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

Hi Selena , thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Every year I offer free lettering for my followers on Instagram and Facebook of their upcoming Word of the Year.. It has become a passion project of mine, it is one of my favorite things to work on. My followers have the option of adding on watercolor prints, t-shirt designs and/or stickers. I then create a fun little happy mail package with a special hand lettered quote that goes with their word of the year. My followers love it, and I love doing it for them.

I have even gotten businesses ask their teams for their Word of the Year and then I create packages for each employee personalized for them. I think selecting a word can be really powerful.

This year my word is “utilize” – and it is one of my favorites. Instead of sitting on things I’ve bought for a more important time, I use them now, trying to bring joy to my everyday and not be wasteful.

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 Selena, a graphic designer and handletterer from Michigan. I’ve always loved art, even as a child you could find me painting on my walls or making paper flowers or stitching designs into my clothing. When I went to college I studied Graphic Design and immediately started a job as a graphic designer for an advertising company. I still currently work in advertising, but I also own a freelance design company. I offer social media design for clients, I’m an indoor/outdoor muralist, I also offer wedding calligraphy, and run a sticker/tshirt shop with lots of custom design options.

In 2014, I was getting married and decided that I had a passion for handlettering. Then in 2015, I decided to do a 365 Instagram challenge where I would post a new handlettering project/quote a day and from there my business grew. As an artist I’ve always been a bit insecure, so the reason for the challenge was to get out of my own head. My job was just to create and from there I would post the good, the bad and the ugly. It is so amazing to look back on that time, the growth is incredible. I cannot even attempt to recreate anything now – but I love the freedom I had then. I just did it and tried so many different styles and techniques. I’m actually considering doing another challenge in 2026. I think there is a lot of growth that comes in putting out your art – when it is just for you.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

A few years ago I started a happy mail package on my website. A person could select a theme and I’d create happy mail to send out to the person they nominated. It’s honestly another one of my favorite things to do. I’ve done teacher appreciation, get well soon, happy graduation, congratulations and affirmations. I customize them with surprise quotes and stickers that either I select to go with the topic or customize them based on what the sender requested. I even add bits of confetti and hand letter the envelope all pretty on the outside. It makes me smile every time someone tells me they even framed the envelope. I just love that this simple gesture is so meaningful to the receiver.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn that just because I went to college to be an artist that people will always value my art. Art is extremely subjective. I might create something and love it and another person might completely dismiss it. I cannot lose heart because of that. I cannot devalue all the years I’ve spent as an artist just because another person might not see my full value.

I’ve also learned to let the imperfections stay imperfections. I have ruined SO many projects because I just needed to fix that one little thing and then completely destroyed it just to have to start all over again. Let it be imperfect, in most situations you are the only person noticing while everyone else will still think that imperfection is perfect, if they even notice it at all.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://selenaashley.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/selenaashley_designs/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/selenaashleydesigns

Image Credits

Main Photo taken by Evie & Jr Photography