meet
eleven56 & dee design co.
VISIT MARY'S PORTFOLIO OF WORK
http://www.deedesignco.com/#work
AND
http://www.eleven56.com
by Mary Deelsnyder
I am so fortunate to have so many creative, inspiring and supportive people in my network of friends. Mary and I met when she was hired to do freelance work for Aveda. She and I both share similar backgrounds and interests, with business degrees in Marketing and a love for design and stationery. Mary is incredibly accomplished and talented. I remember when Mary moved Eleven56 out of her home office into her new 'grown up' office in Minneapolis. To actually know and witness someone make that big move in their career was so inspiring and gave me hope. She now has two businesses, Eleven56 and Dee Design Co. working with a variety of big and small businesses and non-profits. Mary is a savvy businesswoman with an eye for design, doing it all with a sense of humor.
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM? WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO PURSUE YOUR DREAM?
My dream was/is to be a designer. I
remember specific conversations as a little kid about being a designer.
However, I opted for business school instead of art school when I graduated. My
first job was as an analyst at Best Buy. HIGH-larious, because I don’t know why
they hired me. I was horrible at that job. It was during this time that my dad
became ill with cancer. So, I quit my job at BBY and moved back to my hometown
to help in the family business (construction...also humorous) while my dad
recovered.
I
think while working in the family biz and dealing with the possibility of my
dad dying, I decided that life was too short to spend 40 hours a week doing something you hate. So,
back to school I went to learn how to be a designer.
ARE YOU STILL WORKING FULL TIME? HOW DO YOU FIND THAT BALANCE?
I work full time running 2
design firms, eleven56.com & deedesignco.com. There’s this weird fallacy
that if you work for yourself, you’ll have more time, or it’s easier to find
balance. Not if you want to be profitable. You still have a strain on your
time, it’s just different. If balance is what you seek, you have to commit to
that concept and learn to say “no” more often than “yes.”
WHERE DOES YOUR DREAM COME TO LIFE?
The best thing about my office space is Loring Park right outside my doorstep. There are also running trails, the Walker Art Center and downtown Minneapolis is within walking distance. These things are important to me.
The best thing about my office space is Loring Park right outside my doorstep. There are also running trails, the Walker Art Center and downtown Minneapolis is within walking distance. These things are important to me.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST DIFFICULT AND EXCITING PART ABOUT PURSUING YOUR DREAM?
Most difficult: Staying true to myself, my work and my process. Everyone has an opinion about how you run your business and I am easily influenced because I like people and I like their ideas. A creative business is different and should be as unique as the person who founded it.
Most exciting: The most exciting part of owning a creative business is always when you really “get” a client and they “get” you and the magic happens. It’s difficult to articulate, but I’m sure all creatives have experienced what I’m talking about at one point in their career.
I’ve had people squeal with delight when I make them something! One time, a bride emailed me about how happy her mom was with the wedding invitations we designed because she thought I captured the couple so well. That’s the stuff that gets me out of bed in the morning.
Most difficult: Staying true to myself, my work and my process. Everyone has an opinion about how you run your business and I am easily influenced because I like people and I like their ideas. A creative business is different and should be as unique as the person who founded it.
Most exciting: The most exciting part of owning a creative business is always when you really “get” a client and they “get” you and the magic happens. It’s difficult to articulate, but I’m sure all creatives have experienced what I’m talking about at one point in their career.
I’ve had people squeal with delight when I make them something! One time, a bride emailed me about how happy her mom was with the wedding invitations we designed because she thought I captured the couple so well. That’s the stuff that gets me out of bed in the morning.
CAN YOU NAME THE BIGGEST LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED?
The biggest lesson that I
continue to learn was taught to me by my mother. “Trust your gut!” She always
said that to me, no matter what the situation. It couldn’t be more true in my
business. I think a lot of women possess this intuition and it gives us the
upper hand if we listen to it. I’m still learning, but I have to tell you
every. single. time. I didn’t trust my gut, it got me in trouble. And the
stakes get higher each time you don’t listen. It’s crazy.
IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS SOMEONE SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE PURSUING THEIR OWN DREAM?
Top 3 things, hmmm, this one
is tough for me. Trust me, I’m as opinionated as one gets, especially about
design. But I don’t have an answer here. Everyone is so different and how they
get to where they need to be has to be discovered on their own.
All I can say is: “Go for it!”
All I can say is: “Go for it!”
WHAT INSPIRES YOU? HOW ARE YOU INSPIRED?
I find inspiration in peace and quiet. I am also inspired by people, especially visionaries who understand how design can impact their business. It’s exciting to work with people that give a damn.
I find inspiration in peace and quiet. I am also inspired by people, especially visionaries who understand how design can impact their business. It’s exciting to work with people that give a damn.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE IN 5 WORDS?
Simple, clean, direct, soft, colorful
Simple, clean, direct, soft, colorful
WHAT BUSINESS BOOKS/RESOURCES WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO SOMEONE STARTING A CREATIVE BUSINESS OF THEIR OWN?
Read the books that talk about how awesome it is to be an entrepreneur. There’s plenty of them. That will inspire you. Then pick up some business books to understand contracts, pricing and sales. Learn how to sell. Hire someone or take a class. Get out of your comfort zone and connect with entrepreneurs in other industries so you have other pros to commiserate with. Just do stuff...fail and succeed and learn from your process.
Read the books that talk about how awesome it is to be an entrepreneur. There’s plenty of them. That will inspire you. Then pick up some business books to understand contracts, pricing and sales. Learn how to sell. Hire someone or take a class. Get out of your comfort zone and connect with entrepreneurs in other industries so you have other pros to commiserate with. Just do stuff...fail and succeed and learn from your process.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT PURSUING YOUR DREAM?
http://www.deedesignco.com/#work
AND
http://www.eleven56.com
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