We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Allyssa Ellis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Allyssa below.

Alright, Allyssa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, let’s jump into one of the most exciting parts of starting a new venture – how did you get your first client who was not a friend or family?

When I decided to leave my full-time job to pursue freelance, it initially felt like I was in a nosedive at 30,000 feet, waiting to crash and burn. The first handful of clients that I got felt like luck since they came from previous co-workers or mutual connections. Those kept me afloat while I cold email hundreds of businesses that I thought could be a good fit for my design services. Six months after I had initially reached out, I got my first response back. They mentioned that they loved my work, and my mission, and would love to meet to see what we might come up with together. It felt unreal, like a pure dream. The metaphorical plane flew a little higher, and I thought “Wow, I’m actually doing this crazy thing.” I responded to their email almost immediately, with extreme care, re-reading and re-drafting my words, and set a meeting. That night, I went out to dinner and drinks to celebrate what felt like a new chapter in this journey.

Allyssa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am an Independent Art Director, Designer, and Creator who helps dreamers expand their influence with designs that result in stronger communities and real social change. I live at the intersection of activism, brand development, and visual systems. I have been on the front lines of activism for the past several years, and have launched numerous successful campaigns for some of the largest brands and corporations. Now, I’m using that knowledge for good. We can make a difference, and make it approachable and personal.

I am a dreamer, a nature enthusiast, a deep-thinker, a craftsperson, a foodie, a musician, and deeply silly. I found my way to design through art, starting with drawing, painting, airbrushing, linocuts, and other traditional mediums. In high school, I took a Commercial Arts vocational class that led me to fall in love with Design and pursue a degree. I enjoy experimentation as part of my process, and having a body of work that is colorful, authentic, and impactful. I would say the rest is history, but this is still just the beginning.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Much of my professional journey can be traced back to an experiment I did on social media a few years ago, called the 365 Project. Over the course of a year, I posted a new design online every single day without fail. Social media became my visual diary, and it turned out that it resonated with people. The regularly scheduled posting, the development of my graphic style, and the storytelling behind each piece are what I pinpoint as being the fuel to how my audience grew. At its peak, I reached over 40,000 followers in that span of a year. This truly was a catalyst for me to have confidence in my abilities, and through mutual creative friends, start to ideate about going freelance.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being creative is the endless possibilities. A piece of art that you make, a brand system, or a campaign, can have an impact. That impact, while hard to predict, is powerful. Then the possibility of the next project or the next client can start that cycle over again. We get to imagine what the future can be.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.designbyallyssa.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designbyallyssa
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allyssa-ellis/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@designbyallyssa
• Other: https://www.waresbyallyssa.com

Image Credits

Jay Fram