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

Alright, Connor thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I’ve always been artistic and have wanted to go into that area for a career but i was never sure how. All I knew was how to draw so I just kept at it. I loved observational drawing, people watching and then drawing them from afar. That simple act of observing the things around me that I found interesting and then turning that into a way of creative expression lead me to what I do today. I’m always experimenting and using the observed environment around me to further that experimental expression. Back then, If I knew what I know now, in order to speed up my learning, I would’ve spent less time comparing my art to others around me. I believe that would’ve been critical in helping me focus on what’s important rather than where others were in their skill level. The skills that were most essential in the process for me were the ones that are sometimes difficult to explain. The constant want to improve is necessary, but I also attribute the people that were placed around me to be essential as well. They always seemed to know when a piece was balanced, they had that eye you know, some people simply call it “it”, they had “it”. The obstacles that stood in my way from learning more were definitely the lack of ability to explain creative choices. Transferring from an Art mind to a Design mind, you need to be able to explain your designs to the client in a way they can digest. You want them onboard so you need to leave them excited after seeing your work instead of confused.

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

I’m a freelance graphic designer with a unique blend of experiences and expertise. I grew up in Spokane, WA and hope to stay here for as long as I’m able (Although I’ve heard that the housing market in Michigan is pretty affordable) My journey into the world of design started with a deep passion for art and creativity from a young age. Growing up as a twin, we would constantly use our moms Flip Camera to film little short films. As we got older, our interests changed but we stayed in the same field. He went off to work in Film Production and I went to pursue a formal education, where I earned a bachelors degree in Design with a minor in Fine Art.

I grew up in the nursery of an old church where I was fortunate enough to be hired as the Creative Director years later and continued in that position for 6 years. I then had this calling on my heart to serve more than just one church and that nudged me move to a freelance design career to fulfill that. Early in my career, I found myself drawn to the intersection of creativity and community. In this role, I had the opportunity to not only hone my design skills but also to use them in the service of a greater purpose. I was able to experiment and my coworkers were very patient allowing me to mess up and create sub par works for a bit until I became more confident in my gifting. Working within the context of a church environment taught me the power of visual storytelling and the importance of conveying messages with clarity and impact.

As a freelance graphic designer, I put emphasis on apparel design, logos + branding, as well as conference and event branding. If I’ve learned anything through my design career thus far, it’s that I have an absolute passion for all things creative. I have been fortunate enough to work many different areas of media & design, gaining me knowledge from many fields of interest. This smorgasbord of a profession gives me all the creative freedom I need to be effective and adaptive on your next project.

What sets me apart from others in the field is my ability to blend creativity with strategic thinking. Drawing from my background in fine art and design theory, I approach every project with an understanding of aesthetics and messaging. I believe that great design is not just about making things look pretty; it’s about crafting experiences that resonate with audiences on a deeper level.

I take great pride in my ability to collaborate closely with clients, listening attentively to their needs and goals, and translating them into compelling visual solutions. I’ve always been drawn to working with non-profits and companies that have a cause at the heart of what they do. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about knowing that the work I’m creating is contributing to furthering His kingdom.

If you’re looking for a partner who can help you stand out in a crowded marketplace and make a lasting impression, I’m here to help. I’d love hear about you, your cause, your business, your problems, and maybe we could help find a design solution.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

Yea, my side hustle as a freelance graphic designer did indeed evolve into my main career. My venture into freelancing began during my time as a creative director at the church. While I enjoyed my role there, I found myself yearning for more creative autonomy and the opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients. So, in my spare time, I started taking on freelance projects, initially focusing on small design tasks for local businesses and acquaintances. I then got the opportunity to create the branding for a winter camp that many churches from all over Washington participate in. That connection alone got my name out little by little until I was then asked to design the branding again the next year then again, then for a summer camp and so on. I continued to gain experience and build my portfolio, then word began to spread about my work. Referrals became a significant source of new clients, and I started to receive inquiries from a broader audience. Recognizing the potential of my freelance endeavors, I made the decision to gradually transition away from my role at the church and dedicate myself fully to building my own design business.
One of the key milestones for me was making enough money from freelance projects to be able to pay my rent and all my bills. Thats how I knew that I could potentially do this as a main source of income if I were to put all my time towards it instead of just my spare time.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Building a good reputation is slow, so I had to learn to be patient. some ways I built that reputation was by delivering high-quality work consistently. Clients appreciate reliability and excellence in design, and consistently exceeding their expectations has helped establish trust and credibility. Speaking if trust and credibility, I try to meet with clients at least once in person or over zoom or over a phone call even so that they can hear my tone and my demeanors and vice versa. It helps build rapport. Another way to build a good reputation is effective communication. Clear and timely communication is key in any client-designer relationship. By actively listening to clients’ needs, providing regular updates, and being responsive to feedback, I’ve built a reputation for being easy to work with and attentive to client concerns.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.connorolsondesign.com
• Instagram: connorolson.design
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-olson-54b49b1a1/