Meet Natalie Alves | Graphic Designer & Branding Specialist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Natalie Alves and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Natalie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have had the opportunity to work in a lot of different design environments and while I am thankful for all those experiences, I couldn’t shake the feeling that if I were in charge I would take a completely different approach. What it comes down to is how people are treated and how they collaborate. I feel like there is such a great opportunity for creatives and business owners to work together and create something truly amazing for their brands. From my experiences, I didn’t always feel like we were on the same team. My job is to take your vision and bring it to life. To think outside the box and create memorable impressions that make your dream as a business come true. Being a designer in a lot of ways means being selfless. I want to do right by others and know that my work is going to speak for itself and let me grow. Working for myself, I am able to build new friendships. I am able to push boundaries and experiment with creative ideas. I feel right about the way I work with people and the core of my business is helping others.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My specialty is in brand building. I absolutely love designing brand kits, this is more than just a logo but any other visual that goes alongside the logo (although logos are my favorite). This can be patterns, icons, styles, typography, color palette, etc. Creating a brand where all of these elements work together with the logo is how you get to something magical. I think brand building can happen in more than just logo creation too. Creating a strong social presence, purposeful websites, and holiday/specialty campaigns, can all be part of building a brand.

I am a bit of a dreamer and while working with clients, I strive to create something different. How can we collaborate together to do something eye-catching and thoughtful? I combine strategic marketing and graphic design skills to think outside the box. I want their work to stand out and to give them more than they asked for.

I worked for a few design agencies throughout college and after graduating mainly working with large corporations. Although I am grateful for the learning experience, I realized how badly I wanted to break out of the typical design job and start my own business. I couldn’t shake the feeling that if I were in charge I would take a completely different approach. It was not easy but I am so glad I went for it because I really believe in what I’m doing to help others.

What it comes down to is how people are treated and how they collaborate. I feel like there is such a great opportunity for creatives and business owners to work together and create something truly amazing for their brands. From my experiences, I didn’t always feel like we were on the same team. My job is to take your vision and bring it to life. To think outside the box and create memorable impressions that make your dream as a business come true.

I want to tell everyone that they deserve great branding. Your brand is worth the investment and it will make a huge impact on your business.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Although I live in San Antonio now, I am from Cincinnati and I love the city. Cincinnati has so much character and charm. If I were to give someone a tour I would make sure to take them through Over the Rhine and to Factory 52. I also love Madtree Brewery and the Montgomery Inn. If you’re looking for more of a small town vibe, Loveland is a great little town to walk around. I love kayaking along the Miami River and riding my bike through the Loveland Trail.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Of course, I have to start by giving my husband, Zach, and my family (especially my dad) a shoutout for all their love and support. I am so thankful for all of the businesses I have been able to partner with and design for. My alumni, The University of Cincinnati DAAP deserve recognition for having such an excellent design program. One company that I look to as a mentor is Hoodzpah Design, they wrote an incredible book that taught me so much about starting your own design company.

Website: natmariedesign.com

Instagram: @natmariedesign

Linkedin: @natmariedesign

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