We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashley Munson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ashley, thanks for joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?
I struggled for months when it came to thinking of a name for my design business. For the first 4 years, I went by “Ashley Munson Design”, but as my business grew, I wanted a name that represented who I was, how I worked, and something that felt aligned with everything I did in my business. I’m a Libra, born on October 18th, and very much aligned with feelings of balance in my life. I forget how it came to me, but Libra Collective stuck after brainstorming tons of names. It was me – I am my business, and it represented everything I am and how I work. I infuse a balance of design and illustration in my projects, which is so important to me. It’s a part of my style and what differentiates me from other designers. I’m able to see both sides of a situation when working with clients, which is always helpful in navigating revisions and other client relations. I’m also friendly to talk to and able to build long-lasting relationships with other business owners long after they work with me.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Ashley Munson, and I’m the Creative Director and Owner of Libra Collective – my creative studio specializing in graphic design and illustration for businesses all over the world. My background is in fine art, and I got my BFA in Graphic Design and Illustration in 2018 from Laguna College of Art and Design.
I work on various projects from logo designs, apparel graphics, packaging designs, and more. My personal style is very groovy, inspired by the 60s/70s. However, not all of my projects reflect that specific style. I really enjoy working with clients who want something completely different from my usual style. Whether it’s a corporate visual identity or a cartoony-illustrated logo – I love a new challenge so I can push my illustration and design skills to new heights.
My clients range from small businesses to large corporations. I have worked with music festivals in Italy and safari companies in Africa. I don’t know that I would have as wide of a range of clients if I worked at an agency, which is why I love what I do. Working with a variety of businesses has opened my eyes to what’s possible for people when they embrace their passions and run with them!
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
I unknowingly started a side hustle during my second year of college. I was going to school to get my BFA in Graphic Design and just started telling people I was a graphic designer. I started getting design jobs for $200 here, $50 there… (we all start somewhere). For the next 2 years during college, I kept this going and really enjoyed working with people 1 on 1 from initial inquiry to final file deliverables. I felt like this could be something, even though I was very early on in my “career” at the time.
After I graduated, I moved from Laguna to North County SD to be with my now, husband. I kept my head down and built a website, posted on Instagram consistently, and gradually brought on new clients. At the time, many people I graduated with were applying to jobs at agencies and other large companies. I knew that was great for a lot of people, but I felt differently. I was very determined to pave my own path and build something from what I already had going.
Fast forward 5 years later, and here I am. It took a lot to get here, but I am comfortable, happy, and wouldn’t trade the freedom I have for anything. A lot of the time it doesn’t feel like I’m working, and I’m okay with that!
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
A few years ago I was advertising on an Instagram account called Women of Illustration for $50/month to be featured on their feed. I did that for about 2-3 years, and I gained a large following from that. Then at the end of 2020, one of my illustrations ended up on the Explore page of Instagram and that doubled my following. Other than that, I have spurts of posting consistently, and sharing my work. My biggest clients have found me via Instagram by scrolling back on my feed and seeing the work they connected with. Even if you don’t have a lot of followers, or aren’t getting the engagement you want, still post your work! You never know what eyes are looking.
Contact Info:
- Website: Libracollective.com
- Instagram: @ashleymunson
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-munson-3b3423158/