Inform, Inspire, and Advance - Studio M Visual Design
Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in visual design but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kate McCarthy, Founder of Studio M Visual Design, located in San Diego, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Studio M is a creative studio that crafts brand experiences to inform, inspire, and advance equity. We help extraordinary impact-focused organizations connect with their customers by taking complex narratives and making them beautifully simple.
Tell us about yourself
I grew up in Southeast Asia, and the incredible exposure to art, travel, and Asian cultures sparked my curiosity about all things design. I moved to California to attend college and then started my vocation as an animator at a San Francisco studio. I eventually became an art director at network TV stations in Austin and San Diego. They were great places to learn to design for all visual media — from set design, photo shoots, and print work to video and digital.
After 13 years in TV, I was ready for something new, so I started Studio M to branch out into other industries — from architecture and healthcare to community advocacy — and to take more charge of my life. I'm motivated to collaborate with clients and creative partners to problem solve for branding and graphic communications in fresh ways and to be a tiny part of the impact we help create.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
In a word — longevity! I've been in business for 25 years. I'm fortunate to work with amazing clients who are driven to impact our world in a positive way. Some of my legacy clients have been with me for over a decade, making for long-term brand continuity and deeply satisfying relationships.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I think the biggest challenge is having to wear many hats, from CEO and CFO to Project Manager — and recognizing when the time is right to hire people for specific skills (like writing and bookkeeping!). I've found that project outcomes are always better when created by people with diverse talents and perspectives.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make sure your brand purpose position is carefully thought out and authentic. It's also important to establish your business processes — from writing proposals and your discovery questionnaire to contracts and invoicing — from the beginning. Then your systems are in place, and you can focus on the big-picture items. A great resource for this is Emily Cohen's book "Brutally Honest."
- Be very deliberate about vetting your clients, as these are ideally people you'll build trust and long-term relationships with. Create a benchmark standard, and also listen to your instincts. Consider why you and the client are a good fit or not, from the type of work you want to do, the type of people you want to work with, project budgets, and if you're aligned with the purpose of the project.
- Build a community of people who do similar work for support, business tips, mentorship, and potential collaborations. It could be a local professional association, masterminds group, or community organization. Or start your own group!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.designbystudiom.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designbystudiom/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katemccarthy2/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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