Breanna Radermacher
Breanna Radermacher
Art Director / Designer / Founder of Rowan Made
Minneapolis, MN
http://rowanmade.com
Instagram @rowanmade
Twitter @rowanmade
Dribble
Pinterest
WHAT Do you do?
“I am the founder of Rowan Made, a small (graphic) design studio with a knack for simplicity + story telling. We craft thoughtful brands and websites for like minded creatives, all around the world.”
WHAT Steps did you take to get where you are now?
Growing up, I was always coloring or doodling or doing something in the creative realm, but never fully accepted that it could be a viable career path for me. My family and friends told me that I should give graphic design a try, but I wasn't about to listen, believing that my interest in photoshop was only a hobby. In fact, I was set on becoming a nurse until two weeks before college began. At that point, clarity set in and I knew, deep down, that creativity was apart of my story. So! I switched schools, declared graphic design as my major, and am happy to report that I absolutely made the right decision.
Keeping on the theme of unexpected choices, I said "no thanks" to the traditional route of getting a job out of design school and decided to start my own business instead. Rowan Made is an adventure and design is my medium. And I'm so excited to see what's next on this crazy ride.
WhaT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
I've been working with Celine Mactaggart of 24east.com for the majority of this year. After establishing her Oakland based blog, she decided to expand her business in two different ways. The first is a fun online shop that will have California-esque apparel as well as curated goods from local artists. The second is a non-profit that aims to shine light on skin cancer through social awareness and education. Together, all three of her ventures are very local centric and will benefit the Oakland community as a whole, which is so cool to be apart of, even from afar!
I'm also growing the Rowan Made team beyond just myself and am excited to collaborate with some talented local designers on projects as we finish up the year and move into 2017.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
I am definitely drawn towards simplicity, something that's probably pretty obvious if you look at my portfolio. I don't fully live in this niche (because trying new things is important!), but it will always be apart of what I do. To sum things up, this quote from Albert Einstein is a favorite: "Make things as simple as possible, but not simpler."
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
I wish that I had more time to work with my hands, whether it be drawing, painting, or who knows what. I also played the piano for twelve years growing up and would love to make it a big part of my daily life again.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
As I mentioned earlier, Rowan Made is expanding. And while that's exciting, it's also scary and overwhelming. I have so much that I'd like to do with this business and wish that I could just snap my fingers, but realize that patience is key and things will happen when they happen.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
I totally need an office assistant. Somebody that can help me with the busy-ness of everyday. Emails, bookkeeping, client calls, etc.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
When I first started freelancing, I wish I could have told myself not to worry about being everything to everyone. Or trying to follow the successful paths of others, simply because it worked out for them. It took me a bit to understand all of this, but perhaps the hard lessons are good to go through anyway. ;)
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
Wellness. About two years ago, I started dealing with chronic back pain as a result of working at a computer and not taking care of my body appropriately. Since then, I've been practicing yoga and trying to establish a better work / life balance. But old habits die hard and I definitely have a long way to go, so expertise would be nice!
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
I'm happiest when I'm working with like-minded clients. People who not only have similar values and interests as me, but run businesses that I am genuinely interested in. For me, this sort of environment is exactly where the best work is produced. Keeping that in mind, I'd love to work on more projects that are either food, travel, or wellness related.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
Most importantly, I look for clients that respect and trust my expertise as a designer. I am not a pixel pusher and truly have my client's best interests at heart, which is why I prefer to work with like-minded creatives that are open to positive collaboration.
WHAT IS YOUR HOURLY RATE, RETAINER, OR SALARY RANGE?
My hourly rate is $100 per hour, but most projects are priced at a flat rate. Branding and website design depends on project complexity as well as a variety of other factors, but usually begins around $2,400.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
They should fill out the contact form on Rowan Made's website. We will then respond with a few follow up questions as well as more information about our process.
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Be kind to yourself, always.
This member profile was originally published in October 2016.