We recently connected with Dre Steinberg and have shared our conversation below.
Dre, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s jump right into the heart of things. Outsiders often think businesses or industries have much larger profit margins than they actually do – the reason is that outsiders are often unaware of the biggest challenges to profitability in various industries – what’s the biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?
In the world of design and tech honestly speaking, I deal with a lot of self sabotaging from clients. The biggest challenge are programs that market DIY designs to non creative business owners.
Don’t get me wrong these DIY design software and platforms they have their place, no doubt. They’re convenient, cost-effective, and can help small business owners with basic needs. But here’s the thing, they can sometimes create a false sense of expertise in what quality design entails.
DIY designs come with templates and pre-made elements, and it’s easy to feel like a design maestro. But real quality design isn’t just about looking good; it’s about telling your brand’s complete story. It’s about conveying your values, your message – bringing it all together and connecting with your audience on a deep level. It’s about making your mark!
As the Creative Director at Designed to Conquer, I often find myself facing an intriguing challenge with “ expert “ DIY design business owners. One day, we received an inquiry from a potential client, Alex, a small business owner, who had been using a popular DIY design platform to create a new logo for her company.
She spent hours customizing a logo template, adjusting colors, and adding various elements. To her, it seemed like a great design, and she was proud of her creation. She believed she had a high-quality logo.
When she launched her own rebranding, she had a significant drop in customer engagement. The DIY tools gave her a cost effective start, but she realized that the visuals didn’t reflect the premium quality and uniqueness of her brand. She was struggling to attract the right customers.
We met with Alex to understand his vision and the story behind her business. We decided to build on this and create a brand identity that communicated the quality of her products and the personal touch that went into making each piece of them.
When we presented the rebranded materials to Alex, she was overwhelmed and excited.
In the competitive world of business, standing out is crucial. DIY tools are a good start but to really level up and conquer your industry, trust the experts.
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.
What’s going on, guys? This is Dre (like the Doctor), Adobe Certified Visual Artist as well as owner and Creative Director of Design to Conquer.
As a visual storyteller, my objective is to help other professionals tell their own compelling brand stories. I have spent over a decade honing my sills across multiple industries from finance to fashion.
I started this business during COVID, after I lost my job, I was isolated from family and friends and really struggling to find my purpose and what I wanted to do.
One of the affirmations that I used during this time was the phrase, I am designed to conquer.
This phrase being repeated throughout my day helped me to realize and regain my confidence and purpose about what I wanted to do. Fast forward – I am now working along side other amazing entrepreneurs helping to conquer their industry.
Design to Conquer is a branding studio that refines small businesses and entrepreneurs unique brand stories through professional, and creative design services.
Our passion for design and dedication to delivering outstanding results sets us apart! We don’t just create beautiful designs – we work closely with our clients to understand their unique needs, target audience, and brand personality.
By choosing to work with us, you can expect meticulous attention to detail, personalized solutions tailored to your unique needs, and a collaborative approach that keeps you involved at every stage of the process.
Our commitment to exceptional customer service, luxurious design, and a focus on building lasting relationships with our clients makes our studio a must have team member.
Our diverse team of skilled experts is committed to ensuring our projects reflect our diverse and inclusive workplace creativity, collaboration, and innovation.
We build lasting relationships with our clients to help them achieve their business goals.
There are range of services to help businesses establish and maintain a strong brand identity.
Brand Strategy: Developing a comprehensive brand strategy that includes target audience analysis, positioning, and competitive analysis.
Brand Identity Design: Designing cohesive visual elements, such as color schemes, typography, and imagery, to maintain brand consistency.
Website Design: Developing a website that aligns with the brand’s identity, ensuring a consistent online presence.
Brand Guidelines: Developing a set of guidelines that outline how the brand should be represented across all mediums to ensure consistency.
Brand Consultation: Offering advice and expertise on brand development and implementation.
Social Media Branding: Designing profile and cover images, templates, and content guidelines for social media platforms
The ultimate package designed to launch your business in just one month!
BRAND ON DEMAND
Are you an aspiring entrepreneur with a brilliant business idea, but unsure where to start?
Look no further than Brand on Demand!
Our expert team of designers and business strategists will help turn your vision into a reality.
With Brand on Demand, you can launch a professional, polished brand in just 30 days!
https://www.designedtoconquer.com/brandondemand
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I’ve learned a lot of lessons but if there’s one I’d suggest people to unlearn it would be “It’s not what you know it’s who you know.” I had to learn it’s actually “ Not who you know but who knows you.“
Who are the people lobbying on your behalf in rooms you aren’t in!
I’ve also had a passion for art and design and in college I started a streetwear brand that made great headway during that time. I designed and printed the shirts myself. I reached out to colleges and did fashion shows and networked to get write ups and features.
But I could never get into stores. I valued my brand and wouldn’t settle for a consignment offer. I wanted wholesale contracts out of the gate. I hit a brick wall when it came to showing how my brand would sell in stores even though I had photos of clothes on celebs and so on. It wasn’t until one of the models from a fashion show vouched for me, was I able to get into the same store who turned me down a week before.
From that experience I realized that “who knows me “ (and for what) outweighs “ who I know”. Now I make sure to ad value and be intentional with every conversation big or small.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
When it comes to managing a creative team, two books have been eye opening : “The One Thing” by Gary Keller and “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie.
“The One Thing” is like a magical magnifying glass that helps us zoom in on the most crucial parts of our projects. Thanks to Keller’s wisdom, I’ve begun to master the art of focus. It’s not just about doing things – it’s about doing the right things. Having this focus helps creativity flow better and makes project development less stressful.
Now, on the social side of things, is Dale Carnegie’s classic, “How to Win Friends and Influence People”. It might be the friendliest handbook on understanding people. In the world of branding, where every project involves understanding clients and working closely with our creative squad, Carnegie’s teachings are pure gold. Learning to empathize, communicate persuasively, and sprinkle some positivity around has not just helped us win clients’ hearts but has also turned our studio into this vibrant, collaborative hub.
You know, in a place where ideas bounce around like confetti, creating a vibe where everyone feels heard and valued is the secret sauce. Carnegie’s advice on active listening, appreciation, and acknowledging different perspectives has turned my workplace into a space where creativity feels at home.
So, these books aren’t just sitting on the shelf collecting dust; they’re the cool mentors that have shaped my thinking as the Creative Director. “The One Thing” is our strategy sidekick, helping hit creative bullseyes, and “How to Win Friends and Influence People” is like a social superhero, making sure every interaction, be it with clients or teammates, is a win-win.
Together, these books have given our studio a rhythm – a beat that’s all about nailing creative goals with focus and turning every collaboration into a friendly,long lasting relationship!
Contact Info:
- Website: Designedtoconquer.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedtoconquerllc
- Facebook: Facebook.com/designedtoconquerllc
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/designedtoconquer
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/dsignd2conquer
- Youtube: http://youtube.com/@designedtoconquerllc
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/designed-to-conquer
Image Credits
@kayjunior_