We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sophia Ren a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Sophia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you share a story with us from back when you were an intern or apprentice? Maybe it’s a story that illustrates an important lesson you learned or maybe it’s a just a story that makes you laugh (or cry)? Looking back at internships and apprenticeships can be interesting, because there is so much variety in people’s experiences – and often those experiences inform our own leadership style.

Before I started working for myself, I had an experience at an internship where I was working as a graphic designer that shaped how I place value in my work. I had the opportunity to pitch an idea to the head of the team and had prepared so many drafts of the project, done a lot of research, and really went the extra mile to show I had done the work for this assignment. Despite all my effort, I ended up getting yelled at simply because somebody was having a bad day. While I can manage constructive criticism, this interaction had really affected me and left me wondering what I had done within my work to illicit this response. Now, I look back and see I could have shown up with none of the work completed and be met with the same response. This taught me to seek value in my work from within. I think when you are in a creative field, it is easy to fall into the routine of looking for other people’s approval to feel good about your work for validation. When you know you have done your best, the only opinion that matters is your own. Whatever comes after is out of your control. I am glad I was able to learn this early on as it has encouraged me to believe in myself even more. This experience also reminded me that my own bad days should never turn into anyone else’s.

Sophia, 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?

Hi, I am Sophia Ren! I am a Midwest designer, illustrator, and lover. My business Ren-O-Graphics sells stickers, art prints, apparel, and accessories. I hope to connect with people about the human experience through retro-inspired eclectic, playful, and heartfelt designs. I also do freelance design and illustration work as well. What is most rewarding about my work is seeing people resonate with my work’s messages and incorporate them into their daily life, whether it be a sticker on their water bottle or a framed print in their home.
In 2023, I designed something every day for 365 days and posted it on Instagram. This is where I began gaining a following and the demand for my work to be purchasable snowballed into my business. It feels like I started my business on accident because I just wanted to make my designs “real” things for myself. I would create concept art for things that felt niche (like my Midwest emo bumper sticker) and eventually I thought– wait, maybe other people would want this! I was fortunate enough that my work reached the right audience, and it has been a dream to essentially design for myself and have an audience that shares such similar interests and values.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I have had my current Instagram site to document my art since I was 14 years old, and before that in middle school I ran a Taylor Swift editing page where I posted editing resources and my own designs. I am chronically online, and this has helped me understand and apply trends and themes to my work. Social media is what I owe much of my business success and career to as it has given me the opportunity to advance in a difficult field independently. If you are wanting to kickstart a career in art or design, my advice is to just start posting, even if you think your work isn’t ready or your ideas are silly. Many of the designs that I have shared on social media are ones I thought were the most nonsensical but were what helped propel me to where I am today. Whatever you post, make sure it is authentic to you, your interests, and personal style. Post for yourself and anything that follows is a bonus!

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

I started my business in my junior year of college in my studio apartment while pursuing my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design. I invested in bumper stickers with $65 and I was scared I was never going to see that money back. I have always wanted to do something creative for my career. My college major ended up being graphic design because it felt like the safest avenue for a stable and creative career. Although my education in graphic design relates to my current practice, I never thought selling my personal style of work could be a stand-alone job for me as it is today. When my studio apartment was looking more like a packing facility than a home (with boxes lined up on every wall), I knew this was bigger than a side hustle. A major turning point for me was this past winter, when I realized I could either start looking for a full-time graphic design position at a company post-graduation, or I could continue pursuing what is essentially my dream job and work for myself. I am fortunate that my art business has opened so many doors and opportunities for me that I am able to work for myself and continue freelancing out of college. I am beyond excited to have my own studio space and dedicate myself full time to my art business post-graduation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.renographics.shop/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renographics
• Other: https://linktr.ee/renographics

Image Credits
Profile photo by Megan Eddy.