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

Meaghan, appreciate you joining us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

The first time I got paid for design work was in college. My roommate, Annie Seighman, and I were both in the same major at Penn State — graphic design. We had a class project where we were broken into groups and challenged to design a brand identity for a local non-profit, The Jared Box Project. Each group presented their work to the founder of the organization, Cindy Kolarik. Annie and I were shocked when Cindy picked our direction.

We both loved Cindy and her organization so we agreed to help bring her brand to life—our schedules were already packed with school work but we committed to meeting with Cindy and designing assets and a website for The Jared Box Project. The week before graduation our senior year Cindy surprised us both with a check. We had no idea she was planning on paying us. Annie and I were genuinely just so excited to work on a real-world project for a woman we both came to idolize. Cindy poured her heart into this wonderful non-profit. Her drive was inspiring and we were both happy just to play a small part in it.

I remember feeling absolutely on top of the world that day. Getting paid to do design work with my best friend for such an incredible client was an unreal feeling. That feeling has absolutely inspired my business, the type of work I gravitate towards and the people I choose to work with.

I should also note that earlier that week I was notified that Penn State HAD in fact been tallying up my parking tickets… since freshman year. And that I wasn’t going to be allowed to graduate unless I paid them… all. So, Cindy, if you’re reading this—thank you for everything including not having to explain that one to my parents!

Meaghan, 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?

Yes! My name is Meaghan Cafferty and I am a brand identity designer and owner of Soul&Story. Before I started Soul&Story, I worked as a designer both in-house (Penn State World Campus) and at design agencies (Moxie Sozo and Hothouse Inc.). Working as a designer opened my eyes to my passion for building brands. I love working with passionate people and helping them tell their brand story in a strategic way that connects to the hearts of their audience. Soul&Story helps brands clarify who they are and translate that essence into their brand. The way we approach branding is strategic but soulful—we like to look at it as a matchmaking process. We dig deep to understand both the brands we work with and the audience they want to attract. Then we tailor all the aspects of the brand—the way they look, talk and exist—in an authentic way that resonates deeply with their audience. Our process helps new brands strategically position themselves before they go to market and legacy brands reinvigorate (or sometimes redefine) themselves.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Rare Breed — Ashleigh Hansberger and Sunny Bonnell

Freelance and Business and Stuff — Amy and Jennifer Hood

Man’s Search for Meaning — Viktor Frankl

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The primary mission of Soul&Story is to help passionate business owners tell their story. This is what fuels my work and keeps me motivated. I get the most energy from excited people and have found that working with passionate people is contagious and never really feels like work at all.

The secondary mission is harder to articulate but there is something about carving my own path that I am proud of and want to keep pursuing. As a student and in the early years of my career I never really felt like I had found my place. Designing my own path forward was something that happened out of necessity. Right now, I’m focused on building Soul&Story but down the road I’d love to help young designers who might feel the same way I did to consider designing their own path too.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.soulandstory.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulandstorybranding
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meaghcafferty/