It is also a big personal milestone for me since I started my degree in graphic design two decades ago in September 2006. So much has changed for me along the way but my passion for design is still going strong, a few thousand completed projects later.
When I started Branch in 2013, I had just left my dream job at a design studio in Portland, Oregon. Walking out on my last day felt bittersweet because my time there really pushed me to step it up — every day felt like the first day of school in the best way possible.
The designers and creative directors around me were light years ahead of where I was in experience and talent since I got such a late start in my creative career. I absorbed the way they did things from pitch decks to concept build-outs with a sense of nervousness (would I ever catch up to their level?) and excitement since I was finally seeing how campaigns were built from the ground up.
A year and a half into my dream job, my side hustle had grown to the point that I needed to travel for a month at a time. This meant that I had find a way to bring my design work on the road with me; sitting at a desk in one physical location was no longer an option.
I founded Branch in 2013 as a necessity; it was my way of putting a face and a name to my design work. I’d begun the path towards transitioning from a freelance designer-for-hire to a full-service studio and thankfully, I already had a few clients (Virgin, Forever 21 and The Wall Street Journal). Even with a decent foundation of work, I knew I’d need to grow much more to make the path fully viable. Thankfully, Instagram wasn’t as saturated 13 years ago and things began to pick up about six months in.
Today, it still feels like I’m taking things a day at a time when it comes to running the studio. The future is hard to predict as technology rapidly shifts, AI is on the rise and businesses feel increased pressure on their design budgets. Still, I feel genuinely optimistic about the future and what’s possible.
I became a designer 20 years ago because I couldn’t stop thinking about design. I spent all my money on stacks of magazines, obsessed over typography and blogged about every project because I felt deeply connected to the art of transformation.
Transforming a client’s story, aesthetic preferences and the colors they’re most aligned with into a cohesive, marketable brand still feels as intriguing as when I started and I’m thankful to now have a small team scattered from coast to coast (Sam in New York and Pam in Portland) helping me make it happen.
I’ve experienced some of the highest highs and lowest lows running a design studio but I wouldn’t trade any of it for anything. Every day keeps me on my toes and pushes me to stay open and curious. Thank you for joining me on this journey. I appreciate you being here as we keep learning, growing and evolving in real time. —Shauna
