Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ramzy Alahmad. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Ramzy, thanks for joining us today. Before we talk about all of your success, let’s start with a story of failure. Can you open up about a time when you’ve failed?

At the beginning of this year, I set a goal. The goal was to get a full-time job as a graphic designer. I knew I could do it, I had a rather large portfolio filled with a lot of branding projects and artwork. I was under the impression that would be enough, especially since I had a degree in web design which would make me a more versatile asset. I hit the pavement and started applying for any graphic design position I could apply for. But time and time again, I got turned down. I got down to the final few candidates a decent amount of times, each time beaten out by someone with more experience or a better degree. Even though it wasn’t personal, it always hit me hard. I’m an extremely goal-oriented person so not meeting the one big goal of the year I set for myself felt like a big failure. It also made me doubt my skills and the quality of my work.

After about a week of being overly dramatic and feeling like a talentless failure, I decided I was being a bit too hard on myself. I decided the truth of the matter was that I simply didn’t have the experience necessary for the jobs I was applying for and that the only way to get the experience was to gain and create the experience for myself. In turn, this gave me the motivation to create more artwork and try to take on as many branding projects as possible. It also inspired me to go back to school to further my skills and get a second degree, this time in graphic design. Overall my “big failure” turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Without it, I wouldn’t have made as many connections with small business owners or gone back to school to further my skills as a graphic designer. It also allowed me time to put more energy into my brand and grow my company in ways I hadn’t envisioned.

Ramzy, 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?

My name is Ramzy Alahmad, I am a small business owner, artist, graphic designer, and web designer. I grew up in Crossville, TN and after graduating high school instead of going to college I moved out to South Lake Tahoe, California where I lived for 6 years. In 2018 I moved back to Tennessee to be closer to family and start my college career. Chattanooga seemed like the best place to live because of the easy access to the outdoors and the overall vibe of the city. I decided to get a degree in web design because I knew it was a growing field and it would land me a career that would sustain traveling and working mobile. While pursuing my degree in web design I learned to use creative applications such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. I hadn’t created digital artwork up until that point, but through the courses I was taking, I started creating art for projects and becoming more familiar with the applications. Because I was so interested in digital art I used a lot of my time outside of school to dive into it and learn as much as I could about the applications used to create it. With my new skills, I started creating art, mock-up logos, posters, and digital collages.

By 2020 I had been lucky enough to take on a decent amount of branding and rebranding projects for local businesses. These businesses gave me these opportunities after meeting me and seeing some of my mock-up logos. In August 2020, I decided to start my own business, Elevated Design, in order to create a brand for myself. I wanted a company face to work through while doing branding projects, web design, and art commissions.

By 2021 I had a lot of digital art that I had created over the years so I decided to finally do something with it. That is why in June 2021 I decided to start printing my artwork and selling it on Etsy. Soon after I began working at events and markets selling my artwork in person as well. In May 2022 I became one of the featured artists at I Go Toyko which is a unique boutique located in NorthShore that brings high-quality Japanese linens, stationery, ceramics, and distinctive Kawaii items to Chattanooga. As a featured artist at I Go Tokyo I create Japanese-inspired anime artwork which is all available in their store.

Since then I’ve taken on many more branding projects, web design jobs, art commissions, and many other creative projects. I am always interested in taking on more projects and connecting with other business owners and creatives in our community.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being a creative is connection. Whether that is meeting with business owners for branding projects, partnering with business owners for consignments, or meeting people at events or markets. These connections and relationships are where I find the inspiration to keep working and creating. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed meeting other small business owners and building relationships with them. It makes me feel more connected to the community and gives me an outlet to learn from other small business owners who have been active in our community for a long time.

Additionally, I find immense value in the interactions I have while working at markets and events. I love connecting with like-minded people who share the same passions as me. Whether that’s art, anime, plants, Wes Anderson movies, or anything else. It creates an opportunity to inspire or be inspired while connecting with others. Every event leaves me feeling more motivated and inspired to start working on my next project.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

One of the biggest things that have helped me build my reputation is how I build relationships with my clients. One of the most essential parts of my process in branding and logo design is the first step. That first step is meeting face-to-face with my client and truly getting to know them. In doing so I am able to truly connect with my clients and fully understand their vision for their brand. It gives me a deeper connection with their goals, their company, and who they are as a person. Not only does it significantly help me in bringing their vision to life, but it also creates a meaningful and long-lasting relationship with my clients. In turn, this builds on my reputation as a graphic designer and as a small business owner. It also makes the branding experience for the client more personal and makes them feel more comfortable knowing their company and brand are in good hands.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.elvtdesign.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevated_design.co/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ramzy.elevateddesign/
• Other: Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ElevatedDesignPrints

Image Credits
For all personal photos of me please credit: Mark Gindi with Gindi Marketing If you wouldn’t mind adding the name of the companies under their logos I would appreciate it. Other than mine of course, which is Elevated Design. If necessary all artwork credited to me: Ramzy Alahmad