Her Story
About Paige
Paige Sandvik is a Senior Design Manager, graphic designer, and creative leader with more than 20 years of experience in graphic design and over a decade specializing in transit advertising and large-format visual communications. At Houck Transit Advertising, she leads the development and execution of innovative advertising campaigns for buses, light rail, and other high-visibility transit media, combining creativity, strategic thinking, and technical expertise to deliver impactful solutions for clients. Known for her collaborative leadership style, Paige excels at managing multiple projects while maintaining exceptional quality and fostering the growth of her design teams.
Throughout her career, Paige has built a diverse portfolio spanning advertising, publishing, branding, web design, and illustration. Her professional journey began with freelance work in publishing before transitioning into transit advertising following a successful project for the Mayo Clinic. In addition to her leadership role at Houck Transit Advertising, she continues to operate her own freelance design business, providing branding, website development, photography, and creative marketing services. Paige earned her bachelor's degree in Graphic Design from The Art Institutes International–Minnesota and is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Illustration at Academy of Art University, with a focus on children's book illustration.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Paige is deeply committed to mentoring and supporting the next generation of creative professionals. As Creative Director and board member of The Story Laboratory nonprofit, she helps children write, illustrate, and publish their own books, encouraging creativity and literacy through hands-on storytelling experiences. She also volunteers her design expertise with local libraries and educational organizations. Paige attributes her success to advocating for herself, leading with empathy, and approaching every opportunity with confidence, curiosity, and a willingness to take on new challenges.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Paige
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think it really has always been to be your biggest advocate. And to kind of lead with empathy. Don't expect people to know what you're looking for, what you want. Like, go after what you want, tell people what you want, and do it.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
It really has always been to be your biggest advocate. And to kind of lead with empathy. Don't expect people to know what you're looking for, what you want. Like, go after what you want, tell people what you want, and do it. And it's really on you to get the job done, if you really want something. And I think leading with empathy is one of those where, like, you don't know how other people's work days are going, so never go in assuming that you know something.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Being confident is huge. Believe in yourself, because you really do have the power to do it. Again, it's that... I really do believe in that leading with empathy, like, be kind and understanding. It's okay to get frustrated, and it's okay to communicate your frustrations, but do it... do it in a manner that people can hear you at. And then... I guess being your... I mean, really, for everything I've been told, like, being your advocate, I think that's really what's gotten me to the position I am in today, is just being like, hey, this is what I want to do here, this is what I think that, you know, the company can and grow from if we do it this direction, and just being bold. Like, it's okay to be bold as a woman.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think people really do think that they can... everyone can be in a designer, and that's not untrue, like, but there's something to be said about being educated in design, and knowing what's right and what's wrong, so there's constantly, having communication with people, being like, this is not going to work for this sort of ad style, and trying to communicate that. So I think that's kind of the biggest... difficulty as a designer in this field specifically is having people trust you, that you know what you're talking about, what you're doing. And transit advertising is so unique. So, it's really, like, you have to know how to do it in order to get it done correctly.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
By approaching both work and life with curiosity, compassion, and determination, she believes it is possible to create a career that is both meaningful and impactful. Leading with empathy and being your own advocate.
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