We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kylie Buss. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kylie below.

Hi Kylie, thanks for joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later?

I actually started my entrepreneurship way back, during my sophomore year of high school. I always loved all things art and when I started getting custom requests, I decided to open an Etsy shop selling hand-painted canvas shoes and bags. I kept my Etsy shop open throughout college, but never took it seriously until the pandemic hit. With nothing else to do and my post-grad job put on hold, I took the opportunity to further my skills in consumer products and freelance projects with my shiny new graphic design degree (I was a 2020 grad!)

The timing honestly couldn’t have been more perfect. I had a little business knowledge from running my Etsy shop for over 5 years, and being in the midst of the pandemic I figured, “Why not try something different?” A few months went by as I waited to hear about the job that I had lined up, and I started taking on more and more freelance projects. I eventually did start working full-time as an in-house designer while managing my Etsy shop and clients on the side, and it was a great learning experience.

I truly believe it all worked out as it was supposed to and to this day, I am still so grateful to have had experience in small agency settings and as an in-house designer before jumping into the world of entrepreneurship full-time.

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

I graduated from the Columbus College of Art and Design with a degree in Advertising & Graphic Design and a minor in Business, but am now based in Traverse City, Michigan. During college, I managed college work, a few jobs, internships, my Etsy shop, and the occasional freelance project all throughout college so really – I tried it all before finding the path that truly lights me up.

When I began offering brand identity design, I quickly found that I worked best with other creative women. Whether that be a wedding photographer or a woman-owned short-term rental business, those were (and still are!) the types of projects that I am drawn to.

A few months after I took the leap into full-time brand identity work, I discovered a gap where my clients were in need of websites. Without a website, it’s difficult to tell your story and allow potential customers to learn more about you before booking or purchasing your offering. I already had some web experience, so I invested in a course to sharpen my skills and the reward has been amazing. Within the last year, I’ve designed six client websites, have a couple in the books, and am working on developing my own web templates.

Offering both brand identity design and web design to my clients has really allowed me to give my clients the look and functionality that they’ve been searching for, and that they deserve. My biggest belief as a designer is that every business deserves to have beautiful and strategic visuals for their brand, regardless of their size or budget. I work with my clients to create packages that fit their needs and use my past experience as a shop owner, and my empathetic personality, to really see things from their point of view. This also allows me to really dive deep into projects to view things from my clients’ customers point of view to create beautiful work that attracts customers to their brands.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

As I mentioned previously, I quickly gravitated toward other female creatives and feminine businesses as my niche. Whether these types of brands are looking for something minimal and neutral or bold and colorful, I’m your gal.

I believe that sharing my work on social media has given me the biggest boost in reputation among potential clients. I like to think of Instagram as my mini portfolio. It’s typically the first thing potential clients find me on, so I’m always sure to keep it updated as much as I can (and maybe obsess over the look of the feed a little too much!)

I also believe that creating a streamlined service has helped build my reputation as an expert at what I do. From the moment a client inquires with me to the moment they’re off-boarded with their new brand files in hand, I use templates and custom portals to help make our time working together as easy as possible for them. You can never go wrong with a satisfied client who even compliments your process!

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

To me, the most rewarding part of being a creative business owner is the freedom. As creatives, there are days when we’re just not feeling, well, creative, and that was honestly the hardest part for me when working as a full-time, in-house designer. Now that I run my own business and manage my own clients, I’m able to pick my schedule and work during hours of the day that work for me, and it’s not always the same time of day.

I also love that I have the ability to work from anywhere, wherever. My fiancé and I live about 5 1/2 hours from our nearest relatives, so it’s nice to be able to grab my laptop and work on the go when we have family events or I’m feeling a little homesick.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kyliebussdesign.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kyliebussdesign/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyliebuss/

Image Credits
Steph Powell and Katie Logsdon