Chloe Biano
Squarespace Web Designer / Digital Designer / Founder of Koy Design Studio
Auckland, NZ
www.koydesignstudio.com
instagram @koydesignstudio
linkedin
pinterest
Q What do you do?
“I’m a Squarespace web designer and digital designer.”
I design and build custom Squarespace websites for creatives, bloggers, service-based businesses and solopreneurs.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
It took some hopping around to get to where I am now. I went from studying technology, film and visual effects to working for a bank, freelancing as a mocap cleanup artist to becoming a ‘digital marketing coordinator’ which was more of an in-house graphic designer/videographer/video editor/email marketing coordinator/tech support (I think that’s when I became a slashie!).
My career in the design industry started the year after graduating from university as a digital marketing coordinator. The job responsibilities started with managing and creating social posts, filming and editing interviews, and helping at events. It then quickly grew to include collaborating with the marketing interns for copy, designing magazines, print collateral, creating email campaigns and being the internal ‘tech support’. Though it was very hands-on, I’m grateful to have listened to female entrepreneurs share their entrepreneurial journey, to have worked on multiple creative projects while learning new ways to stay on track and productive, and the list goes on! Around the end of 2020, I resigned from my job to niche down and start something of my own.
In 2021 while updating my website and portfolio, I attended workshops and then came across ilovecreatives. It was then that I found out that you can customize your Squarespace website to make it not look like a template — and that’s when I took their Squarespace Design Course. Taking the course helped me learn efficient ways to customise, edit, design, build and test your Squarespace websites. I also found my design aesthetic and refined my design skills. Now, I freelance designing Squarespace websites, digital assets and print.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I’d say my eye for detail, open-mindedness, and resourcefulness helps me stand out.
Q What are you working on right now?
At the moment I’m finding creatives and brands to collaborate with to build or refresh their website. I’m also working on creating digital templates to sell in my online shop.
Q What’s your style?
Minimal and clean with a sprinkle of colour!
Beaujour, Dezeynne, Frantoiocavalli
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
I would love to focus more on designing Squarespace Websites.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
At the moment, marketing my business! I would plan to make some progress, but really, I don’t even know where to start!
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
I’d hire someone to help me manage the marketing side!
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I wish I could have told myself two things:
Stop overthinking and just do it. But instead of telling my past myself this, I’d want to play this song called ‘just do it’ by Gray every single time I overthink because why not be reminded to 'just do it' and enjoy life and just jam to it! ☺︎︎
I would've told myself some years back that I have pcos, there is a way to manage it and swapping to a gluten-free and dairy free lifestyle will be the best lifestyle change ever made for myself! Ps. If anyone knows any good gluten-free and dairy-free recipes, send them through!
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
It would be about all things marketing and creating a marketing strategy that brings growth.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I’m looking to work on more custom Squarespace websites for brands, creatives and small businesses.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
Creatives, service-based businesses and small e-commerce businesses.
Q: What is your rate?
My services are project-based, so the best thing is to fill out the inquiry form, and I’ll get back to you with a quote. Websites usually start at $1.5K NZD and go up depending on the number of pages and complexity of customisation. Print and digital projects all start from $300 NZD.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Just fill out the inquiry form on my website or flick an email and share what you need help with. I’ll get back to you with more info and an estimate.
Q Who is a creative you admire?
Harriet Lam — Sensory Brand Designer and Youtuber. Harriet is an excellent and multi-talented creative, taking brand design to the next level by elevating sensory experiences through brand & packaging!
Jillian — Illustrator and Designer. Seriously, her illustrations are so gorgeous! If you’ve seen her work, you’ll know what I mean. She has an Etsy shop where she sells hand-drawn and digital illustrations.
Monique Hyobin Park — Illustrator and Animator. Her illustrations and animation style are beautiful and give you a sense of warmth.
Doyeon Kim — Illustrator and Animator. I love Doyeon’s unique illustration style!
Peggy Li — Video Editor and Animator. Peggy is a wonderful editor, and her latest animation has a surrealist style I found intriguing (it has an important meaning behind the film).
Chris Do — Designer, director and founder of The Futur. His videos and resources are insightful for creative businesses, covering topics on sales, strategy, growth and more.
Rafał Olbiński — Illustrator, painter and educator. I’m such a big fan of his poetic and surrealist paintings!
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Visiting the beach, friends, cinema, art gallery and museum! Oh, and living life and jamming to music!
This member profile was originally published in June 2022.