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

Alexandra, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

“Take the leap, and a net will appear.”

This John Burroughs quote has been my mantra for as long as I can remember. As a natural risk-taker and boundary-pusher, I owe much of my ‘wild and free’ spirit to my parents, who instilled this energy in me from a young age.

This mindset has guided me to follow paths that nourish my soul and embrace life’s fullest experiences, especially in my career with new opportunities.

One of the biggest risks I’ve taken was quitting my full-time job in 2021 to pursue freelancing in brand design. Stepping away from a secure position was daunting, but I was driven by the dream of becoming my own boss and being in control of my life.

The past three years have been filled with ups and downs. On the days when doubts creep in, I remind myself of that quote and my journey, reflecting on how far I’ve come since making the leap into freelancing.

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

I’m Alex! The founder and lead designer at Curly Cue, a logo design studio launched in 2021.

My creative journey started early. Between soccer games and practices, my parents encouraged me to explore my creativity through coloring on walls, illustrating book characters, pottery, and scrapbooking.

Though I initially pursued collegiate soccer as a freshman, my passion shifted to graphic design in 2015 after immersing myself in the vibrant world of music and art festivals. That’s when I knew I had found my true calling.

I’m deeply passionate about logo and graphic design, especially when it involves helping kind business owners make a meaningful impact in their industry.

When I’m not designing, you’ll find me at Red Rocks, grooving at a music festival, competing in powerlifting meets, getting a new tattoo, laying in the grass with my dogs (weird but don’t knock it til you try it), exploring new countries, enjoying cuisines with my husband, tending to my plants, or diving into my latest obsession: sourdough baking.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

Turning my side hustle into a thriving full-time business has been a rollercoaster, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything!

In 2021 I chose to leave my draining full-time job, which left me feeling overworked, underpaid, and undervalued. I knew I needed a change.

I dedicated months of personal brand building after my full-time gig in order to construct a client base that could sustain me while I found my footing as a freelancer. I ramped up my social media presence, fine-tuned my email list, and reached out to friends, family, and colleagues who might benefit from my services.

By the end of my first year, I had built an incredible community on social media that helped bring in clients. Around this time, Adobe discovered my Instagram and reached out for a partnership that’s still going strong. I’m now approaching two years as a brand ambassador for Adobe, a role that has opened doors I never could have imagined!

My advice? If you suspect the corporate world isn’t for you, take the leap and embrace the risk. There will always be opportunities to return to a 9-5 if needed, but pursuing your passion could lead to incredible experiences and endless possibilities.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Without a doubt, the most rewarding part of my work is helping small and medium-sized business owners craft logo systems that not only make them proud but also attract their ideal audience.

Seeing the impact of my designs on their success truly fills my soul with joy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.curlycuedesignstudio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alex.curlycuedesignstudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/curlycuedesignstudio
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/curlycuedesignstudio/

Image Credits

https://jasonseward.com/

Fun fact:

Jason was my wedding photographer in August of last year. We built a relationship and I ended up doing his full logo system (not his website) and he did my brand shoot!