Emma Olswing
Q What do you do?
“i am a graphic designer and art director with over 8 years of experience spanning tech, health and wellness, beauty, non-profit, and editorial.”
my bread and butter is helping brands define or evolve their creative vision and bring it to life IRL through flawless brand execution. whether working alone or with a team, i know how to deliver creative that performs, from initial strategy to final project. need brand guidelines, a new asset library, packaging designs, experiential campaigns, paid ads, emails, or something else entirely? i’m your girl.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
after side-hustling as a digital illustrator for a couple years, i attended general assembly’s visual design certificate program which landed me my first job as a graphic designer at refinery29 in 2017. Since then, i’ve been lucky enough to work with some amazing local nyc brands like dame products, crown affair, and tend.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
the thing i hear the most from clients and colleagues is that i’m good at translating the big picture into the most seemingly-minute details of a brand or campaign. this attention to detail weaves its way through my creative process – from planning and logistics to final creative. i’ve been known to obsess over file naming systems as equally as choosing brand colors.
Q What are you working on right now?
recently i’ve been inspired to work with my hands more and am learning how to work with silver for jewelry-making and other projects. i’m a writer as well, and am self-publishing a stream-of-consciousness trip i wrote this summer about how the internet enables and distorts romantic intimacy. i’m currently transfixed on the variety of cardstock options i could use for the cover…watch this space.
Q What’s your style?
my personal style leans on the classics but isn’t stuffy, edgy but not unapproachable, whimsical but not silly. my instagram @emmaolswing showcases my aesthetic, although i’m a firm believer that every project deserves the attention to inspire new aesthetics, new styles that suit it best. i lean away from trends and towards the things that make a project, a brand, a product, a person unique.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
photography! in a professional capacity, specifically.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
not cool to admit, but imposter syndrome has been sneaking it’s way into my brain lately. trying to remind myself i’m talented and work hard!
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
i would hire someone with good taste to bounce ideas off of. i sometimes miss the collaborative nature of in-person work.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
i try not to harbor regrets, but if i could go back and tell 21-year-old me that at 30 i’d be where i am now, i’d save myself a lot of worrying.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
god i think the coolest thing to be an expert in is the environment. i’m very interested in how we build a more sustainable future, and as an artist, the ways in which i can create without placing undue burden on our earth’s resources.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
i want to work with passionate, mission-driven individuals and brands who care about other people and our earth. as a multihyphenate, i want projects that blur the boundaries of specific mediums or expertise and allow for real creativity and exploration.
more specifically, i’m looking for freelance, freelance-to-hire, or full time roles involving art direction, photography, videography, brand design, and graphic design.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
there’s a perfect balance of a client knowing what they like and being open to the creative possibilities that i think every creative slashie is always searching for. ultimately i just love working with someone, or a team, who wants to collaborate on making something beautiful together.
Q: What is your rate?
i don’t have an hourly rate – i generally do pricing on a project-by-project basis. every project has a different scope! i’m usually able to align the budget with the project’s needs. reach out and we can work something out!
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
shoot me an email at emmaolswing.sf1@gmail.com
Q Who is a creative you admire?
blair leblanc, brooklyn mullen, breena fain, marry pivazian, rohini rudra
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
old media is my friend - movies, photo and design books, fashion editorials, etc.
This member profile was originally published in October 2024.