Photo provided by Hayley Laban Hayley Laban was recently named as one of the top 50 Under 30 graphic designers by marketing-industry publication, the Drum Magazine.

HANCOCK — Getting recognition in one’s chosen field is usually a pleasure, and for Hayley Laban that recognition came in the form of being named as one of the top 50 Under 30 years old graphic artists in a marketing-industry publication.

Laban, who is 28, received the recognition in the Drum Magazine for the inaugural United States list. The magazine is a United Kingdom publication.

Born in Hancock and raised in Oskar Bay, Laben went to E.B. Holman Schools and Houghton High School, taking art classes all along with encouragement from her parents.

“I’ve always been an artist,” she said.

After taking a graphic design class at Houghton High School, Laban said she found her calling.

“That’s when I realized I could make art a career,” she said.

After graduating from HHS, Laban said she took some classes in Finlandia University’s International School of Art & Design under Professor Rick Loduha.

“I thought they had a great program,” she said.

At the ISAD, Laban said she did real-world projects and created marketing art for some local businesses and organizations, such as Out of the Norm Tattoos in Calumet and the Keweenaw Roller Girls.

Laban graduated from Finlandia in 2011. After graduating, she worked in Vermont for a short time, then started applying for other jobs.

“I decided to look for jobs anywhere and everywhere,” she said.

What she got was a job at a 30-employee marketing company called Warehouse Twenty One in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Laban said. She’s been there almost five years and is the senior graphic designer.

“I love it here, and I love the job, too,” she said. “Every single day is different.”

She especially likes doing marketing campaign work for her clients, Laban said.

“I think it’s fun because you can get a little crazy with them,” she said.

Laban said she was nominated for the 50 Under 30 designation by two coworkers. Getting the designation was surprising for her.

“I was pretty shocked,” she said.

Although she hadn’t read the Drum Magazine much, Laban said she knew about it.

“I knew they were a big deal,” she said.

The magazine divides the country into regions for its 50 Under 30 designations, and Laban said she’s honored being chosen along with people working in large markets, such as California, in the west region.

When she isn’t working, Laban said she does design work for her church and the church’s band, for which she created a logo. She also does art for herself.

“I draw a lot,” she said. “I’m getting into painting more.”

The Drum Magaine article with Laban can be seen at thedrum.com.