We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Allison “Ally Bee” Findeiss a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Allison “Ally Bee”, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

From the moment Ally Bee Design sprouted in the summer of 2013, it’s been a whirlwind of creativity and discovery! I was still a college student at University of Miami transitioning from the School of Architecture to School of Communications major. Beginning with full-time roles providing marketing and design services to excite potential clients to buy services or customers to buy products, from architecture firms to shoe design brands I learned the value of storytelling, visual experiences to enhance the value to attract hearts and minds.

With an entrepreneurial spirit, freelance brand architect and designer – imagine diving into each meeting learning about the essence of the owner to make their passion project a reality. Each one like a different brushstroke in a vibrant masterpiece that’s been the Ally Bee Design journey. Every project has taught me how no matter the media of the project the secret ingredient of storytelling enhances communication to bring projects to life.

The secret sauce to a successful businesses begins with the interview and honesty of the client. A hearty dose of design-thinking and a splash of collaboration. As a brand designer and artist, I’ve had the joy of partnering with a colorful array of entrepreneurs, educational institutions, and local government agencies. My superpower? Flexibility! It’s allowed me to help a diverse range of industries craft memorable digital and physical experiences that spread happiness like confetti throughout our community.

Here’s a little more about me: I’m not just a designer; I’m a visual storyteller, artist, and an experience curator.

I love helping local organizations and entrepreneurs in my hometown of Fort Lauderdale helping Chez Cafe, Destination Sistrunk Cultural Center, and Pine Crest School. I love creating buzz for local entrepreneurs and artists through Lauderdale Native lifestyle and media brand, I infuse every project with passion and creativity. My work spans a wide array of industries, from healthcare and education to fashion and real estate, ensuring that each brand I touch stands out and shines brightly.

My goal is to collaborate to create something beautiful to brighten someone’s day!

Explore my world at allybeedesign.com.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I genuinely adore people! I find myself completely immersed in conversations, getting to know someone on a profound level.

When working with clients, The more time we spend together, the richer the storytelling and the more vivid the visual identity becomes for their logo, website, and communication material!

The most heartfelt and emotionally intense project I’ve ever undertaken was creating my dad’s celebration of life video and planning the event. Designing and producing it was a deeply personal and therapeutic journey, honoring his life’s adventures and accomplishments in a way that felt profoundly meaningful.

For more about my dad’s celebration of life JCF Celebration of Life: https://www.allybeedesign.com/blogs/news/jcf-celebration-of-life

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I love attending community and networking events which often turns into clients. I’m immensely grateful for the personal referrals from friends and family that bring me quality clients. Over the years, I’ve built strong reviews which creates organic online leads and design projects, thanks to the trust and support of my South Florida community and network. This in time grew my word of mouth business, I’m grateful projects flow to me. During slower times, I focus me energy on my local media and lifestyle brand lauderdalenative.com and creating wearable and visual art.

You can read my client’s feedback here:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/WbSerKg9iVvCYRSJ9

Connect with me here:
https://www.instagram.com/allybeedesign
https://www.facebook.com/allybeedesign
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allybeefindeiss/

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I’m passionate about design and helping people, always aiming to see the best in everyone. Unfortunately, I’ve had experiences where clients were unethical, leading to unpaid projects. These challenges, while emotionally upsetting, have taught me valuable lessons. I now choose my clients more carefully, continuously improving my business processes with each experience.

“Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”

I hope to inspire someone to carve out more time for their passion, hobby and creative outlet. Perhaps one day you will turn it into additional income stream or a full time business venture. I love what I do and will continue to learn, grow, and create!

Grateful for the current opportunity to share my art exhibiting at Cleveland Clinic in Weston, Florida. (Photograph of exhibition submitted.)

This art exhibition I hope to inspire people:
Follow your heart to create ripples in the world. Let’s start a chain reaction of love! In April, my Dad passed away after his slow mental decline of dementia, Alzheimer’s, and aphasia brain disorders – eventually leading to his inability to communicate and living in the moment.
I’m grateful for the time spent with him, listening to music and dancing with him though it was heartbreaking to watch
parts of him slowly fade away. One donation can start a chain reaction, a portion of sales will support Alzhimers research so no more families should suffer watching a family member face this horrible illness.

This art is part of my new collection Flow. We must create a balance between creating our environment and learn to go with the flow in life when things are out of our control. We have control of our minds, our actions, and our food consumption. How we choose to show up in the world will create a positive or negative chain reaction. Forge connections, create strong relationships. I challenge you to choose to bring hope, help, and smile. Design your flow.
Immerse yourself: https://www.allybeedesign.com/collections/artwork

Contact Info:

• Website: allybeedesign.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allybeedesign/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allybeedesign
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allybeefindeiss/
• Twitter: allybeedesign
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@allybeedesign
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ally-bee-design-fort-lauderdale-2
• Other: lauderalenative.com – media and lifestyle brand

Image Credits
All photos are designed or painted by Allison “Ally Bee” Findeiss-Becker of Ally Bee Design. The photo reflection of me is by Jean-Claude Bien-Aime of Bien-Aime Studio in Broward County, Florida. https://www.bienaimestudio.com/