Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Courtney Gosser. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Courtney thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

While being a full-time freelance designer and business owner comes with its own challenges, I can confidently say I have never been happier in a professional position.

I am a first-generation college student, which ultimately gave me a desire to excel in a field of study I was very passionate about. Luckily, I found Graphic Design pretty early on and partnered with professors to ensure I took every advantage to create independent studies, explore internships, and even work on campus for organizations and departments needing graphic design work. All in all, I was always goal-oriented, and in a college setting, it was much easier to develop a new goal whether it be learning a course or skill, or finding an opportunity to work and build my portfolio.

After graduating I felt I had solid exposure to different career fields and business types, but I still wanted to explore possibilities until I found a position or company that fostered a passion for creating and also allowed me to continue working towards a new goal to ensure I kept learning and pushing myself. In just. a few years, I had the chance to work for both small businesses and large corporations in a multitude of areas focusing on apparel design, social media content, marketing tactics, branding, and so much more. And even though I had exposure to so many areas of creating, I never really felt as if I was in a position that gave me a good balance of creative expression and opportunity to continue growing towards the next level. I was either expected to be extremely creative at all times, which can be very exhausting and result in a lot of pressure and self-doubt. Or, I was expected to only follow strict parameters and templates which left me feeling stuck.

It was ultimately the start of the COVID-19 quarantine that forced me into a place of self-reflection, and it was also my husband who encouraged me to explore creativity on my own terms again as an outlet for all that was happening around us. I started small by creating simple graphics I posted on Instagram, and little by little my audience grew. With a newfound audience, I was able to explore the possibility of offering freelance design services and went through so much trial and error when it came to developing contracts, setting prices, building a website and online store, and also instilling self-confidence that allowed me to even debate a possibility of becoming an entrepreneur.

I finally reached a point where I was working two full-time jobs between a corporate marketing position, and investing in growing my small design business. At that time I was very stressed and very overworked, and life just seemed to be getting out of hand. So when I weighed my options of scaling back on doing freelance work, or taking a risk and switching my focus to only my own business, I decided to take a risk and dive deeper into the route that ultimately left me feeling happier, more creatively fulfilled, and like I was working towards new goals that could really allow me to feel proud of myself.

Now being a full-time freelancer has many challenges, and I can safely say I have never worked harder in a professional setting. But even on the days I feel the most tired, or even still scared, I still feel proud of myself for all I’ve learned and excited for all I can continue to learn.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am an Indianapolis-based graphic designer and illustrator, specializing in branding services, custom illustration commissions, and an online storefront that offers apparel, accessories, and digital resources. All of my work is heavily influenced by color, nature, and positive thinking, and I really aim to create designs and products that can help add a little more happiness to the world.

My clients are often seeking an artist to provide natural and organic design elements in terms of coloring, font selection, and illustrations and I love working with them on creating a visual identity or products that help amplify the personality behind the brand. I rely on open communication and developing a relationship that feels more like a friendship than a coworking vibe, which ultimately helps to keep the process fun, engaging, and highly collaborative.

When it comes to my online store, I like to offer a selection of apparel and accessories that make you feel confident and care-free. Each item often uses a positive quote or optimstics illustrations, and my digital resources are meant to give you a little boost of self-confidence, whether it be in your own creative journey through helpful design resources or in your daily life through free downloadable content.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think an aspect of pursuing a creative career that may be a little nuanced outside of the community is the concept of creative burnout and how difficult it can be to overcome.

I feel fortunate to have a naturally creative and curious mind, and I think those foundations are very helpful for someone looking to pursue a career in a field such as graphic design and illustration. I also often find myself looking to creative outlets for my hobbies outside of work, like making friendship bracelets, doodling, knitting, and really anything else that offers the chance to make something, which is very common amongst other creative professionals. But the constant demand and pressure to develop designs, videos, content, etc. can lead you down a path that leaves you out of ideas, emotionally drained, and mentally stuck in a headspace of wondering when you will be able to find inspiration to create again and at times even makes enjoying an outside hobby, which should help to relax your mind, difficult to enjoy.

I like to describe a creative drive as being similar to running a marathon. There are individuals in the world who excel at marathon running, they hit the best times, they train endlessly to improve their skills, and they are known for being able to go a distance that most see as impossible. But even though a runner may be able to keep pace to complete a marathon, they are still going to get tired from time and time and will need a break to recover before starting again.

That creative energy is like a marathon for anyone in a creative field, and we will simply need time to rest and recharge every now and then to ensure we can pick back up and run our next marathon.

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

Nothing makes my heart flutter with excitement more than when I read a kind comment or message from someone saying that my artwork resonates with them on a deeper level, or that it has helped bring some extra happiness to their days.

With most of my audience coming from social media, I feel so thankful each time someone likes a post, shares my content or leaves a nice comment. But when someone is so kind to take a minute of their day to send a DM or share how something I created has positively affected them, I can’t help but feel overwhelmingly thankful for the career I am so fortunate to have.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://courtneygosser.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneygosserdesign/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CourtneySonnerDesign
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@courtneygosserdesign https://dribbble.com/CourtneyGosserDesign

Image Credits
Courtney Gosser, Courtney Gosser Design