Eventually understanding the significance of her appeal to these materials, she studied extensively in graphic design and fine art, earning a BFA at the University of Southern Mississippi. Soon after, she headed west, to Dallas, Texas where she landed her first job at one of the largest advertising agencies in the city. Over time, her career path led her to several prestigious agencies in the Dallas/Fort Worth area eventually landing in a Creative Director role while winning numerous AAF Dallas and Fort Worth American Advertising awards.

Realizing that working directly with clients was more her style, Karla tapped into her entrepreneurial spirit and launched Barfield Design. As Owner/Creative Director for nearly 30 years. She successfully served a diverse group of clients that awarded her with broad experiences not only in creative design and concept, but also in developing strategic marketing campaigns that resulted in solid returns.

Today, Karla embraces yet another new venture in her career. She is collaborating with a strong team of creative listeners, diverse in their skill sets, who are passionate about executing beautiful brand, design, imagery, and messaging to orchestrate a perfect team to help clients effectively reach their market and grow their business. This team is Kaba Creative.