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

Alexandra, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

i’m 100% self-taught as a graphic designer – no schooling, no degrees, no certificates, and no formal education in that area. i learned everything i know about graphic design through a combination of watching youtube tutorials, googling EVERYTHING, and watching design reels, then trying to recreate them in illustrator, self-editing as i went along.

armed with nothing but the skill set of an infant and delusions of grandeur, i did exactly *ONE* logo project for a friend, charged her nothing, figured ‘how hard can it be to be a freelance designer??’ and then launched my business shortly after.

i was truly building the plane as i was flying it (i still am most days, tbh!) but i really do think the secret sauce is that i came into the design industry it with zero expectations, zero comparisons, and this ‘i want to learn every single thing i can’ attitude that made me not care if i looked stupid or inexperienced. now that it’s been a little over a year, i still can’t believe i started a business based on a brand new skill – it’s like a doctor opening a practice after going to med school for one year – and some days i cringe over the fact that i did that, but most days im so proud of myself because it takes balls to take a chance like that!

i feel that compared to someone who has a design degree and multiple years of experience, i’m definitely lacking in terms of technical skills, but i think my perspective is unique because i never had to adhere to a formal curriculum. my systems and style are probably a little deviated from ‘the norm’ but i feel like that’s my superpower!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

oh, this is my favorite story. first things first – hi!! my name is alex, and i’m the owner, designer, and one woman show behind scribbled sage branding and design. i’m a chaotic-good personality, wannabe disco mermaid, dog mom, wife, iced mocha fangirl, and all around creative.

before starting my own branding business, i worked primarily in the food + beverage & hospitality industry. I’ve been a server, a travel planner, a wedding coordinator, and pretty much everything in between. in fact, i’m still a part time restaurant server to this day and i love it just as much as i did when i was in my teens!

at first glance, it seems my career journey has done …. basically nothing to warrant me a graphic designer LMAO. but trust me when i say i’m overqualified. learning how to read people, guide them, immediately connect with them in a short amount of time, and dig into their brains became second nature to me. i’ve spent all my adult life turning glimmers of thoughts into full blown visions. artfully decoding scrap paper doodles, expertly interpreting brainstorm sessions, and carefully unraveling ideas. i love creating and curating, and treasure hunting through thoughts to find nuggets of gold is *chefs kiss* to me.

i got into design totally by accident, to be honest. i’ve always been a creative soul, but never formally set out to pursue a career as a graphic designer. i dont even think it crossed my mind as an option, tbh. i’m a skill collector though, and i loveeee learning new things, so a few years ago i started playing around in canva (designers dont kill me for that!) fell in love with digital design, and then immediately *NEEDED* to learn more. i taught myself illustrator, then photoshop, then procreate, and had about 1% knowledge in the field when a friend asked me to design a logo for her and i jumped all in. launched a business shortly after and never looked back! im real, REAL proud of that.

i specialize in creating bold brand identities and strategies for small businesses. my style has lots of bold palettes, hand drawn elements, and imperfect illustrations that immediately feel authentic and real. i love crafting brands that tell stories because any brand can catch your eye with a cool logo, but not every brand can make you want to be a ride or die homie. thats what i want. that feeling of electric, vibrant synergy that just lights you up and breathes life into your soul. my tag for my business is ‘helping kickass people build kickass brands’ and i think thats a good summary of who i am and what i do. i want to get in deep with people, make connections, and have fun. i want people to feel seen and understood, i want their brands to be like a beacon for the people who will resonate and ride or die with them. and without sounding selfish, i want them to feel that reciprocity from working with me too.

as a self taught designer, i never learned a curriculum of ‘formal design principles,’ had an internship, or received feedback from leaders in the field to help me edit and perfect my craft. recently, i did get hooked up with an incredible community of local designers, but before that, and even still, i rely a lot on my own intuition, the feedback of my clients and closest family and friends. i ask A LOT of questions that are meant to guide, lay a rock solid foundation, and make my clients really think. i want my clients to feel that i deeply understand them, and that our work is a true collaboration that feels sustainable and representative of their brand.

i’m definitely not for everyone (and thats okay!!!) i’ll never be a corporate girlie – though i admire them so! – i’ll always show up to zooms with my hair wild and my text messages are filled with emojis, spelling errors, and GIF’s. i curse like a sailor and i work from my couch most days, but if there’s one thing i believe in, it’s integrity. i’ll never bullshit you, ill never turn my back on you, and if you’re my client, you’re my friend and im rooting for you.

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

being a creative is the number one skill that’s gotten me past tough points and hardships in my life, BAR NONE. as creatives, we have this insane and beautiful ability to blindly trust the process, even when it looks BLEAK. that makes us optimistic, innovative, adaptable, open minded, and let’s face it a lot more fun than everyone else (kidding! kind of 🤭)

we see a blank canvas or an empty room and its bursting with color and sounds buzzing in our brains. we look at a pile of yard sale trash and can immediately see the potential for turning it into treasure. a fridge full of ‘nothing’ to others is an episode of top chef to us. i love that for us. non creatives cannot even begin to fathom that on any level.

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

REFERRALS!! REFERRALS,REFERRALS!! i will scream this until the cows come home. i’ve gotten the best, most incredible clients all because the people i love have loved me enough and believed in me enough to scream my name in a room filled with opportunities. i’m forever grateful for it every time it happens, and while i do like to think i’m pretty cool and that’s the sole reason i have kickass referrals, i think there’s conscious work that goes into getting connected with quality clients too.

this is somewhat related to creating a strong brand identity and reputation too, but for me, connections aren’t solely linked to ‘the opportunity’ that is tied to them. sometimes, it really is just about meeting a cool person to talk to and learn from and share ideas with. making meaningful connections requires you to be authentic, transparent, and open to the connection in the first place – whatever it ends up being.

it’s easy to ‘be connected with’ someone – we say and do it all the time when we share emails or socials, “let me connect you with jack! here’s his instagram!” but it’s a true art form and speaks volumes when someone says they “feel connected to” you. that shows trust, reciprocity, and value, and thats how a referral network grows both deep AND wide.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://scribbledsage.com/
• Instagram: @scribbledsage LINK –> https://www.instagram.com/scribbledsage/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scribbledsage
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-dimattia-2a368a2aa/
• Other: behance if you want! https://www.behance.net/alexanddimatti

Image Credits
Brent Kee Photography Studio St. Pete