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

Alright, Nat thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

My true love is brand building. This can mean many things but overall I want to be a part of what gives a business a unique edge, its own voice. I like to approach the brand as more than just the logo but all the visual elements that work together.

One ongoing project where I get to build brands is a non-profit I co-founded called Uhambo 8286 (uhambo8286.com). This is the most meaningful project I have ever worked on. This independent nonprofit partners with small business owners in the most impoverish areas of South Africa. We sponsor their higher education through business courses as well as provide branding and business plans for these businesses. This is unpaid and something I give my time to. The idea is to empower them to start the business of their dreams and create a sustainable income for their families. This has been a life-changing experience for me and I hold this work very close to my heart.

Nat, 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?

Originally from Ohio, I grew up with a lot of creativity and what my dad coined as “big ideas.” As a kid, I was very observant of what was around me and loved to see clever, thoughtful ideas come to life in unique forms. I went to college at the University of Cincinnati and fell in love with graphic design.

Upon graduation, I got married and moved to San Antonio. I worked for a few design agencies throughout college and after graduating mainly working with large corporations. Although I am grateful for the learning experience, I realized how badly I wanted to break out of the typical design job and start my own business. I couldn’t shake the feeling that if I were in charge I would take a completely different approach.

What it comes down to is how people are treated and how they collaborate. I feel like there is such a great opportunity for creatives and business owners to work together and create something truly amazing for their brands. From my experiences, I didn’t always feel like we were on the same team. My job is to take your vision and bring it to life. To think outside the box and create memorable impressions that make your dream as a business come true.

Being a designer in a lot of ways means being selfless. I want to do right by others and know that my work is going to speak for itself and let me grow. Working for myself, I am able to build new friendships. I am able to push boundaries and experiment with creative ideas. I feel right about the way I work with people and the core of my business is helping others.

My specialty is in brand building. I absolutely love designing brand kits, this is more than just a logo but any other visual that goes alongside the logo (although logos are my favorite). This can be patterns, icons, styles, typography, color palette, etc. Creating a brand where all of these elements work together with the logo is how you get to something magical. I think brand building can happen in more than just logo creation too. Creating a strong social presence, purposeful websites, and holiday/specialty campaigns, can all be part of building a brand.

I am a bit of a dreamer and while working with clients, I strive to create something different. How can we collaborate together to do something eye-catching and thoughtful? I combine strategic marketing and graphic design skills to think outside the box. I want their work to stand out and to give them more than they asked for.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One lesson that I had to unlearn is that designers should have their own style. I have been told throughout my career that I need to offer up my own, personal style. I see so many designers that work with one aesthetic and I don’t want to be like that. I feel that as a designer you need to be able to adapt to your client’s style. We are chameleons. I am able to draw and design in a variety of different ways and I want to keep it that way because at the end of the day, I am helping bring someone else’s vision to life not my own. My goal is to hear their dreams and to create something that uniquely reflects their business. If I always worked in the same style I am sure I would be known for that specific craft but I want to be the designer that offers variety. I think a lot of designers shy away from this because they want to stay within their comfort zone, but being a designer means that you are constantly learning and growing.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

As cheesy as it may sound, my mission is to simply help others. I admire small business owners so much. It takes a lot of hard work and bravery to run a business and my job is to partner with them and take some of the weight off their shoulders. I am blessed to be in a creative field that I absolutely love and I am so thankful that I was given the talent to be a designer. I want to use that for good and to be able to help others bring their vision to life. I truly believe that if I work hard and treat the people I work with well then I will see my own business grow. I think being kind pays off. The main reason I started my own business was because I saw that typically in my industry, designers and clients don’t work as a team. There is so much more that we can do if we work together. I want to go above and beyond for my people because I get so much satisfaction from seeing their businesses grow.     

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.natmariedesign.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natmariedesign/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/natmariedesign
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-alves-503551138/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/natmariealves/natmariedesigncom/