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

Chardee, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on was illustrating and co-creating Puma Panda Parrot Become Buddies. As a graphic designer, I usually create for brands and organizations, but this project allowed me to create something directly for children.

As a mother, the story’s message about friendship, kindness, and embracing differences felt especially personal. Bringing the characters to life through illustration and seeing the book go from an idea to a published work was incredibly rewarding. It reminded me that design is more than visuals—it’s a way to tell stories and make a positive impact.

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

My name is Chardee’ J. Scott, owner and lead designer of Pinch Design Co., a Black woman-owned creative studio specializing in branding, graphic design, website design, and marketing collateral. I also serve as a Senior Manager of Creative Design, leading large-scale creative projects and brand initiatives.

I’ve always been passionate about art and storytelling, which led me to earn a degree in Visual Communication and Digital Media Arts from Bowie State University and build a career helping businesses and organizations visually communicate their mission and values.

Through Pinch Design Co., I help clients create cohesive brands through logo design, websites, marketing materials, and creative strategy. Many come to me with great ideas but struggle to communicate them effectively. My job is to transform those ideas into designs that connect with their audience and support their goals.

What sets me apart is my strategic approach to design. I believe great design should do more than look good—it should solve problems, tell a story, and create impact. I pride myself on being a collaborative partner who takes the time to truly understand each client’s vision.

I’m most proud of celebrating 10 years in business and being named Best Graphic Designer in The Baltimore Times’ Best in Black Baltimore awards for two consecutive years. Above all, I want people to know that every project I take on is rooted in creativity, authenticity, and a genuine desire to help others bring their vision to life.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is seeing an idea come to life and knowing it made an impact. Whether it’s helping a small business launch a brand, creating materials for a national campaign, or illustrating a children’s book, I love turning concepts into something people can connect with and remember.

I also find a lot of fulfillment in helping others tell their stories. Design has the power to inspire, educate, and bring people together, and being able to use my creativity to support meaningful causes, businesses, and communities is incredibly rewarding. Knowing that my work helps someone feel seen, understood, or more confident in their vision is what keeps me passionate about what I do.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One lesson I had to unlearn was the belief that pushing through burnout is the only way to succeed. For years, I wore being busy like a badge of honor, balancing a demanding career, running my design business, raising my daughter, and taking on creative projects whenever I could.

One project that really taught me this lesson was illustrating a children’s book. I was passionate about the story, but the creative process was much more demanding than I expected. Between work, family, and other commitments, I became overwhelmed and actually stopped illustrating the book for a period of time. I felt stuck, exhausted, and unsure if I would ever finish it.

Eventually, I had to remind myself why I started. Instead of focusing on how much work was left, I focused on the end goal and the impact the book could have on young readers. I pushed through, one illustration at a time, and seeing the finished book in print made every challenge worth it.

That experience taught me that while perseverance is important, burnout shouldn’t be the goal. I’ve learned to give myself grace, pace myself, and trust that meaningful work takes time. Sometimes the most important thing isn’t how quickly you finish—it’s having the resilience to keep going and see your vision through.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.deepcdivebooks.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deepcdivebooks/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chardee-scott-34589122b/
• Other: https://www.pinchdesignco.com