Cayla Merrill
Personal Brand & Energy Coach / Brand & Graphic Designer
New York City, NY
Coaching www.caylamerrillcoaching.com
Design www.caylamerrilldesign.com
instagram @cayla.merrill
youtube @cayla.merrill
Q What do you do?
“I combine Energy & Life Coaching with my 15+ years of graphic design and art direction experience to help you build your unique & sustainable personal brand without putting yourself in a box.”
I love supporting creatives & coaches to show up and stand out by standing in who they are IRL & online. Together we aim for authenticity without perfectionism and social media without the hustle.
I also design intentional, bright, and bold branding, social templates, logos, print, and packaging.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
It probably started when I began collaging booklets for my mixed CDs in middle school but in a more professional sense, I have a BFA in Graphic Design and 15+ years in house at a variety of companies working on all aspects of branding. I’ve also got <a lot> of other training that I’ll list here so you can scan it: - A wide variety of improv & comedy classes & shows. - A butt-ton of reading self help and mindfulness books. - 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training - AcroYoga Teacher Training - Life Coach Training - Energy Coach Training
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I stand out in my field because I allow all of my experiences and trainings to inform everything I do: In Branding & Design, I prioritize the client experience and love to create meaningful experiences through design and branding while ensuring the team I’m working with has some fun. Creating Social Media Templates: I love designing cohesive templates that embolden you to feel confident AF so you can actually enjoy the process of being on social media rather than despise it. In Personal Brand Coaching, my focus is helping my clients to creating stand out visuals, but I’m deeply focused on creating an intentional and sustainable way for my clients to show up on social (because what good is it to have pretty templates if you’re stills cared sh*tless to show up right?)
Q What are you working on right now?
Currently, I am coaching incredible folks to create show up and shine bright in my Brand Magic course.
Q What’s your style?
Fun, bold, simple, clean. I LOVED working on these game sets for Kikkerland Inc.. The Desktop Bag Toss is still being sold at Target 8 years after it was designed.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
I’d love to carve out more time to design some merch. I’ve got a bunch of ideas but in my brain they sit.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
(See above haha) I love designing and illustrating but am also critical of my work which can hold me back, which often pushes it to the backburner.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I’d tell my high school self to not stress out so much. I was constantly striving and feel like I was really hard on myself which caused a lot of anxiety. I’d love to tell myself to lighten up and also to do what lights you up rather than be so hyper-focused on getting into college.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
How to make the world better than the trash fire it currently is and regenerative farming & reciprocal economies and how we can create a new way of living and being that isn’t extractive on the earth and humanity.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I am looking to coach heart-led coaches and creatives who want to feel more confident IRL & online. I’m also open to graphic design freelance opportunities for branding, branding redesigns, social media templates, packaging, logo design, merch, and print design (I have experience in all of these areas).
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
My ideal client is someone who wants to create an intentional and thoughtful online presence and/or products without exploiting others. I love working collaboratively with other kind humans on design projects that create a positive impact in the world.
Q What is your rate?
A one off Spark Coaching session with me is $300 USD. A longer coaching series is $3200 USD. I have a course to support you show up & stand out by creating an effortless posting strategy, increased visibility, and confidence in your brand (and yes helping you to create templates too). If you’re looking for Brand Strategy Informed Social Templates pricing starts at $3200 USD. I am open to branding & design freelance opportunities, my hourly rate is $200USD / hour.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Schedule a clarity call with me here!
Q Who is a creative you admire?
Jasmin Plouffe Jasmin is a fantastic creative who always asks thought-provoking questions to get you to the heart of your brand strategy.
Kristy Black Kristy has self-proclaimed golden retriever energy and is all about bringing more joy into your business.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Being creative in other realms - sewing, style, video editing, and of course adventuring to new places!
This member profile was originally published in May 2024.