Noelle Shuck was born on Maui, Hawaii. At 6 years old, she moved with her mother to Atlanta until 4th grade, when they moved to Athens. After graduating from Clarke Central High School, Noelle received her bachelor’s degree in graphic design at UGA. After leaving The Adsmith, where she worked for 8 years, Noelle took on the role of graphic designer for the Georgia Museum of Art in January of 2020. She is also a part-time instructor of graphic design at the Lamar Dodd School of Art.
Noelle has been a member of the band Shehehe since their formation 13 years ago. Their upcoming record, Namedroppers, the band’s 5th full length album, comes out on August 23rd, 2024. Noelle is also in two cover bands, Molly’s Lips, a Nirvana cover band, and Thick Lizzy, a Thin Lizzy cover band. She lives in Forest Heights with her partner, Ryan, his daughter, Poppy, and their dogs, Hambone and Pickles, and cats, Estrella and Honey Lemon.
What do you love most about the work you do?
At the museum, I like having one mission, one big thing I’m focused on. And I’m excited to help an institution make an impact in our community. It’s serving the community and I love to help people be inspired by art. It feels very important. At my old job, we had multiple different clients at the same time, so there was a lot of switching gears which helped me cut my teeth and establish a skill set that was varied. But this is nice because I get to focus on one thing that I really love.
What I love about graphic design in general is it’s a really utilitarian art. It’s different from fine art, you have to do things in a craftful way, but it’s more like solving a puzzle. You have to ask yourself about what’s the best way to communicate something as fast as possible to the viewer while giving an identity to the brand. It’s always challenging, but it’s always fun to solve the puzzle.
When you’re not working, what do you like to do in and around Athens?
I like going to shows (even when I’m not playing in them!). I like to hang out with my friends and have dinner parties with my friends. Many of them are really good cooks. Most of it is friend-centered.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
We went to Italy last year and that was fantastic. I’d love to just go to more places in Europe, “where the history comes from,” as Eddie Izzard says. I’d like to be more aware of more things in the world and how they work and meet different kinds of people. [Shehehe does] a lot of regional touring, but has never been to Europe or abroad at all. We’re thinking about international touring next year over there. But I want to go everywhere and learn more!
If you could see any band anywhere, any time, who would it be and where?
I think Sister Rosetta Tharpe would be my choice. Really the “true” founder of rock and roll, she fronted her own band and she played an SG?! I’d time travel to a show and just watch folks who were seeing her for the first time. I’d specifically love to see her performance of “Didn’t it Rain” at that train station in Manchester in her bejeweled coat! In 1964! Just incredible. She had the brand of confidence and talent I think we all aspire to. Gospel music is also one of my favorite genres as far as feeling; it’s so joyful, and it’s so fun (and hard!) to sing. The way she was able to blend it with secular music was just so impactful. We stand on the shoulders of giants.
Do you have a favorite book, or one you often reference or reread?
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat. First of all, the design of that book is so lovely. The illustrations are all gorgeous. There’s a lot of science in that book, but they set it off with such nice visual indicators. Graphic design is about visually communicating as much as possible because we’re visual creatures. It’s a win-win for me because it’s about cooking, which I love, but also the graphic design is fantastic.
Do you have a favorite movie?
Young Frankenstein.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t be afraid of change. Don’t be afraid to know your value and stick up for yourself when people take advantage of you, or offer you less than you’re worth. Don’t be a dick. I think being kind is a really good indicator of intelligence; being able to overlook things about someone that might bother you, take a deep breath and still be kind is so hard to do. I fail at it constantly still. But basically I’d say: be kind and generous whenever possible.
If you could have lunch with anyone dead or alive, who would it be and where?
Kathleen Hanna from Bikini Kill. She just wrote a memoir, Rebel Girl, and I’m reading it and she is just so cool. I’d love to have lunch with her here in Athens, maybe Puma Yu’s. I love that place.
If you could put any message on a billboard, what would it be?
Don’t be a dick!
What three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word home?
Belonging, acceptance, and “cute.”
