Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsie Tamms.

Hi Chelsie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

My journey is one filled with passion and creativity and rooted in my love for lettering and design. I’ve known that I wanted to pursue graphic design since my first design class in high school. I studied graphic design in college and won $10,000 in startup funding in 2016, which helped me found my business, Lettering Works.

I’ve grown Lettering Works to offer custom branding packages, courses for artists, and wholesale products and merchandise—all with the mission to bring more creativity into my community and beyond.

I spent my first three years of business in Peoria, Illinois where I developed my first stickers, branded local small businesses, and worked on city-wide campaigns. In 2019, I relocated to Chicago to begin to scale my business and work in a larger market. I’ve had the opportunity to work with incredible clients and partners like The Field Museum, Chicago History Museum, Garfield Park Conservatory, the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois, Gift of Hope, and Adobe.

I am especially drawn to cause-driven projects surrounding mental health, chronic illness, and underrepresented communities. I am always dreaming up new passion projects, investing in personal growth and development, and finding ways to inspire my clients and community.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

It hasn’t been a smooth road—entrepreneurship rarely is. Like many small business owners, I’ve faced the uncertainty of finding the right clients at times, balancing creative work with running a business, and learning to wear many hats. Building something from scratch takes resilience and adaptability.

On a more personal level, one of the biggest challenges has been overcoming doubts—both from others and within myself. While imposter syndrome often shows up for artists throughout their careers, I found it most difficult when I was discouraged by a judge (after placing in the competition no less).

Ultimately, negative comments push me to prove myself and lean deeper into doing what I know is right for me. This is especially important when navigating chronic health issues and learning to prioritize your needs. I’ve had the opportunity to reinvent myself and refine my skills and interests as I’ve grown in business. I’ve learned to set better boundaries and surround myself with clients, peers, and communities that help me build a business and lifestyle that I love.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

I specialize in custom design and hand lettering that helps brands and individuals tell their stories in unique and meaningful ways. I create logos for small businesses, artists, and nonprofits, work on campaigns for larger organizations, offer custom merchandise design, and have my own line of wholesale art-centric products. My work is known for being crisp and professional while still evoking a hand-rendered feel, vibrant use of color, and themes around community building.

What I’m most proud of is how my designs inspire and empower others—whether it’s a logo that truly represents my client or someone relating to one of my original artworks.

I’m also proud of the resources I’ve created, like my guide to working with a designer, which helps people navigate their creative projects confidently, even if they don’t hire a designer. As well as my free, five-day on brand challenge and journaling prompts to help business owners and individuals dive deeper into their self-knowledge.

What sets me apart is my holistic approach. I don’t just design; I collaborate, educate, and work to make my process as approachable and empowering as possible. My work is driven by a passion for helping others express themselves authentically while making design more accessible to everyone.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?

I’m committed to continuous learning and finding tools that help support my personal and professional growth. Some of my favorite apps are Libby for audiobook listening, UnrollMe for managing my email subscriptions, Dubsado for managing projects and clients, and Asana for staying organized.

Some of my favorite business books are Profit First, Atomic Habits, The One Thing, and the 12 Week Year. One of my favorite podcasts is Off the Grid, hosted by Amelia Hruby. I was a guest in 2024 and talked about growing through generosity and collaboration.

I enjoy following and connecting with other creatives on both Instagram and LinkedIn. It can be helpful to find various communities of small business owners or groups specific to your industry (both virtual and in person) to stay up on trends and stay inspired. I am a huge advocate for therapy as a way to process things and improve yourself as well.

Pricing:

• Custom logo and branding packages start at $3,498
• Custom merchandise designs start at $675
• Access our wholesale product pricing at faire.letteringworks.com
• Find free resources at letteringworks.com

Contact Info:

• Website: https://letteringworks.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/letteringworks
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/letteringworks
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/chelsietamms
• Other: https://faire.letteringworks.com

Image Credits

S.D. Wyatt Photography + Chelsie Tamms