Christiana Wong
Brand & Web Designer / Founder of Studio Designah
Toronto, CA
www.studiodesignah.com
instagram @studiodesignah
tiktok @studiodesignah
pinterest @studiodesignah
Q What do you do?
“Hurlurrr! I’m Christiana, the founder of Studio Designah 🧚🏻♀️ ”
Joyful brand & web design is my thing — I craft for creative baddies and brands, as I want to make them feel anything-but-ordinary, both IRL and online. My work is best paired with businesses that believe in the power of play.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
My love for design started with Photoshop when I was 8. I stumbled across a design forum and let's just say a baby designer was born. Growing up I was always the classmate "who knows design", so I took care of all the yearbook design, prom banners and poster designs, you name it.
Fast-forward to Uni, I took Film as my major (just because I like movies), and realized my true passion lied within design. I graduated, worked as a graphic designer here and there, freelanced a little, but reaaaally wanted to learn about art and graphic design, properly.
I then flew to Paris alone, studied French for 9 months and applied for a Graphic Design Master's at ECV Paris (2021). I got accepted! A few years and a degree later, I'm now relocated in Toronto, and founded Studio Designah to build brands that say “nah” to being blah.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
The world is filled with too much drab, too many ordinary items. So instead of the same old same old, I choose to play.
Play with colours, textures, and shapes.
Play with “creative evil genius” ideas.
Play with ways to make your brand an industry stand-out.
Q What are you working on right now?
I'm finishing a really cool branding project for a new clothing label! ♡‧₊˚
Q What’s your style?
My style is a blend of bold but clean textures, types and shapes. It is definitely not minimal, not exactly maximal, and it's chaotic in a structured way. You'll always spot loud colours from my work, because I believe firmly in the brand recognition that comes with a well-curated colour palette.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
Besides Studio Designah, I actually have a little tattoo business going on too. I sometimes put way too much time in designing, and I wish I could focus more on tattooing so I get a good slashie balance (my soul craves for it)!
Q What is frustrating you right now?
Anything writing-related! I'm always trying to better my writing skills, because marketing IS writing. It's an awful lot better than when I started my business a year ago, but I still have a long way to go.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
To help me with my blog posts for sure! I have tons of good ideas, that just need to be executed. (And of course we all know it, even with AI's help, nothing beats a human sincerely writing a blog post with what they know.)
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I would have told myself in 2016, who was freelancing at the time, the importance of building a brand and to make my "freelance side gigs" into a full-blown business!
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
Starting a business is such a humbling experience and there's A LOT that I'd love to learn! Sales psychology, copywriting, SEO...the list just goes on.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I'm looking forward to work with more product-based, boundary-pushing entrepreneurs, who are in the homeware and lifestyle industry. I love how their products are there to help us with turning our homes into our happy places. It'd be so cool to build matching dream brands for these dream businesses.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
I honestly LOVE working with every one who doesn't love blending in, but if I had to, it'd be a dream to work with...
Homeware stores
Candle Brands
Pottery Studios
Unconventional Pilates/Yoga Studios
Artists and Artisans
Vintage Clothing Stores
Upcycling/Handmade Businesses, etc.!
Q What is your rate?
My belief is that you can get strategic and great designs done in just ONE WEEK. That's why I offer only weekly intensives for my branding (Magnetic Brand) and website design (WWW Corner) projects. The lowest investment from my services is a day-intensive. Payment plans are available for all of my services—and you can find my pricing guide here!
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Contact me here to tell me about your project, or DM me casually with your questions!
Q Who is a creative you admire?
Website templates: Katie Zana
Web dev: Wynn
Merch design: Kel Lauren
Illustrator/Artist: Fabiola Lara
Painter/Artist: Antonia Figueiredo
Go have a look at their work and you'll know why I'm a fan!
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Vintage vinyls and books always have the best design!
This member profile was originally published in Janurary 2024