We were lucky to catch up with Tiffany Mercer-Robbins recently and have shared our conversation below.
Tiffany, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
The story behind radiantHUE®’s mission is one of resilience, determination, and a deep-seated desire for authentic representation. As a creative strategist and brand designer with over a decade of experience, my journey reflects the struggles many BIPOC individuals face in traditional corporate and creative environments. Despite my talent and qualifications, I was continually overlooked and undervalued, stifling my creativity and causing me to work twice as hard. Upon graduating undergrad, I submitted many job applications, interned at places, and was never hired. The job offer in my field, where I didn’t feel like I was struggling financially, didn’t land until I was pushing 30 and completing my master’s degree.
Driven by a passion for amplifying BIPOC voices and providing opportunities for underrepresented creatives, I founded radiantHUE® as more than just a creative marketing agency—it became a creative outlet, fostering genuine connections and uplifting experiences where every voice is valued and heard. The name radiantHUE® reflects my commitment to representing the rich diversity of Black and Brown communities while symbolizing my personality, design style, and divine calling to be a light in the world.
My company’s mission extends beyond business; I’m dedicated to empowering others and inspiring the next generation of creatives, particularly those who may face similar challenges and need that extra push to pursue their dreams. As I stay committed to this mission, I remind myself that every step forward is a testament to why I held on for so long in the first place.
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.
I was career-driven as a kid, starting my first job at 15 and working as an admin at an architecture firm. You can say the creative spirit was deep in my soul! While there, I got to play around with a design software called QuarkXPress. The design industry piqued my interest, but against my better judgment, I started college as a biology major, knowing I would be a successful OB/GYN. As soon as it was time for physics, that dream was short-lived, and I switched my major to journalism with a concentration in magazine.
After graduation, I worked as a photographer, preschool teacher, assistant, and freelancer. Upon entering grad school, studying professional and business communication, I was able to land roles in my field, working 2 years as a marketing assistant at Bebashi – Transition to Hope and 3 years as a communications and creative design manager at AIA Philadelphia and the Center for DesignPhiladelphia. Through hard work and negotiating creative service contracts with those companies, in 2020, I was able to go full-time with my business.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Fear from imposter syndrome! Whewwww. That was a long lesson that crippled my mind and thought process until the beginning of this year, when I found myself having to do some inner work and disengage from that negative thought. The craziest thing is I’ve worked with big clients in Philadelphia, such as Visit Philly, The Roots Picnic, PHILADELPHIA250, City Ave District, Fox + Roach, MinkeeBlue, and many more.
I’ve uncovered my imposter syndrome through various layers. I started with the issue’s root by learning the “why?” My struggle wasn’t being told the “no” that I’ve heard so many times when trying to find a job; it was the “yes” and being afraid I wasn’t good enough to execute to my client’s standards. I could then share my feelings by going into empowering spaces, such as The Qader Group Mastermind and Epic Fab Girl, a community for Christian women entrepreneurs. From peeling back the layers, I can celebrate my successes, let go of perfectionism, give myself grace, and take the rest to show up in the rooms I enter.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being creative is seeing a blank canvas, no matter the project, whether it’s creating a brand identity, event production, or curating a brand activation, filling its proper medium, and being successful. It’s the warmest embrace of all time!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.radianthue.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byradianthue
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theculturedceo/
Image Credits
portfolio / renderings of work | radiantHUE®