Della Mueller
Brand Designer / Squarespace Designer / Graphic Designer
Portland, OR
Q What do you do?
“I work with small businesses & creatives to build visual experiences that are memorable, authentic & embodied.”
Or in more concrete terms, I’m a freelance designer who specializes in building brand identities and websites. Approaching each project individually, I get to the root of what makes it special and then work holistically to let time-honored design principles guide me toward creating what looks good, feels right, and makes an impression.
I work collaboratively with my clients to strategically design logos, color palettes, typography systems, and custom graphics/illustrations to support the brand’s visual identity, and then bring it all together to build a website that looks the part and flows intuitively. I use Squarespace in conjunction with advanced coding techniques to make killer websites that look nothing like your typical Squarespace sites, which not only allows my clients to make a lasting impression on their audience but they’re also able to confidently manage and update their own website well into the future. I even record custom tutorials for each client walking them through how to make edits while maintaining the integrity of their site, because I know how empowering it is to be self-sufficient in your business!
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I've always been the Creative One in my family and as I got older I didn’t know exactly what to do with that. I knew I loved tapping into my creativity and making art but there wasn’t one specific medium that I could see myself committing to and embracing as means of financially supporting myself forever! After studying Sustainable Design at university and exploring a few different career paths I began to embrace the slashie lifestyle.
I committed myself more to my art practices and at the same time began to expand my creative skills into the digital realm by deep diving into graphic design and web design. I revisited all that I had learned in college, took some incredible courses, spent a ton of time playing around on my laptop, and quickly realized that designing and building websites was the perfect blend of creativity and purpose, art and problem-solving that I had been craving. There’s something about the process of thinking up something beautiful or cool or weird and then figuring out what series of code would allow me to strategically turn those creative visions into real-life, interactive experiences, that just really satisfies my brain.
Getting comfortable with the idea of multiplicity in my work has allowed me to embrace freelance design in all of its forms, while leaving space to devote myself to other means of creation that keep life feeling interesting, dynamic, and meaningful.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I continually remind myself that, even though I’m designing things for other people, what I create first and foremost has gotta be for myself. If my work is coming from a place of pleasing others then the integrity is lost, the flow is disrupted. So I try to stay rooted in my vision and committed to creating from the deep, weird, creative corners of my mind!
Q What are you working on right now?
Currently in the middle of such a dreamy trade – my massage therapist was looking to rebrand her business, so in exchange for massages I’m creating a new brand identity for her! I’m also working with a local hairstylist to create a memorable online presence (branding/website) for her, and I have some fun projects on the horizon with a fine artist and a tarot reader.
Q What’s your style?
I love to tap into my playful side and get loose and experimental with my work, but I continually find myself coming back to an aesthetic with a utilitarian/brutalist/analogue inspired simplicity. For me this combination of styles keeps things fun and fresh while still being rooted in a certain timelessness that I think is an essential quality of good design.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
Wow where do I start! Off the top of my head – tattooing, gardening, ceramics. Film photography has always been a favorite means of interacting with my surroundings and the idea of exploring that more deeply at this point in my life also feels exciting and complimentary to a lot of the work I’m already doing.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
As someone who is trying to grow my business while prioritizing my mental health, it’s tough to find the distance from social media that I crave. The way social media, marketing, and finding clients are so entwined is both a blessing and a curse.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Marketing please! Or helping me organize all of my wild ideas, inspo content, fonts, etc. so that my design process can feel just a bit smoother.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
It’s like that quote by Ira Glass where he talks about the gap between your taste and your skills – I would tell myself “You’ve got taste!!! And it’s gonna take time, it’s gonna take practice, but you’ve just gotta trust that eventually you’ll have the skills to bring to life all of those juicy, creative visions in your mind.” To this day I find that my taste is constantly evolving and expanding which keeps me eager to learn, practice, and grow.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
I would be stoked to learn more about the world of packaging design and print. Most of my design work remains in the digital realm and it would be awesome to see some of it on shop shelves or pasted on walls.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
Ooh here’s a few ideas that feel exciting when I think about ‘em!
+ Branding & menu design for a wine bar
+ Album cover for a musician
+ Online shop for a ceramic artist
+ Label design for… Coffee? Spirits? Tinned fish??
+ Portfolio website for a photographer
+ Brand identity for a plant shop
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
Some things that allow this work to feel exciting and fulfilling for me:
+ My heart sings and my creativity soars when a client trusts my vision and my process.
+ I find myself feeling so much more excited about and committed to a project when my client is excited about and committed to the project! If you’re stoked for this next phase of your business, if you’re super passionate about what you do, if you’re all in, I will absolutely match your energy and meet you in that excitement!
+ It’s always a pleasure to genuinely connect with a client and to look forward to working in a really collaborative way. For me, rich connection is what this life is all about and if I can bring that into my work that is an absolute treat. Let’s enjoy the process!
+ Projects that are rooted in positive social or cultural change are a huge bonus – they keep me motivated and inspired.
Q What is your rate?
I price my services based on the scope, complexity, and value of a project. As a general guide my branding services begin at $1500 and my websites start around $3000. That being said, my rates will continue to reflect the worth of my work as I gain proficiency and expand my skillset, so get in touch via email about current pricing!
Accessibility is something I strive for in my work so I’m happy to work with you to find creative ways to make your project possible, whether that means creating a payment plan, discussing a trade, or adjusting the scope or complexity of a project. I also offer reduced sliding scale rates for any BIPOC folks who wouldn’t otherwise have access to my services.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Shoot me an email with a quick intro to you/your business, let me know how I can help you, and share a couple links that give me an idea of the aesthetic you envision for the project. If I feel like we might be a good match I’ll probably schedule a call with you so we can get to know each other and chat more in depth about the project, always in a no-pressure-to-commit kinda way! You can also start by checking out my website to see more of my work and read more about my process.
Q Who is a creative you admire?
I am endlessly inspired by Maria Medem’s illustrations and use of color, Harry Wright’s playful graphic design style, and the bold and brilliant websites created by Sometimes Always.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Prioritize fun, pleasure, and play!!!
This member profile was originally published in February 2023.