We were lucky to catch up with Nneka Roberts recently and have shared our conversation below.
Nneka , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?
I am blessed to have 3 companies, each specializing in different creative areas.
First is NYO Designs, my graphic design company, which has 2 symbolic meanings. NYO is short for New York Original as I am originally from Queens, New York. I grew up there and moved to Texas in 1989, spent the summers yearly back in Queens and relocated back to New York as I attended Pratt Institute Brooklyn campus in 2000. My experiences as a youth, the cultural diversity and exploration of New York City really molded who I am as a person and artist. Second, NYO also stands for my precious daughter Nya. She’s 11 and was born 2 years prior to the birth of NYO and the N-Y in NYO also symbolizes her as they share the 2 letters together.
Company number 2, TheArtistNYO, which is simply the artist, me (NYO) which focuses on paintings and illustrations that I have created and are on sale.
Lastly there is Moze’ by NYO, which focuses on mosaic style design and original art that I have created and hand drawn onto clothing, handbags, cups and more. The name Moze’ is a derivative of the ‘mosa’ in mosaic and my daughters middle name Mone’, which has a double meaning on its own for the artist Monet and the moon.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
By day and through the night I am a Graphic Designer that creates pretty much anything that needs design from logos, websites, flyers, brochures, billboards, packaging design, labels, promotional videos and more. I originally started out as an artist and wanted to choose a career path that allowed me the same creativity but with the integration of computers, hence graphic design. Even though I graduated from one of the top 10 art schools in the world, Pratt Institute, it wasn’t easy to find my footing as an artist or graphic designer. I freelanced while attending college with local aspiring rappers from Queens, Brooklyn to Harlem as their photographer, art director and designer as well as promotional entertainment companies locally and in the Maryland/Washington D.C. area. After working with a couple of franchises and mom & pop print shops for a span of 10 years I finally decided to take a leap of faith and start my own company NYO Designs in 2013. Working for certain companies your creativity can be limited, so making the decision especially with a young child at the time wasn’t the easiest but the best decision to date.
The creative freedom alone is a beautiful thing but so is being able to receive a task or assignment and being trusted to bring your clients vision into reality. In today’s world of technology many can accomplish the same goals as a degreed graphic designer but what sets me apart is my artistry background. In most works I am able to tell a brief story where you know exactly what the job, company or event is about within a few seconds of seeing the final product. Knowing that I have exceeded and met the expectations of my clients with little to no guidance is very gratifying as a creative.
Through my graphic design journey working with print shops plus almost 9 years of NYO, there are many experiences to be grateful for and proud of. It’s pretty cool to see your work on billboards, in grocery stores and popular magazines but I think I am most proud of being recognized for Black History month in 2020 by my alma mater for successfully integrating art with design. As Texas being my home-base I am also very grateful to be able to showcase my journey with you as well as, Houston Voyage and Dallas Voyage Magazines. It is a huge honor to be recognized for your work by your community and peers.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being creative in your experience?
It’s an honor to do what you love, to fulfill your creative passion and most rewarding to be trusted and respected as an artist. It is a privilege that I am blessed to live everyday as a creative entrepreneur.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I think the main thing that has helped me build my reputation is patience and understanding. In this business not everyone can be the most creative, or artistic as art evolves by the second. As a creative person not everyone will like what you do, sometimes there are numerous changes, decisions, expeditious deadlines where time isn’t on your side, indecisive customers, or clients can even challenge your knowledge. Many different scenarios, but in business your client is always right . . . right? For me, it’s important to have patience and find the balance as well as respect for one another. Equal ground so that the client will continue to trust your vision, feel safe in the process and will continue to come back knowing you are the right person for the job. Not only do you build your impeccable reputation, you become irreplaceable too.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nyo.graphics | ww
w.mozebynyo.com | www. theartistnyo.com - Instagram: @nyo.designs | @mozebynyo | @theartistnyo
- Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/NyoDesigns - Twitter: @nyodesigns
Image Credits
All artwork and designs are created and produced by Nneka Roberts of NYO Designs, MozebyNYO and TheArtistNYO.