Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Kelly.
Hi Tiffany, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello. I’m so excited to be here. Thanks for allowing me to share my story. I own a freelance graphic design studio in Winter Garden, FL called The Honest Pixel, where my motto is Authentic, Inspired, Beautiful Graphic Design. The Honest Pixel is only in its first year of business but I’m committed to long-term success, and to contributing high-quality creative work to my community and beyond. In building this business, I’ve intentionally focused on the areas of design that I have a strong expertise in and genuine love for. I think it’s important, no matter what industry you’re in, to be honest with yourself about the kind of work that gives you life because those passions will be the things that will inspire and serve the people around you the most.
I have a Master’s Degree in Architecture from RISD but the road to starting this business has been a bit of a zig-zag. I believe career paths like that should be celebrated more. So many successful entrepreneurs got to where they are today, not because of one clear pursuit, but a variety of experiences and a drive towards excellence. After grad school, the job market was at an all-time low, so I decided to take a year to work for a non-profit fighting human trafficking in America. I helped them raise awareness by building their community and leading their marketing efforts. This included a lot of graphic design, marketing, content creation, and web design (all of which I was learning along the way, but with just enough of a creative background to survive). It was a Christian organization who reached out to the community and the local church to try to make a difference. My passion for serving people through church community began to grow and I got a job offer from my church, Mosaic Church in Winter Garden, FL on the creative team doing graphic design, production, and interior installations. On our team, we took opportunities to think outside the box to present the gospel in memorable and impactful ways. I learned a lot at that job about bringing a vision to life and representing truth with excellence.
After working at Mosaic Church for 11 years and deciding that it was time for a change, starting a freelance graphic design business was an exciting and obvious next step. My first thought was, “I want to do the same passionate, inspired, and people-valuing work, but for organizations outside the four walls of my church”. In my first year of business, I’ve done a lot of logo design, church event/series design, and spatial branding. Spatial branding is a unique service that I offer that really brings graphic design to life in physical spaces in an intentional way. With components of interior design and architecture, it’s a service that very few creative professionals excel at. These types of projects are some of my favorites because I love bringing an inviting vibe to spaces people hang out in. Studies have shown that the quality of a person’s environment is deeply connected to their happiness, so immersing people in beauty as they interact with a space is one of the best investments an organization or business can make in connecting with their audience. It’s an often-forgotten way to value and inspire people.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is coming from a very small town in Ohio where we didn’t have a lot of money, connections, or opportunities. When I was young my dad passed away. My mom, the strongest person I know, was the rock of our family. Even in our grief, I remember laughing a lot and spending a lot of time together as a family. I always felt extremely supported and cheered on by my mom, but I knew life would be a bit of an uphill battle. Even though we were poor, she always encouraged my two sisters and I to get out of our hometown after graduation and pursue our dreams with everything we had. All three of us went off to college, paying for it with a little help from mom, and a lot of scholarships, loans, and part-time jobs. We have all worked extremely hard and now have successful careers that we’re passionate about as well as important people in our lives who we love… and a proud Momma.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Honest Pixel?
The Honest Pixel is a freelance graphic design studio. I offer a wide range of services, but my specialties are logo design, spatial branding, and church event/series graphics.
Several things actually set me apart from other freelance graphic designers, and I’ve built my business around them.
The first is that I offer a service I call Spatial Branding which I’d love to tell you a little more about. It’s basically graphic design for interior and exterior spaces. Because of my background in architecture and my experience with custom fabrication/installation, I have a natural ability to visualize what’s on my computer screen coming to life in a large-scale space. I use a mix of interior design and architecture influences to bring an inviting, inspiring, and on-brand vibe to spaces like church lobbies, coffee shops, and workspaces. Spatial Branding packages usually include exterior signage, window graphics, interior wall graphics, feature wall murals, wayfinding signage, theming for kids’ spaces, and/or materials and fixtures recommendations.
The second thing that sets me apart is that I am highly committed to having positive, collaborative, and respectful client relationships. My goal is that if you’ve ever had a difficult working relationship with a creative, working with me would be a breath of fresh air. No ego, just confidence, and collaboration. I am FOR the client and I love when we get to inspire one another.
The third thing that sets me apart is that I value creative work. Experience, quality, and time cost money. That experience shows in my work so I am not the budget option, I’m the high-quality option. That being said, my rates are still reasonable because as a freelance studio, I have very low overhead.
I’m always excited to discuss potential projects, so if you have a graphic design need reach out anytime through my website www.thehonestpixel.com
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Good question. Honestly, I had to think about that one a bit. If I look at my specific path, I can say that there were both obstacles and advantages. Everyone has a hand of cards they are dealt in life, but all you can do is take those circumstances and try to move forwards with hard work, passion, and character. Approaching your career with integrity won’t get you quick success, but it’s definitely the better slow-play. I’ve landed and kept a lot of clients in my first year because I have a reputation as a trustworthy, positive person who works hard to get the job done. I choose to focus not on luck but on being true to myself and serving others.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thehonestpixel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiffanykellycreative/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehonestpixel
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-kelly-ba5478ba/
