We were lucky to catch up with Kimberly Russo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kimberly, 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 always had a passion for creating and I knew from a young age that I wanted to make a career out of being artistic – it was always going to be something that made me happy. Going into college, I knew exactly what I wanted to study to make my career a reality. Packaging Design is something that I’ve always had an interest in and it ended up being a perfect fit for me, creatively speaking. After graduating from FIT in NYC with my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Packaging Design, I started working at a design firm after completing an internship there. I then worked for a few packaging design agencies and had the opportunity to work with amazing brands like Gillette, Milk-Bone, Kleenex, Duane Reede, Bird’s Eye and many others. After 15+ years in a corporate setting as a designer, I decided to move forward with my own dream venture and established On Brand Designs, Inc. It has been amazing being able to do what I love while building a successful business at the same time.

Kimberly, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Growing up, I really enjoyed anything creative, from beading and making jewelry to painting and taking private art classes on weekends. My goal was to have a creative career, and I knew the digital world offered that possibility. To make my dream career a reality, I needed to evolve my fine art skills into the computer and digital realm. After starting in communication design, I realized that it was more conceptual than artistic. This led me to packaging design, which was more focused and different – it allowed me to create graphics and walk into a grocery store and see part of what I created on the shelves. The skills I developed working in packaging design inspired me to leave the corporate world and flex my design muscles even more. Ultimately, I found my strengths were in branding design and keeping graphics consistent. On Brand Designs was born from this idea. I have enjoyed creating impactful graphics to help brands appeal more directly to their target audience, which helps them attract the clients they seek. I strive to capture my clients’ visions and bring them to life in a beautiful and meaningful way.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Having the freedom to work for myself has been my dream for a long time. However, when I started my business in 2018, I was more in a freelancer mindset – like my business was a side hustle. It took me two years to shift that mindset and realize I’m not just a graphic designer. I’m an entrepreneur. I started taking my business more seriously by listening to podcast, finding mentors, and getting business coaching. This pivot has helped my business flourish. I now have a small team of amazing women to help me out, and I have my own course which will launching soon. I’m really excited about the course as it will teach other designers how to take this same leap from freelancer to entrepreneur.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Creating branding my clients love and profit from is the most rewarding part of my job! Most of my clients become friends and end up being long-term relationships. The design process can be intimate and is very collaborative, which results in high-quality work and a positive experience for everyone.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://onbranddesigns.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/on_brand_designs/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onbranddesigns/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-russo/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@onbranddesigns
  https://www.pinterest.com/on_brand_designs
  https://www.etsy.com/shop/aSpotOfPaintByKim

Image Credits
Georgia Grace Photography