We were lucky to catch up with Hazel Imogen recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Hazel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I worked over 10 years in the big-agency scene handling and running teams for corporate brands and large scale businesses. While I learned a lot during that time, I experienced and saw massive issues in how the industry and agencies operated. Creatives, the beating heart of innovation, were boxed in by unrealistic promises made by the sales and admin teams. Clients were promised unreal timelines and deliverables that made creatives operate like a chop shop, in turn stifling their vibrant work. I saw the creatives chugging away on projects that didn’t excite them or make them feel proud.

I knew there had to be a more effective way to make everyone happy. So I created my studio with the intention of putting creatives first. I figured, if we highlight creative strengths, let them determine scopes of work, timelines, and when and how they want to work, then they’re going to be more effective with the output. That’s what drove our mission—to create a studio where clients see and understand the worth of creative problem solving. It’s a win-win. Clients get top-tier work, creatives are stoked on what they’re making, and that synergy fuels our success.

Hazel, 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 am the founder and Creative Director at Two Parts Studio, a branding and creative-strategy studio invested in rad creative, inspiring people, and driving business growth for venture-backed startups. We focus on brands in health, wellness, travel, and positive change. Typically we start with a lot of our clients as they’re going through their funding phases helping them get their brand in a solid place to present impressive pitch decks to investors. Once our clients get funded we then work with them to help implement their brand further, create launch strategies and long term marketing strategies. Working with our clients at an early stage allows us to build a solid relationship with them and make them feel like we’re really an extension of their team.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Most of our clients have come from word of mouth and the network I’ve cultivated over the last decade. When I initially launched my studio, I reached out to my contacts (both creatives and business owners) and leveraged the strength of these connections. I teamed up with some talented freelancers and we began collaboratively pitching opportunities for new business. Doing this together allowed us both to take on bigger projects and provide more offerings to larger scale clients. This led to a somewhat snowball effect. As we continued to deliver high-quality work for our clients, they became advocates for my studio within their own networks.

Another key play in our acquisition has been our involvement in the startup world. Many of our clients are venture startups or about to go through the funding process. We often find ourselves participating and helping them with their events such as demos, investor meetings, and launch events. These events are not only opportunities to showcase the work my studio created to other entrepreneurs but also serve as a platform for in-person networking.

The combo of a well-nurtured creative network, doing work we’re proud of, along with working directly with startups has allowed us to actively source new clients each month.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

There’s a treasure trove of resources hidden in books. I wish I had delved into them sooner. Books feel like a secret society of knowledge, providing creative insights and diverse perspectives. These books have elevated my creative thinking, taught me about finance and strategy, and offered me a positive mindset through all of my obstacles. I’ve found so much value in reading, that I started collecting a curated list of must-reads for aspiring creatives and entrepreneurs: The Inspiration Bookshelf which can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hazelimogen/list/DGK3KYIMHPFN?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_aipsfhazelimogen_9M6Z0H7NN9D41G54T96C

Another valuable resource is mentorship. Working alongside someone in the industry, to bounce ideas off and discuss creative processes has been invaluable. It’s like having a creative compass, guiding you through the endless web of possibilities. I’ve worked with mentors since I started my career even to this day as I continue to mentor others myself. There is always something to be learned, perspective and advice to be shared and someone to bounce ideas around with when you need it most.

I’ve learned on the business and entrepreneurial side of things that there is a resources for just about anything. When I started my studio, I struggled with things like understanding and tackling the bookkeeping, taxes and accounting. I wasted hours trying to learn the programs and understand what I was doing – it just wasn’t my forte. After realizing my time was not being distributed to the parts of my business I liked doing, I found a resource online to handle all those things I hated and invested in it. It freed up my time to focus on what I do best – being the creative force behind my studio.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.twoparts.studio
• Instagram: instagram.com/hello.hazie
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hazelimogen/
• Other: The inspiration shelf: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hazelimogen/list/DGK3KYIMHPFN?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_aipsfhazelimogen_9M6Z0H7NN9D41G54T96C Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hello.hazie