HERE IS A LITTLE SOMETHING

About Us

UpFrame started as part of Hitch Studio in 2014. Hitch was a partnership between Carrie Kuhl and Renee Bauman, two entrepreneurs who combined their freelance businesses to start something bigger. After five years of working together, Hitch became so successful that the one business grew into three. UpFrame is one of those businesses.

Carrie has already helped more than 150 small businesses develop their identities, create their websites and put their best face forward.

Now, UpFrame aims to help every small business in rural communities succeed through excellent web and graphic design.

Hey!

I am Carrie!

An entrepreneur, website and graphic designer, photographer, wife, mother & unshakable optimist dedicated to help you in achieving what you want in marketing your business.

About Carrie

When you work with UpFrame, you work with Carrie – web guru, graphic designer, animator and photographer all rolled into one positive person. She loves to use her skills to nurture small businesses from their very inception, or take existing ones to the next level.

When Carrie isn’t working at UpFrame, she’s giving back to Brookings in many ways:

As a member of the Downtown Brookings District Committee of the Brookings Chamber of Commerce
As a board member of the Brookings Convention & Visitors Bureau
Keeping Brooking beautiful as member of the Brookings Historical Preservation Committee
Participating in Masterminds, a group of like-minded women who act as a sounding board and hold each other accountable

In the past, she served on the Vision Brookings Board of Directors, has taught graphic design at South Dakota State University (SDSU) and currently focuses on being a mentor to other business owners and designers.

She contributes much of her success, and sometimes the ability to keep her sanity, to participating in a Masterminds group which consists of like-minded women who act as a sounding board and hold each other accountable.

Carrie’s built-in support group begins with her husband Jason (the love of her life), sweet son Maxen (who is already a creative genius), daughter Rylee (who is their sweet little rainbow baby and the best addition to her family) the best dog ever (Hannah) along with her family and close friends who always show up when she needs them, even when she doesn’t ask. She enjoys family time, playing games, watching movies, going for a run, traveling and relaxing at home.

Things about me you didn't know, you wanted to know...

I prefer pie over cake, and if I do eat cake, I scrape off the frosting and give it to my husband.
Speaking of my husband, he is also a designer. I'm sure you can imagine the conversations and "constructive criticism" that happens at our house.
I was named after a song recorded in 1967 by the Hollies called Hey Carrie Anne.
Although I went to school for Graphic Design, I taught myself animation, WordPress and studied photography under a great local photographer. I love learning new skills, it's all apart of what makes up my creative map.
I'm not a fan of Pizza... not saying anything else about that.
I would consider myself an ambivert, a person whose personality has a balance of extrovert and introvert features. I love being at home, but if you ask me to come "play" I'm all in. I just may need to rest the next day, haha!

Hello!

I am Taylor!

A graphic designer, event planner, social media genius, wife, dog mom and amazing problem solver.

About Taylor

Finding a combination between her love for design and communications, Taylor Livingston pursued graphic design and advertising at South Dakota State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in both areas, along with a certificate in fine arts.

After graduation, Taylor began her career as the marketing and promotions coordinator at the Brookings Area Chamber of Commerce. For three years, her duties included writing press releases, designing graphics and helping promote the local Brookings businesses. Later, she moved to Kansas City and worked as the creative coordinator for the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce. After a proposal, saying “I do” and a move back to Brookings, she began her journey at Upframe Creative, previously a division of Hitch Studio.

As a designer at Upframe Creative, Taylor takes on a variety of projects. Whether she’s busy meeting with clients, designing collateral materials for small businesses, or creating content plans for social media, she revels in the fact that no day is ever the same and enjoys working along-side Carrie.

While not at work, Taylor enjoys spending her time with family and friends, her lovable puppy Moby, and her husband Stephan. She loves to stay active, whether it’s a bike ride through the Dakota Nature Park, catching a concert at her favorite venues, or of course as an SDSU alum, cheering on the Jackrabbits. She also likes to wind down by curling up on the couch and watching cheesy romantic comedies on Netflix.

Fun facts about me:

I wear slippers in public all the time.
My favorite color is yellow.
I am embarrassed at the amount of times I’ve watch the whole series of The Office. Seven.
I attended my first concert at the age of 8 when my parents took my brother, sister, and I to see Shania Twain in Fargo. To this day I get excited when I hear “let’s go girls”.