We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chynna Monforte a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Chynna, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?
Our tagline at Monforte Studio is We’re Creating a Radical Legacy®, and that’s because we believe in intentionally taking up space and impacting change for future generations. Our brands and websites empower folx to step confidently into their power and reclaim what’s theirs. . We will be remembered for our values, our work in the community, and the way we transformed the businesses of everyone we’ve served.
Chynna, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Monforte Studio is a Queer Woman of Color-owned design studio where aesthetics, advocacy and audacity meet. We blend organization, dedication, and compassion to provide a dope creative experience and designs that diversify, decolonize, and disrupt the digital landscape. Non-profits, creative entrepreneurs, BIPOC women all work with us on branding, brand strategy, web design, web development and all things creative direction!
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
Graphic design and web design were a side hustle I was doing before the pandemic. I had been freelancing, working internships, still taking classes at community college. At some point during the pandemic I had built up enough of a clientele that I was able to quit my part-time job and pursue the business full time. It didn’t come without it’s ups and downs and challenges, especially since I’m a self-taught entrepreneur. As of today I still don’t have a degree in design or business and I’m running a six figure agency. It’s proof that anyone can do it, especially my lower-income, BIPOC and queer communities.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Having a strong point of view and stance on tough discussions. We’re very much so an advocacy driven business, so that along with our own brand strategy helped us build a reputation for being an intersectional and inclusive choice in the design industry. We highly encourage other businesses to work with us on brand strategy if you’re looking to stand out and build a reputation that is unique in your own industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.monforte.studio
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/monfortestudio
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/monfortestudiola
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/69581648/
Image Credits
Photo: Devonte Johnson, Cinthya Silverstein