Episode 6: Christine of Christine Meahan Designs
Christine Sullivan is a graphic designer who has been working in advertising for over eight years. She’s worked on projects big and small, From designing subway station takeovers to logos, annual reports and magazine ads. Once it was time for a family, Christine left the advertising world and went out on her own. For six years she has continued to grow her client list while freelancing with amazing companies. When she’s not designing, you can find her decorating (and re-decorating) her home, making wood signs and spending time with her husband and two children.
CATCHING UP
Before we dive in, Christine and I talk about two addictions that she had previously introduced me to. The first, Pound, is an extremely fun workout that includes drumsticks, music and heart racing cardio. The second is Lauren McBride Blog which we both love following and have equally been influenced by!
HER BACKGROUND
Christine discusses her background and how she ended up at Endicott College for graphic design and how their internship program allowed her to fully dive in and gain amazing experience from the start. She ended up interning at an advertising agency in Boston which led to her first job.
GOING OUT ON HER OWN & ETSY
We discuss how Christine transitioned to working freelance by starting her own Etsy shop and offering wedding invitations and getting into the niche market of beer koozies. When Christine started selling on Etsy there was much less competition for her items and she was able to grow at a fast rate. She emphasizes having great reviews, repeat customers, amazing customer service and good design as being key to growing her shop.
ON BRINGING IN NEW CLIENTS & PUTTING LOVE BACK INTO YOUR BUSINESS
Christine talks about maintaining great relationships with prior companies and speaks to the value of getting referrals. We discuss as freelancers being able to grow organically and in moments where business is slow, taking advantage of the time to focus back on our own businesses. She invested the time rebranding her own website and updating her content and found value focusing on some of the more behind the scenes aspects of her business.
MISTAKES HAPPEN
We discuss past mistakes and Christine talks about being really privy to taxes especially in the beginning when starting out freelancing or with an Etsy shop. We discuss using a google spreadsheet to keep track of everything and being on top of it throughout the year as best as you can.
ON BRANDING DESIGN
We discuss branding and the components that make up a brand. Christine talks about the importance of having different elements of branding and marketing materials and how your brand spills out into everything that you do and thinking about all of the outlets that your brand will be on and how a brand will come across on those platforms. We also discuss what elements to focus on specifically if you don’t have the initial funds to invest in a full branding package. Christine suggests focusing your time on thinking about who you are as a brand and writing down what you think your brand is and how you want it to come across so that that can translate into a design. She also suggests focusing on social as a way to reach people especially now during covid. She emphasizes that the current trend is not going to dictate your business and that you have to be authentic to who you are as a brand.
STAYING CREATIVE
Christine talks about keeping a wide range of clients in order to stay creative and not get bored. She loves that every day is different and it keeps her on her toes. She speaks to her favorite projects as being the ones where she can take a brand and really run with it and having the freedom to do what she is good at and design for her clients. She loves creating collateral and printed pieces. We talk about the experience and Christine references a candle company that has truly created a branding experience with their packaging.
TALKING MOTHERHOOD
Christine discusses carving the time out in order to strive for balance and focusing on one thing at time. She tries to use sitters wherever she can get even if it is for just a few hours at a time. She also talks about how there is no down time with business ownership so carving time out to be with the kids or be working helps her tremendously. She also talks about being flexible and having clients that fully understand that.
Book Club Recommendation: The Silent Patient, Alex Michaelides
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