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

Maura, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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?

It was definitely a journey and an adventure to become a full-time independent creative – still is! I started by doing freelance graphic design projects on the side of in-house agency jobs and part-time work in restaurants. Once I had enough clients and income to transition to full-time working from home, I committed to growing my business and made the leap. It was nerve racking but so exciting – and absolutely worth it.

It took a few years to appreciate the ups and downs of freelance work, but looking back sometimes I wish I appreciated the downtime more now that I have a fuller schedule. Knowing what I know now, maybe I could have done even more self promotion, started an email list sooner or hustled harder for more projects when times were slow. But at the same time, I’m proud of the way my business has grown organically and through referrals. I’ve always tried to maintain a work-life balance and make sure I have time to spend with the people I love and to play outside – we all have our priorities!

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?

I’m a graphic designer and creative consultant that’s been fortunate enough to enjoy the entrepreneurial life for over 15 years. I started out working in creative agencies or doing in-house contract jobs, but I quickly discovered a love for the independent freelancer life — not just because the flexibility is fabulous, but also because it gives me the opportunity to really connect and work one-on-one with some amazing clients.

These days I focus on companies that are promoting positivity in the world, so many of my clients are in the outdoor, health & wellness, self improvement, travel or food and beverage industries (including brands such as Osprey Packs, Four Sigmatic, Boulder Nordic Sport, RepYourWater, Fresh Thymes, Team Evergreen, and The Living & Dying Consciously Project). I’ve worked on a range of projects over the years, including catalogs, magazines, branding, brand collateral, packaging, apparel graphics, digital course materials and front-end web design. I also do creative consultations for new designers looking to get in to the industry or for brands that just need some advice on a project or process.

My main goal with any project or client is to solve their creative problem and make them thrilled to share their final results with the world. I’m also always trying to make the process as fun and efficient as possible because we mine as well have a great time while we bring their vision to life!

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

To help build a solid reputation in my market, I focus heavily on client relationships. My skills as a designer are of course an important part of my business, but I put a lot of emphasis on effectively communicating with my clients. I try to always keep them informed, respect their time (and deadlines!) and make an effort to really get to know them and what they love about their particular business.

Being a solid communicator comes in handy with design projects too – it helps to know what questions to ask, when to listen, and to really be able to understand what the client is looking for. The final results of any project are a reflection of not only my design prowess, but also how well I communicated with the client throughout the process. Plus, keeping clients in the loop makes them enjoy the process more too and builds lasting relationships!

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

This actually builds well on the last question – communication and relationships have been a key element in growing my clientele. Many of my clients have been around for years (some over a decade!) and continue to send projects my way. Not only do those happy clients continue to work with me for years to come, but they also send referrals my way too. A large portion of my past and current work comes from client referrals. It pays to be a respectful, communicative human!

I also love forming relationships with new brands and clients and often send personal notes to connect with new companies or make an effort to seek out brands I’m passionate about at trade shows. For me, it always comes down to the human aspect and nurturing your network and connections. And it never hurts to talk yourself up on a ski lift or while you’re waiting for a yoga class to start – you never know where you’ll find your next great client!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.maurakcreative.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/maurakcreative/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/maurakelpy

Image Credits
A few of these were taken by Emily Sierra Photography, and some are created by me.