We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nina Calderaro a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nina, thanks for joining us today. Alright, let’s jump into one of the most exciting parts of starting a new venture – how did you get your first client who was not a friend or family?

It all started with a simple compliment :)

Almost 8 years ago I was in my last year of college and I was serving tables at a fine dining restaurant in Bird Rock. There was a really fun group that I was helping, and one of the ladies had the most beautiful cow hide clutch. I complimented her on it and she told me that it was a one-of-a-kind, handmade cow hide clutch that she bought herself while traveling in Nicaragua. We were immediately engaged in conversation and I mentioned to her that there was absolutely an online demographic that would be into this beautiful clutch, and she told me that I was not the first person to mention it! Thankfully, because it was my last year at the Graphic Design program at San Diego City College, I was prepared with my own personal branding and had my first business card on me. I told them if they were ever serious about pursuing the business, that I would love to be a part of helping them design their logo.

Fast forward 6 months later, they actually reached out to me and I designed their logo! They were my first paying clients. Fast forward a few months after that…. my clients quit their corporate jobs and pursued what is now JACKSON AND HYDE, a full online retail shop where they have expanded their items from the Signature Clutch, to now having almost 20 different pieces to shop! And in the last year, I have had the honor to help out with their content creation as well! Go check them out, www.jacksonhyde.com #supportsmallbusinesses

Nina, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I wear many hats and I prefer it that way!

My degree is in Graphic Design, but I also do videography, photography, marketing, consulting, and social media. I am very grateful to have a background that was the perfect foundation to feed my inner creative and give me many different outlets throughout the digital media world. After a decade of being in this industry, I have worked from the fashion world, to fitness, medical, to beer, salads to camel toe proof undies… and everything in between! — and that is the beauty of this industry, every company needs some form of digital application!

My heart and soul is with mom and pop businesses, and it is the ultimate honor to see their dreams come into fruition. My main clients that I have right now are Thorn Brewing (Graphic Design/Content Creation) and The Greenspot Salad Company (Marketing/Design/Social/Content Creation) — which are both San Diego based and thriving!

Through the last two years since Covid, I have had the opportunity to work with some really amazing clients. There was a lot of shifts that happened in my career that really opened up the horizons and then allowed me to start taking on more projects. I could not be more grateful to have a job that allows me to work with multiple companies – which means the word, “bored” never gets to be a part of my vocabulary!

I think a big attribute that sets me apart from the rest is that I am extremely intuitive and a visionary. I only work with clients that I truly understand and equally see their vision just as they do. I understand that these small businesses are these peoples babies, and I treat them with just as must as respect and excitement — I am seriously all of my clients biggest fans!

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Being personable. It’s equal parts important to be professional as it is to be someone who is kind, funny and personable! I am so grateful to know that my clients feel comfortable and right at home while working with me.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

There is nothing more cool than seeing digital being turned into reality. For instance, a digital label being applied to 20,000 aluminum cans and then finding them on a shelf thousands of miles away from home… or a design being blown up onto a window display in a local restaurant for hundreds of people to see every day.

But ultimately, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is working with amazing people and seeing how excited THEY are when they get to display the final product.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ninaiskristina.com
• Instagram: ninaiskreative

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