We were lucky to catch up with Ebonie Farlow-Edwards recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ebonie , thanks for joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

My journey to launching Compassion Design began at the intersection of creativity and compassion. I’ve always had an artistic eye — I attended an art instructional school early in my journey — but my professional path eventually led me into nonprofit administration and later into managing HUD housing for residents diagnosed with mental health disorders. It was there I realized that advocacy, communication, and creativity were deeply connected. The stories we tell—and how we tell them—can literally change lives.

That realization stayed with me. I began freelancing after work, helping small business owners and nonprofits refine their message and visuals. I’d design flyers, logos, and websites at my kitchen table, often learning new software late into the night. What started as “helping a few people” quickly revealed a greater need—entrepreneurs and organizations were struggling not with their ideas, but with how to communicate their impact.

The next months were a blur of research, trial, and faith. I registered my business name, taught myself business operations, built my first client portfolio, and reinvested every dollar back into equipment and education. In 2017, Compassion Design was officially born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

In those first few years, I wore every hat—designer, strategist, accountant, and marketer. But through persistence, clarity, and faith, the vision began to take form. What started as a design side project evolved into a full-service branding and marketing agency now known for helping companies scale through The Ebb Effect™ Methodology—a framework centered on Clarity, Trust, and Connection.

Today, Compassion Design has grown beyond branding assets to playing an intricate role in the branding of political campaigns, community health initiatives, and corporate storytelling projects that drive real impact. Looking back, the idea became a business the moment I stopped waiting for perfect conditions and started building with what I had in my hands.

Ebonie , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

About Me

I’m a creative at heart who found purpose in helping others bring their ideas to life. My journey into branding and design started with a deep love for art and a career rooted in service — working with nonprofits and HUD housing programs that served individuals living with mental health disorders. Those experiences taught me that communication and compassion could change lives, and that’s where my passion for storytelling truly began.

In 2017, I founded Compassion Design in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with one simple mission — to help entrepreneurs, organizations, and brands turn vision into strategy through creativity and purpose. Over the years, that mission has evolved into a full-service agency that builds brands from the inside out — helping clients clarify their message, earn trust, and connect with their audience in meaningful ways.

I’m most proud of creating assets that stand the test of time — brands and campaigns that continue to inspire, grow, and create impact long after launch. What sets me apart is my commitment to partnership. When clients work with Compassion Design, they’re not just hiring a designer — they’re gaining a strategic partner who believes in their mission and walks alongside them every step of the way to make it real.

Have you ever had to pivot?

After spending more than a decade working in the nonprofit sector, stepping out to start my own business was one of the biggest pivots of my life. I had grown used to serving within organizations, supporting missions that were already established — but launching Compassion Design meant building something from the ground up that was entirely my own. It was exciting and terrifying all at once.

I vividly remember a conversation that shifted everything for me. A co-worker looked me in the eye one day and said, “Ebonie, don’t let fear keep you from your destiny. You’re an asset, and what’s inside of you is vital.” Those words became fuel for my faith. They reminded me that what I carried — my creativity, my compassion, my ability to bring ideas to life — wasn’t meant to stay hidden within someone else’s vision.

That moment of courage changed the course of my career. It taught me that pivots aren’t always about leaving something behind — sometimes, they’re about stepping into what you were always meant to do. Starting Compassion Design wasn’t just a business move; it was an act of obedience and belief that what God placed inside me had purpose.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I’ll never forget being told by a former boss that I would never hold an executive position or make over $50,000 because I didn’t have a college degree. In that moment, those words — though piercing — only forged a greater fire in me. Instead of allowing them to define my future, I decided they would drive it.

I poured my heart into the assignment that became Compassion Design, determined to prove that purpose doesn’t require permission. What began as faith and a laptop has grown into a thriving agency generating six figures and impacting clients across multiple industries.

That experience taught me that resilience isn’t just about enduring difficulty — it’s about transforming doubt into destiny. Don’t let anyone’s opinion or lack of vision limit your purpose. Even in the unknown, trust that what’s inside you is more powerful than any limitation placed on you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Compassion-design.com
• Instagram: compassiondesign
• Facebook: Compassion Design
• Linkedin: Ebonie Farlow Edwards

Image Credits

Photo credit to: Mishawn Lolis, Symbolic Visuals