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

Ida, appreciate you joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

My main income comes from creative work, and I absolutely LOVE it! Of course, it has its challenges—mainly gulp sales. Something I had to learn the hard way is that people don’t always see creative work as something tangible. So, I found that comparing it to things like building buildings or different types of cars (Toyota vs a Lamborgini) helps them get it. Learning how to explain things clearly and figuring out how to sell my services without feeling “salesy” has been super important!

It wasn’t always easy. People have their own ideas and don’t always trust you as the creative. It’s a challenge all creatives face, I think. One thing I’m really glad I did was starting out by working for someone else. That way, I got to learn my craft without taking on all the risk. Plus, it helped me build a solid foundation and a more structured approach to my projects. But after a while, I felt ready to go solo. So, when COVID came around, I decided to just go for it and start my own solopreneur business, mainly focusing on websites and design. I called up local businesses and spread the word through friends, family, and acquaintances.

Getting that first customer was the hardest part, but I finally landed one client I had talked to before, and they’re still with me to this day! As I’ve grown, my skills have improved; I’ve learned how to manage projects, customers and people. And with those skills more opportunities have opened up for me. Like, I’ve done art for Reddit, displayed my work in New York, and, last but not least, became the Chief Creative Officer for Blacklight Group!

I’m really excited to keep evolving and stack even more creative and business skills under my belt!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, especially with my dad’s influence, I knew I wanted to do something for myself, something a little bit different. He taught me to take risks and think outside the box, while my mom was my biggest cheerleader, always encouraging me to express myself creatively. I’ve always had a creative streak—it’s something my family noticed about me early on. I was the kid who was always doodling, always creating, sometimes distracted because my mind was off imagining new ideas. nd, to be honest, I’ve always been a bit of a nerd. I still am! That’s what got me into the digital creative space back when websites were hand-coded. I dove right in, building websites and getting lost in the magic of design and exploring the endless possibilities of brand-building (including sparkly animations and AQUA music automatically playing in the background nightmares). That’s where it all started.

Fast forward to today, I’m the Chief Creative Officer of Blacklight Group, where I oversee a multitude of brands and companies. It’s a big role, and it means I get to put my hands in all aspects of creativity and strategy. But for me, I don’t just “do” design. I see my work as an extension of my clients. I’m not just a designer or strategist; I’m their helper, their guide, making sure their brand not only represents who they are but also reaches the right people. One of my greatest joys is when clients fall in love with their brand and become its biggest champions.

One of my proudest moments was working with my first real branding client. He runs a business redesigning gardens and commercial spaces. Together, we created his brand, ‘Steintøft,’ a name inspired by Norwegian slang for something super cool—’stein’ means rock, and ‘tøft’ means tough. The branding was rough, impactful, and full of character, exactly what he wanted. To this day, he’s a true advocate for it, and moments like that drive me to continue doing what I do. That was a defining moment for me, cementing my love for branding.

In my role, I’m always looking for ways to keep my creativity alive. I recently returned from some time aborad in Portugal, and although it was a vacation for my body, my mind was racing with new ideas the entire time. I filled an entire sketchbook with concepts and sketches. Taking these breaks is essential for me—it shakes up my routine and gives me fresh inspiration to approach the busy weeks ahead with renewed energy. I love exploring new places because they give me the creative fuel I need to approach my projects with a new perspective.

At the end of the day, it’s about making brands that don’t just look good but resonate deeply with my clients and their audiences. My goal is to guide them on a journey to find their identity in the digital space, ensuring their brand truly represents who they are while effectively reaching their target market. That’s what sets me apart: I’m not just providing a service; I’m invested in their growth, and I’m right there with them as they become champions of their own brand.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Looking back, there are definitely a few resources that would have made my path a lot smoother. One big one is the power of networking and online creative communities. Early on, I didn’t realize how valuable it was to connect with other creatives, business owners, and mentors. Platforms like Behance, Dribbble, and even creative Facebook groups are goldmines for inspiration, feedback, and collaboration opportunities. If I had tapped into these earlier, I might have accelerated my learning curve and found support when navigating the challenges of client work.

I also wish I had known about business-focused resources tailored to creatives. Like The Futur and Youtube, back then things were much book based.

Another thing would also be a mentor to ask about things, but the good thing now is that I can find these people online a lot easier. I continuously explore new tools and communities. Staying curious and open to learning is something that keeps my creativity alive and my business running smoothly!

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

For me, the most rewarding part of being a creative is seeing an idea come to life and make a real impact. There’s something magical about starting with just a concept—something that only existed in my mind—and transforming it into a tangible brand or design that resonates with people. I get to help clients see their own vision in a new light and watch them fall in love with it. That moment when a client becomes the biggest champion of their brand, truly owning and embodying it—that’s what keeps me going.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hvitsand.io
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/idahvitsand/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ida-hvitsand/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/IdaHvitsand
• Other: https://behance.net/idahvitsand