D is for Designer: East alum Jordan Dunseth reflects on the effect of high school tennis on his professional life

After winning the 1996 boys’ tennis state title, then-East-senior Jordan Dunseth savored the bittersweet end to his high school tennis career. The feeling of being a part of the best tennis team in Kansas fueled his dream of playing college tennis, but he knew that the next step, pro tennis, wasn’t his future.

Back in 8th grade, Jordan realized his desire to play professional tennis wasn’t realistic because of the tough competition. Now, 30 years later, instead of seeing the sport as a career, Jordan sees it as more of a hobby. Though he still plays adult tournaments, he’s turned his focus to another passion — art. 

“[Jordan is] an amazing artist,” Jordan’s sister and 1999 East alum Olivia Dunseth said. “Growing up, he could draw anything. I used to make him draw things for me all the time because I was just fascinated that I could tell him to draw something and he could do it on command.”

Though he didn’t pursue pro tennis, the connections he made on and off the tennis court would impact his life — from high school tennis to his graphic design business, Big Bird Creative, in Corinth Square.

“My dad always said, ‘Remember the names of everyone you meet on the tennis court,’” Jordan said.

After playing tennis at Emporia State and graduating in 2001, Jordan was on the hunt for a graphic design job. Unfortunately, graphic design was in low demand at the time and Jordan struggled to find a job that stuck. For the next eight years, Jordan had small design jobs but had to mow lawns and do temporary work on the side to earn enough to pay rent. 

Then his opportunity arose. 

Three-time Kansas state tennis doubles champion and Jordan’s friend from high school Graham Heaven introduced Jordan to the Chief Financial Officer of Tompkins Industries Ben Blades who offered Jordan an advertising job for the company.

After gaining experience with print advertising and designing for Tompkins, Jordan began looking for more business — so he founded Big Bird Creative, his graphic design company now located in Corinth Square. He designs banners, websites, handbooks and infographics for his clients.

“My dad was a creative director growing up and he had his own company so it was something I figured I would always go into,” Jordan said. “East always had really good commercial art and graphic design classes so I took all those classes when I was there.”

A few years after starting Big Bird Creative, former SM West tennis player, Homestead tennis coach and friend Kevin Braun approached him with the idea of illustrating a children’s book that simplified tennis for kids. The book, titled “Tennis for the 10 & Under: The New Look of Tennis From A to Z,” features pictures of now East tennis players freshman Josie Mangine, junior Veronica Mangine and senior Bryson Langford and was published in October of 2015.

“My coach, Kevin Braun, was the author of the book,” Langford said. “And so I just took pictures for that and it was about tennis advice for younger kids, going through the steps of how to learn tennis and how to be good at it through the alphabet.”

Jordan also designs the website for “The Big Slick,” an annual charity event run by Kansan actors Rob Riggle, Paul Rudd and Jason Sudeikis. 

Though he decided to ditch his dream of going pro after college, Jordan’s love for tennis never really died. In fact, it’s still present in his life just as much as it was when he was younger — just in a different way. Remembering the names of everyone he met on the tennis court — like his dad always told him — is the reason he has his dream job now.

“Every job or career opportunity I’ve ever had can be traced back to tennis somehow,” Jordan said. “Either someone I met on the court playing or someone I met at college because I went there to play tennis.”