Erin Tufts Cartier
Creative Director / Designer / Photographer / Visual Storyteller
New Orleans, LA / Cincinnati, OH / Columbus, OH / West Palm Beach, FL / Remote
www.etccreativestudio.com
instagram @erintuftscartier
pinterest
Q What do you do?
“Hi! I’m Erin and I consider myself a visual storyteller and creative director for small brands. Sounds fun, right? I get to collaborate with small brands / businesses to tell their visual stories through brand design, their online experience through web design as well as image direction through editorial and commercial photography.”
I am definitely led by my passion for intentional design with an innate desire to do more for small brands.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
Steps? More like a swirly slide but I digress haha....My background is actually in fashion design (that minor in business has gone farther tbh). I started a handbag brand many moons ago and always struggled to find people to help me with my brand and web design as well as cohesive imagery that worked in a strategic way and that wasn't at a corporate pricing level. So I taught myself everything I needed to know to develop my brand and then started gradually helping others. When I was living in Texas, I worked for a multi-hyphenate creative with multiple businesses running her brand management and she gave me the tools and the education to learn everything I needed to know. I could probably go on and really divulge into the story here but my training in graphic design (mostly from developing patterns in fashion school) and web design is more hands on and through others as well as some online course (currently enrolled in the Shopify I Love Creatives course! to enhance that development knowledge). For photography, I worked with a mentor and still am. I am always looking to enhance my skills without the ceiling of traditional education. All things considered, I found that telling visual stories using strategy and a deep knowledge of design has really propelled me to where I am now. And yes, I still make handbags as my artistic passion.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I think what makes me stand out is really that I have flexibility, kindness and a unique approach to working with brands. I form a relationship with every client and I truthfully only take clients I connect with. It can be hard to turn away work especially at times of financial stress, but I find that when you stay true to that - you never have those picky client issues. Your client will trust your process and I find we are both happier throughout our time working together.
Q What are you working on right now?
Currently I am working on a Shopify site for cool tech company (which is a new category of business for me), a few conceptual / editorial photoshoots revolving around product, and a luxury brand design for a unique idea in the home buying world (not real estate). I am also working on cleaning up my onboarding process so it is seamless for my clients. Always looking for ways to make it better!
Q What’s your style?
Personally I am a maximalist at heart. I love color, texture, depth and dimension in any work I do. However, what makes me a great creative is my ability to translate that direction to each client. I have worked with minimalists and maximalists and all the ones in between. Regardless depth and dimension are key to great design no matter the project.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
This changes daily if I am being honest. I fluctuate based on my mood ....kidding...kind of. I love anything creative direction related. The process of really defining the visual path for a brand is incredible and exhilarating. That being said some days, I just want the tedious tech work. It is why I am a multi-hyphenate creative!
Q What is frustrating you right now?
Finding clients. Some days they show up which is amazing but lately I am having to find them which is harder than you'd think. Also social media. I have a million ideas to post and then I never do it.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Social media and tbh laundry. It is the bane of my existence.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I would honestly tell my 20 year old self that it is ok to be a person with multiple interests and just because you want to do multiple things doesn't mean you cannot start a business around it. There is so much strife around niche your offerings, that you need to be good at one thing to be successful. That is simply not true. There is nothing more powerful than being a multi-hyphenate creative and getting to offer those services to people. Start the business, do the work - it will be great. I also would say get an amazing and supportive mentor that does what you love.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
I would love to sit down with a creative director and hear about their process and understanding various perspectives. I feel like creative direction is so broad and people work in different ways. It would just be cool to really see how others relay their thoughts and visions to get to the outcomes whether it be an editorial campaign shoot or visual brand identity.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I am looking more for the right clients that align with me! Of course, I am open to any creative direction, brand design, web design or photography for small businesses. I would also love to work more creatively and find developers to work with as well. I love to collaborate with others!
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
I love when a brand reaches out and is just so excited to get the process going. The clients have faith in my creative process and direction. I have worked with so many amazing clients and they always come prepared with collateral (or if not, jump right into the process), always provide a great line of communication and feedback, and after the project is complete, refer me to their friends!
Q What is your rate?
I always build a custom proposal for each brand I work with. However my brand design starts at $2500. Web Design (Shopify, Squarespace, Wordpress) ranges from $2000 for a single landing page to $6k+ for a full design (ranges due to pages, platform, etc). Photography is currently built around 2 hr ($450) to full day pricing ($1500) with image limitations. I have a Offering Guide on my website just scroll down and enter your email.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
You can DM me on Instagram or go to my website and grab a free 20 min consultation spot! If you just need to explore creative direction, you can book a creative consultation as well!
Q Who is a creative you admire?
So many but let's start here...My photography mentor is amazing @samkat, she inspires me daily and her coaching skills are next level. Stacy @blancsalvage is an amazing type designer. @awiley_creative is so talented and would love to pick her brain. So many more!
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Traveling, talking, resting, moving and making
This member profile was originally published in April 2024