An Interview with Artist Promise Tangeman

Spend a little time on Promise Tangeman’s website or blog, and you’ll walk away wondering, “What can’t she do?” Promise is a creative powerhouse with her hands in graphic design, photography, fine art, accessory design and DIY crafts.

But, graphic design is the star player among her talents. Her creations have sky rocketed her to the heights of being featured on the Dr. Phil Show, and in publications such as Juxtapose Art and Culture Magazine, Collide Magazine, Kontakt Magazine and Wavelength Magazine. You will also find her work on Foliopodcast, ShowItfast and Jasmine Star’s blog. Her clients include Jedidiah Clothing, John Debney, Candace Cameron-Bure, Brooke White, Catalyst, Phil Wickham, Britt Nicole and Matilda Jane Clothing to name a few. In January of 2010, her blog was recognized by Collide Magazine as the Reader’s Choice Best Faith and Arts Blog for 2009. Promise has also spent time working for the local church and faith-based organizations.

With all of this experience and success at the young age of 24, there’s no question why we wanted to pick her brain about graphic design in ministry.

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Q: What do you feel is the hardest part about being a graphic designer for a church?

A: “Sunday comes every week. The nature of the church sometimes causes everything to be last minute, which eventually can burn people out. It definitely can quickly burn out creativity. So, staying inspired, and pushing the limits by trying new things can be the biggest challenge. Designers need to make time to recharge their minds and creativity in their spare time and at work.”

Q: Where do you find inspiration?

A: “Fashion, magazines, nature, music…there are so many places.”

Q: Why is branding so important to ministry?

A: “The Gospel will never change, and it will always be powerful. How you present and package the Gospel to people has the potential to be life changing and touch different people in different ways. I would love to see the church really grab a hold of the power of art and design, and use it for God’s kingdom.”

Q: What are some things that you would like to share with the designers out there?

A: “Rather than the church chasing after what the secular industry is doing, we should be leading the art community. If you are a designer looking for inspiration for a new series, don’t just stay safe and explore only what other churches are doing. Find inspiration outside of the church. Our priority when designing should be to capture the heart of the message FIRST and then how to execute the design. Too many designers get stuck in the rut of making it just look cool, and they miss the real heart and focus of what they are doing.”

Q: What would you like to say to church leaders?

A: “Designers need a direct line of communication and contact with whomever they are doing the design for. If it’s a sermon series, they need to be connecting with the pastor. If it’s branding for a ministry, they need to connect with the director. The job of a designer is to read between the lines, and that can’t be done when information is passed down secondhand. It’s too easy to miss the heart and purpose that way.

It’s also really important to start the planning and brainstorming process early so that designers have room and time for creativity and multiple design comps. Sometimes my first design idea would be implemented just because there was such a tight deadline.”

You can learn more about Promise’s creative process, inspiration and her life outside of design by following her blog (www.promisetangemanblog.com).

In 2009, Promise married her best friend – musician and worship leader, Brian Wurzell. They reside in Arizona laughing, loving and striving to make a difference with their art.

(photo of Promise by Sarah Rhoads)