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

Alright, Courtney 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?

Learning graphic and web design has been a journey filled with time, practice, and a genuine love for the craft. My introduction to design started during my graduate program in Environmental Education at Southern Oregon University in 2020. In our small cohort of 12, we ran a 2-month remote environmental education program, and I was responsible for creating marketing graphics in Canva and building our website on WordPress. That experience sparked something in me—I fell in love with the design process and knew I wanted to dive deeper into this field.

From there, I took some introductory courses in Illustrator and Photoshop at my local community college. Those classes were a lot of fun because they felt low-pressure, and we had plenty of time to explore the briefs. But even after that, I still didn’t feel fully equipped to jump into the industry.

The real turning point came when I decided to pursue a Certificate in Graphic Design at Shillington College in 2023. This 9-month, part-time program was fast-paced and gave me a taste of what working in a design studio is like. We worked through a ton of creative briefs, learning the process of taking an idea and bringing it to life using design software. I quickly realized that branding and web design were where my passion truly lay, and I knew those were the services I wanted to offer when I started freelancing.

Looking back, it took about three years to gather all these skills, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Every learning experience shaped me as a designer and as an individual. While part of me wishes I had started earlier, I’m grateful for the time it took to get here because it allowed me to grow so much.

The most essential skill I’ve learned is the importance of exploring different ideas and pushing beyond what feels comfortable. It’s easy to get stuck on one idea, but creativity often comes from pushing the limits and trying new things.

The biggest obstacle I’ve faced—and still do—is imposter syndrome. Doubting my abilities and wondering if I’m cut out for this industry is something I struggle with. But during my time at Shillington, I built a strong support network, and now I’m connected with an incredible community of designers online and in real life. Having that support system has been invaluable. If there’s one thing I’d say, it’s this: Don’t let imposter syndrome hold you back. Keep showing up, learning new skills, and putting your work out there!

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

Hey there lovely people! 👋🏼

Let me formally introduce myself – I’m Courtney, the founder and creative behind Buel Creative Design Studio. My path didn’t start in graphic and web design – I actually began in environmental education, totally geeking out over marine science with my students (still a fave topic of mine!). But as fate would have it, during my master’s program in environmental education, I was tasked with creating a website for our program, and that’s when everything changed. I realized how much I loved crafting digital experiences – from site structure to design elements, it all just clicked.

After graduation, I had an epiphany: design was my true calling! I dove into graphic design classes and eventually earned my Certificate in Graphic Design from Shillington College. With that, Buel Creative was born! 💻

At Buel Creative, we partner with purpose-driven businesses and individuals who are making an impact in the world, particularly in areas that are near and dear to me, like the environment. Our focus is on helping earth-loving humans thrive through strategic branding and web design that speaks to their core values and resonates with their audiences.

I’m incredibly proud to have taken the leap to pursue this creative dream. Yes, it’s a ton of work (so many ups and downs!), but it’s also so rewarding. I absolutely love my clients! Each one has been truly amazing, and I’m so fortunate that they found me. I feel immense gratitude for the opportunity to help them every day.

My design style is still evolving, and I’m learning so much every single day. But as long as I get to create, I’m happy. That’s what fuels me – showing up, learning, growing, and being creative. Running Buel Creative Design Studio allows me to do just that, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s next. I’m looking forward to opening a website template shop and expanding my website development skills.

In summary, I work with small businesses, entrepreneurs, and people who care about the planet and want to make a positive impact. Whether you need a brand identity, a revamped website, or ongoing design support, I’m here to make your vision a reality – and to have fun while doing it!

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Honestly, I was so surprised that this worked for me, but using Pinterest has been a game-changer! About 90% of my clients have found me through Pinterest, which I totally didn’t expect when I first started my business. I’m so grateful I decided to use it because it’s so much easier to get exposure there compared to other platforms.

If you’re in a visual field like design, Pinterest is an amazing way to showcase your work and build an interactive portfolio that links directly to your website, making it super easy for people to learn more about your services. I’ve been seriously impressed by how much traffic Pinterest has driven to my site, and it’s become my primary marketing channel.

Don’t sleep on Pinterest! It’s an incredibly powerful tool.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, it’s a few things. First off, I genuinely LOVE my job. Like, I actually enjoy working, and if it weren’t for my husband keeping me in check, I’d probably never stop (thanks Dom!). One of the most amazing things about this career is that I’ve found a field where I truly enjoy what I’m doing, and I feel energized by the work I get to create. Channeling my creativity into projects that help others is such a fulfilling experience.

Which brings me to the second part – I love helping people! I’ve always wanted a career where I’m making a positive impact on someone’s livelihood. With design, I get to use my creativity to solve challenges for my clients and help them reach their goals. It’s so rewarding to take on their challenges and then collaborate to make design magic happen. Seeing their success grow as a result of our work together is truly one of the most fun and fulfilling parts of what I do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.buelcreative.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buelcreative/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneybuel/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/buelcreative