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

Izabella, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I have been incredibly fortunate to sustain a full-time living from my creative work. Starting my business right out of college, while living at home with my parents & with minimal expenses, gave me a good starting point & provided the opportunity for me to give it my all, channeling every ounce of my time & money back into my business.
My greatest piece of advice is to share what you’re doing. Tell everyone & anyone what you do & the unique value you provide. Over the past year, I’ve pushed myself to be more at ease with networking. Attending events, joining groups, & just having conversations with strangers have opened doors to many of my clients. This approach has been the most rewarding in terms of landing projects, as the client experience tends to be richer when there’s already been an in-person interaction or when they’ve come through a recommendation from someone who already appreciates your work.

As for speeding up the process, I believe I’ve made significant strides in only a year. The key has been my willingness to put myself out there & stand firm in charging my worth. Admittedly, my business is still young, and I sometimes grapple with imposter syndrome, however, I remind myself of the tangible impact & results our work delivers. Staying true to my values has consistently drawn in top-tier clients who recognize the value of investing in what my studio offers.

Izabella, 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?

My name is Izabella Buzogany, I’m the Founder & Creative Director of Studio Eleven11. We’re a boutique creative studio specializing in intuitive & strategic branding & web design solutions, although our capabilities extend far beyond that.

What truly sets Studio Eleven11 apart is our process, deeply rooted in strategy. Agencies tend to get a bad rap because they fall into this templated approach, neglecting to prioritize the unique goals & experiences of their clients. We dedicate time to getting under the skin of your business, ensuring your strategy guides everything we create.

Every element of your brand aligns seamlessly, catering directly to your aspirations & audience. That’s why our tagline is “designed to be intuitively chosen.” Through intentional design, bespoke offerings, & story-led strategy, our brands are bound to connect & impact. We’re committed to fostering connections through impactful, visual storytelling that authentically mirrors your brand’s essence.

At Studio Eleven11, we take pride in being a boutique creative studio that prioritizes individualized attention & tailored solutions. Our approach fosters a more intimate, collaborative relationship with our clients, where quality always triumphs quantity, setting us apart from larger agencies.

Collaboration lies at the heart of our ethos. You’re not just getting a service; you’re getting a partnership with the best. A lot of our clients come to us for a brand identity or rebranding & end up sticking around as we guide them through their website development, direct their photoshoots, help manage campaigns, & design all their brand collateral.

We’ve tailored unique, streamlined offerings specifically crafted for small businesses and startups. After many iterations, we’ve honed a process that meets our client’s specific needs. We call them brand intensives. As we often work with startups, it was critical we develop a process that is cost-effective, streamlined, & ensures a quick turnaround—all while being deeply rooted in strategy. Our ultimate aim is to launch brands swiftly into the market, enabling them to begin gathering valuable feedback and data from their audience.

In this next year, I hope to define Studio Eleven11 more as a brand that modern visionaries & creatives can align with beyond engaging with our services, rather as as a supportive friend who understands and champions their growing business. We’re also working on developing high-quality, thoughtful merchandise to complement our brand.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

I had a bit of a covert start to my journey. It began in high school, where I spent quite a bit of time on Tumblr & I taught myself the basics of code on the platform. I then ventured into designing websites, starting with one for my photography business, one for my dad’s business, followed by one for my boyfriend’s.. Soon, people were inquiring about who had designed their branding & websites & that’s where my story took an unexpected turn.

While balancing college & my part-time jobs, I found myself inadvertently diving into a side hustle that gradually became a way to supplement my income. Designing websites, marketing material, & brand collateral consumed any free time I had. At that point, it was merely a means to earn some extra money; I had no plans of taking it any further. In fact, I was beginning to prepare to apply for full-time jobs.

As graduation quickly approached, my capstone project in brand strategy opened my eyes to all I could do to help businesses develop & maintain successful brands. My appreciation for brand design & visual storytelling was evident from the start; after all, I began college as a film major (a story for another time). My experiences working for companies like Vail & Red Bull only reinforced my belief in the influential force of successful brand strategy.

Witnessing my boyfriend, Ryan, successfully scale his business over the years & feeling the allure of self-employment, I pondered the possibilities. Debt-free & living at home with my parents, I graduated in May 2022 & embarked on my journey as a solo entrepreneur.

From May to October, I freelanced under my name. However, something didn’t quite feel right; it was a mindset issue. I felt like I was playing small, accepting any job I could get. My vision of establishing a comprehensive design studio seemed unattainable, & I couldn’t quite figure out how to make it happen.

Towards the end of October, I took a pause from my client work to guide myself through my own strategic branding process that would offer the clarity & confidence I lacked. It turned out to be the breakthrough I needed. I relaunched as Studio Eleven11 in November, taking the proper steps to establish my business. The remainder of the year was spent constructing my website & spreading the word about Studio Eleven11. I made a Facebook post at the end of November 2022, officially announcing my studio & that single post allowed me to completely book out the first three months of 2023.

Fast forward to today, a year later, & I’ve had the privilege to work with over 25 clients this year alone, guiding them through branding & web design projects & everything in between. Our calendar is nearly booked for the remainder of 2023 & we have already begun accepting clients for 2024. Over the past few months, I’ve begun to expand my team, with the hope of establishing a cohesive & talented group of creatives by the end of the year, all sharing the same vision for our clients.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of my job as a creative is witnessing the tangible impact our designs & strategy have on businesses. While the finished visual designs are undeniably impressive, it’s the depth of intention & meaning behind our work that truly elevates the experience, making the direct impact unmatched.

I have seen our processes in action, & the results speak for themselves. We’ve witnessed client’s inquiries & sales increase immediately following the launch of their re-brand and/or website. Their newfound brand identity has resulted in better positioning & engagement with their dream clientele. Notably, a startup client of ours has been featured in major media outlets, enhancing their visibility. In another case, implementing a premium, user-friendly design saw a remarkable increase in website traffic in under three months for another client, consequently boosting their overall sales. There was even an occasion where a client of ours successfully doubled her rates immediately following her rebrand.

The clarity our clients experience post-project is unparalleled. They don’t just emerge with a visually appealing identity that resonates with their brand’s essence & their audience; they gain a newfound confidence in their direction. When my clients first begin their questionnaire, I always jokingly tell them, “Hate me now, thank me later” because the questions are designed to make them think deeply. Our intention in asking probing questions is to create a design that truly aligns with their vision & is poised to evolve with them, considering all potential applications of their visual identity.

At this point in my business, I’m fortunate to collaborate with whom I’d consider my ‘ideal clients’ on a regular basis. These brands are forward-thinking & visionaries. Partnering with individuals who embrace the intricacies & think expansively about their brand is not only rewarding but genuinely enjoyable. My goal is to help people maximize their brand’s potential, & this is most effective when they share that vision. Our role is to materialize their visions & create deep connections with their ideal audience so they can expand their impact.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://studioeleven11.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studioeleven11.co
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/studioeleven11.co
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izabella-buzogany/