. I value my spirituality, loved ones and time more than anything. When I make time to spend with family and friends, I don’t take that time for granted. I make time stamps in my head and physically with images in moments that I want to remember, which makes me happy in the present and in the future simultaneously.

Understanding that I’m a human being and realizing that God is in control no matter good or bad brings me peace, but feeling an unexplainable presence of something greater than myself makes me happy.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I own a small digital marketing firm here in Albuquerque, NM called Creative Duke. It is broken down into three main sectors, digital content, real estate imaging, and web design. I began my business as a side hustle while working full-time as a graphics designer. Over time, (ESPECIALLY DUIRNG THE PANDEMIC) I began to spend more time and effort trying to grow my business and expand my client base. The three sectors came about through trial and error until I realized this structure works best for me. I want the world to know that I run every part of my business with a microscope and put in the same amount of heart and soul into every single project. Design is my passion and I never take any project less seriously than another.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am a human pig and food is definitely the first thing that comes to mind when I’m showing anyone around the city. Albuquerque is a food destination ad there are soooo many good spots to choose from, so I’ll break it down by category. First, let’s start the morning off right with some coffee. My favorite coffee spot to go to has to be “Blackbird Coffee” (with Castle Coffee almost tied with 1st) in old town. It’s always nice to sit out on their patio in old town, decorated with diverse vegetation and greenery. Breakfast burritos are a must in Albuquerque and one (too many favorites) of my favorite spots to go to would be Sadie’s. Their breakfast burritos are massive and are best smothered with red, or green chile. A good lunch spot to go hang out at after digesting breakfast would be Soo Bak Seoul Bowl, which is light and delicious. Last but not least, for dinner I would go to Thai Boran, definitely five stars.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to shoutout Jason Frazier, which was a college professor I had. I appreciated his brutal honesty and his precise approach to design, which I have never forgotten. I believe he gave me the tools to continue growing as a designer. He taught me to pick apart designs that we see every day in the real world.. For example, now if I’m driving and see a billboard, or watching an ad pop-up on my phone, I’ll try to find everything that is wrong with the design. This approach has lead me to become more critical of my own work, but in a positive way. I appreciate it.

Website: creativedukemedia.com

Instagram: @jteavision @creativeduke

Linkedin: Jordan Tate

Facebook: @creativeduke

Yelp: @creativeduke

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.