Cecily Carlyle
Q What do you do?
“I help businesses with branding, which includes visual identities, designing custom Squarespace sites, and creating social media content.”
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I started to chip away at learning about graphic and web design/dev, while I was working as a flight attendant full-time. I would take courses when I could, either in person (I love the classroom!) or online. I started to design logos, social media visuals and websites on the side, for friends and family.
I lost my job back in March of 2020 due to the pandemic and I seized this opportunity to go full-time with my freelance career.
I had referrals for the first couple of months from others who were starting a new business and needed a website asap. I got to hone my design process and become faster at ideating concepts.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
With my background in fashion design, I incorporate an edgy, minimalistic sensibility in my work - websites I create feel editorial, and are often experienced like magazines.
I am a deeply curious person and ask a lot of questions about any business I'm creating a site for: who it serves and why. I need to fully understand the purpose of the visuals I will be creating in order to do the brand justice.
Q What are you working on right now?
I am currently finishing up two websites (both naturopathic doctors!), creating content and managing the social media account for a creative studio.
Q What’s your style?
I gravitate towards clean lines, grids, textures, black accents, and an overall minimalistic design aesthetic. I would say my site ccruth.com represents me as it checks off a lot of those boxes.
One of my more recent concept projects, for a skin care line, also represents this stylist direction: ccruth.com/portfolio/
Another branding project included my love of retro elements, again for a client in the wellness space. This one nods to art nouveau for the letter shapes. I'm also obsessed with this colour palette:
ccruth.com/portfolio
Some other sites that represent my aesthetic:
Saint Heron
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
I would love to know more about video editing, specifically becoming more proficient with Adobe Rush and Premier.
I would also love to delve into some sewing projects such as making reusable shopping bags from technical fabrics.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
I signed up for a Shopify course a while back and have yet to complete some of the modules. This is a service I am aiming to offer in the new year.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
I would have them help me with tasks such as: responding to emails, invoicing, drafting up proposals and contracts.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
To have more confidence in who I am and not to worry so much about what others may or may not think.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
Cash flow, taxes- all that fun stuff!
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I really enjoy working with brands in the wellness/beauty space. I have yet to work with a brand who sells their own product line and has an established connection with their audience. I think that would be really fun as it would be very collaborative and challenging in the best way.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
My ideal client is ready to invest not only money, but time. Client's are involved in many crucial steps throughout the process. Those steps can include responding to questions about their business values, audience, directional styles, and competitors. And taking the appropriate time to sit with a design in order to give feedback that feels right for them and who they serve.
Q What is your rate?
My current hourly rate is $60.00 USD for any design work (graphics, creating content, making assets etc.)
Most projects (Custom Squarespace Sites and Brand Design) have specific quotes since the scope of work and needs vary quite a bit. The best way is to fill out the contact form on my site and let me know what you're seeking so I can have a projected quote when we meet virtually.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Q Who is a creative you admire?
Joy Yiu (@joyyiu) This talented person is so passionate about design. She is very innovative with what she produces and mega thorough with her client work! We have become internet friends through the pandemic and she has been a great support as a fellow freelancer in this industry. She and her design partner are launching their own design studio soon so watch for @hello_world.studio
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
I want to get into pottery. I think making something with my hands and working with a new material will unleash more creativity!
This member profile was originally published in November 2022.