My name is Olivia and I get quite excited about other peoples businesses
Whether it's reworking brands that can charge more, streamlining services, optimising socials, building online presence or helping business owners trust themselves, I love working with passionate entrepreneurs who want to get their business to the level that allows them to live their dream life
have you felt like this?
I used to fight myself to be someone I wasn't because I saw it work for someone else
Realising that my branding was advertising a different version of myself was a game changer and changed the course of my business. I was stuck in the mindset of thinking I HAD to be professional, I HAD to be 'PG' and I HAD to dilute myself to see success. But to be brutally honest, everyone saw through the bullshit and could see my personality was way more unhinged than I was letting on, making me look fake and damaging the trust in potential customers.
When I started showing my personality and passions through my brand and it's appearance on all platforms, I felt so much less pressure, my guard dropped, my personality came through and people were drawn to me! I was finally building trust by showing a version of myself that matched the real me not the version of me that was trying to be someone else.
I would start with the cheesy 'since I was little I was creative' but my lecturers told me this wasn't the way to start a professional about section. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't, and I'm equally not your typical professional.
I was the girl at school that was a bit nerdy, did well and was always entering and winning competitions (I even went to India as a prize) I always had high expectations of myself and pushed myself really hard to get the things that I wanted.
I've been diagnosed with ADHD in my early adulthood which I use to my advantage where I can (It's not always easy)
I wanted to learn more about how to use design better so I set out for a First in Graphic Design at the Arts University Bournemouth
My background in design
I studied Fine art originally and found my place in painting, particularly land and sea scapes before deciding that I didn't want a degree in painting as it felt to narrow of a path at the time for me.
So I took up a Foundation Art Diploma where you get to experiment with a whole host of different creative practises and then refine 1. I started with illustration and thought 'maybe I can do an illustration degree' but again, it felt to narrow. My lecturer at the time suggested I worked with type as all my notes and pieces nearly always included calligraphy or handwritten texts. I ran with it, loved it and fell in love with the way that graphics can tell stories, evoke emotions and play into people's perception of things.
Meet the office dog, Mallie
Mallie is a Macedonian Rescue dog, she's a true Heinz 57 blend and is the love and bane of my life simultaneously. High energy, high drive and a true lovable rogue Mallie has taught me patience, resilience and the importance of consistency.
Always a go-getter
Whilst studying for my degree I took every opportunity I got and ended up working with a 3rd year student organising a networking event where I got scouted by a business owner who became a mentor to me outside of my studies. Through him I met other amazing business owners and worked with them on their print design, websites, social media and so much more building a great network and loving every second of learning in the real world and not confined to a desk.
First class baby!
After leaving university very proud with my First Class honours I moved back to my home town in Portsmouth and worked for a marketing agency. At first I loved the stability but overtime realised I wasn't able to serve my clients to the best of my ability due to not having much, if any contact with them.
Most of my work is representing peoples businesses, their investment of time and money in their product or service and I feel I work best when I have a really good understanding of the person behind the business and can pick up on the passion that's behind them. Relationships with my clients are really important to me!
Now I am a Graphic Designer in Hampshire and I love working with businesses locally to me as well as ones further afield, as long as the vision aligns, I'm as excited as my clients are about their businesses.
