We were lucky to catch up with Ian Paget recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ian, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. The first dollar you earn in a new endeavor is always special. We’d love to hear about how you got your first client that wasn’t a friend or family.

When I first started Logo Geek, it was really just a hobby. A side project among many. At the time, I had a full-time job as a lead designer, and my career goal was simply to climb the ladder within design companies. Any side project I took on was purely to push myself creatively.

In my full-time role, although my focus was mainly on designing (mostly websites), I was learning a lot from the people around me – about sales, marketing, SEO, and more. I was eager to soak it all in.

When I launched Logo Geek, the website was meant to be a sandbox – a space to experiment and learn, not just about design but also about marketing and SEO. I shared designs I created for friends and family and started writing too, testing out ideas I was picking up in my day job.

To be honest, nothing I produced back then was particularly great. Being dyslexic, my writing was riddled with errors, but I didn’t mind as it was just for me. I didn’t think anyone else would find it.

Then one day, completely out of the blue, I got a real inquiry. Someone outside of my network had found me through a Google search and used the contact form on my site to reach out.

That moment was life-changing. It set me on a path I’m still walking today.

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

Most people know me for my work in the niche of logo design. I run Logo Geek, which began as a hobby but has since grown into my full-time business. Through Logo Geek, I collaborate with clients worldwide and support the design community by providing valuable resources like The Logo Geek Podcast, the Logo Geek Facebook group, my blog, social media content, and my book, Make a Living Designing Logos.

My business is divided into two main areas. First, I work with a diverse range of clients on logo design – everything from small startups to established organisations. I follow what I call a “goal-based design process,” which allows me to strategically solve problems through my work rather than just creating something visually appealing. Over time, I’ve come to see myself as more of a business coach, combining design with strategy to deliver real results for the companies I collaborate with.

The second part of my business focuses on giving back to the design community. Since Logo Geek started as a passion project, I’ve always enjoyed sharing what I’ve learned. Over the past decade, this has evolved into building a thriving community, interviewing top industry professionals on my podcast, writing, educating, and connecting like-minded creatives. It’s a part of my work that I’m deeply passionate about and that I’ve been able to sustain through affiliate partnerships and sponsorships.

Logo design is something I truly love. I’m constantly striving to produce the best work possible while being transparent about what I learn along the way. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the generosity of others who openly shared their knowledge, and I’m committed to paying that forward.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

I mentioned earlier how I started Logo Geek as a side hustle, purely as a hobby. For a long time, that’s exactly what it remained.

I’d take on the occasional project, squeezing it into evenings and weekends to earn a little extra income. As I completed work, I’d share it on my website and social media. I kept writing too, sharing my thoughts and experiences as I went.

Around this time, I began experimenting with growth hacking techniques on Twitter – something I’d picked up in my day job. I made it a daily habit, and the effort paid off. My following started to grow, and with it came exciting opportunities: invitations to judge design competitions, write for well-known industry blogs, and appear on podcasts.

All this activity led to more enquiries. Suddenly, I was getting calls and emails almost daily.

Despite this, my mindset hadn’t changed. Logo Geek was still “just a hobby,” and my main goal was to keep climbing the corporate ladder. I was experimenting, learning, and enjoying the ride, but the success of my side project started to take its toll. I felt constantly stretched and overwhelmed. I didn’t want to give up my secure full-time job, but I also couldn’t imagine abandoning this thriving side hustle that had become such a big part of my life.

Then, everything shifted after a life-changing moment: my mum passed away. She had dementia and spent her final years in a care home. Watching her fade away, and seeing others in the same home, was heartbreaking.

It made me reflect deeply. Did I want to reach the end of my life with regrets?

Her passing changed my perspective. I decided it was time to take a leap, so I handed in my notice.

At that point, I’d been with my full-time employer for nearly 10 years and had worked my way up to a director position. My boss was incredibly supportive and didn’t want to lose me, so they offered me a part-time role instead. It was the perfect balance: I had the security of a steady income and the time to focus on growing my business.

Life stayed that way for a while, and it was comfortable. Then, another major life event changed everything again: my daughter was born.

Suddenly, being at work felt harder. I hated feeling like I was missing out on her first words, first steps, and those precious moments that fly by so quickly. That was the final push I needed to go all-in on my business.

I took the leap into working full-time for myself, and I’ve never looked back since.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Reading “The One Thing” had a big impact on how I approach life and set my goals. The concept is simple: create a long-term vision and reverse-engineer it into actionable steps.

While I don’t follow the book’s approach exactly, I’ve embraced the idea of having a clear, long-term vision for Logo Geek. It gives me direction, helps me make decisions, and keeps me focused on what truly matters.

I work with many clients and absolutely love designing and solving problems, but what really drives me is the community aspect of what I do.

Last year, I published “Make a Living Designing Logos.” That book brought together everything I’ve done so far, creating a solid foundation and a central goal to build from. My plan is to expand on this by creating more resources, like courses, educational materials, events, and beyond.

Ultimately, my dream is to support everyone, from young children just starting to explore creativity to seasoned professionals looking to refine their craft. I want to do this in a way that’s friendly, honest, and transparent, just as others have generously done for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://logogeek.uk/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/logogeek
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LogoGeek/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianpaget/
• Twitter: https://x.com/logogeek
• Youtube: /
• Yelp: /
• Soundcloud: /
• Other: https://logogeek.uk/podcast
  https://www.facebook.com/groups/logogeek/

Image Credits

n/a