We recently connected with Stephanie Rhoden and have shared our conversation below.
Stephanie, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
Growing up, I saw how hard my parents worked to build a better life for me and my brother so they have always been where I get my work ethic. From a young age, my parents instilled in me the importance of hard work, determination, and perseverance. Their guidance has taught me to face challenges head-on and to never surrender, no matter how tough the journey may be. My parents’ love, faith, and commitment have not only molded me into the person I am today but have also fueled my drive to make the most of every opportunity.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Hey everyone! I’m Stephanie, the Founder and Lead Creative of Sedona Design Studios. I started Sedona Designs in 2020 during the pandemic after deciding to transform my hobby of designing into something that I could do as a business long-term. Since then, I have been able to scale my business tenfold, especially with being awarded the 2024 Canadian Choice Award for Graphic Design in Halifax, and I have had the pleasure of working with hundreds of clients across the world including the US, Canada, UK, and Australia.
Here at the studio, we offer a range of services including brand design, product design, website design, and brand collateral (both digital and print). This creative journey is not just a profession for me; it’s a passion I’ve had for years. Being able to work with different brands and assisting them in bringing their vision to life is truly a privilege. Each brand has its own story, goals, and character, and being a part of that narrative is both inspiring and rewarding. Whether it’s refining a brand’s identity, working on event flyers and collateral, creating eye-grabbing product designs, or crafting captivating websites, I’m committed to ensuring that each project reflects quality above everything else.
If you’ve got a brand or an event coming up, I’d love to chat! 🙂
www.sedonadesigns.ca
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, I could say that time management, adaptability, and a thirst for enhancing my skills were the most impactful in my journey. For me, being able to adapt allowed me to navigate different scenarios and circumstances while still being able to produce quality work. It also helped me learn what worked for my business and what didn’t so I made adjustments to my approach when needed.
As a creative, I used to struggle with time management because I would get so caught up in the project I was working on, which didn’t allow much time for work-life balance. Over time, I started tracking how long each task took – whether it was designing a logo or creating an email campaign. This helped so much because I wasn’t overlapping on projects anymore and I was able to plan my day better.
Elevating your skills is a must if you’re looking for longevity, and for me, that meant practicing different design techniques until the quality of work that I produced improved. When I started, I hated doing event/club flyers but with practice, I was able to enhance my skill and now they’re one of my favorite things to design!
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when running your own business, but for me, it always helps when I break things down in a to-do list so that I know what I need to accomplish (I’m a sucker for lists!). I would jot everything down on my tablet and then have them sorted by priority, that way I know what needs to be done first or which tasks are not as relevant right now.
Another thing I do is step away or take a break. Apart of my time management system now have breaks when I need them so I don’t burn out. I’d go for a walk, go swimming, play the Sims 🙂 anything to give my mind a little breather before going back.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sedonadesigns.ca
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/sedonadesignsco
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/sedonadesignsco
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/sedonadesignsco
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/sedonadesignsco
- Other: Email List: https://www.sedonadesigns.ca/society
