Meet Nicole Weber

 

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nicole Weber a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Nicole , first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is real. As the founder and lead designer of Nicole Weber Design, I often catch myself wondering, “What did I do to deserve this?” Questions like, “Am I here because of luck?” can weigh on me. While I can’t say I’ve fully overcome these doubts, I’ve found ways to manage them.
Leaving a steady desk job to pursue my design business full-time was a big leap. I started sharing my logo and brand design process on social media, and then one day, a video went viral. As clients started reaching out, I thought, “This is just luck and because the algorithm worked in my favor.” But over time, I realized it wasn’t just luck. I looked back and saw that my success was from persistence, motivation, and a strong work ethic. Viral videos may have been a spark, but they didn’t appear out of thin air—I’d shown up consistently and dedicated myself to improving. This realization has been a powerful way to manage self-doubt.
The more I focused on the effort I’d put in, rather than thinking everything was a chance, the more imposture syndrome went away. I hadn’t landed big clients by luck; I’d worked late nights and weekends, refining my skills and building my expertise. Realizing how much effort I’ve put in has helped me see my own value and quiet those moments of doubt.
For me, managing imposter syndrome isn’t about eliminating all doubt—it’s about recognizing why I’m here. I’m not where I am because of luck, but because of dedication and hard work. If you’re facing similar feelings, remember: you’re not here by accident. You’ve earned it.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m Nicole Weber, founder and lead designer of Nicole Weber Design, a creative agency specializing in logo and brand design for clients around the world. We’re known for our versatility and ability to create unique, customized styles that suit each client’s brand vision.

A bit about my journey: after graduating with a graphic design degree in 2019, I started my career in a traditional desk job, but quickly realized that I wanted something more. When COVID hit, and I was working from home it felt like the right time to take the leap, so in July 2021, I began working on my passion full-time. I initially focused on logo design, murals, and canvas paintings, sharing quick videos of my process on social media. At the start of 2022, one of these videos—a logo process for a plumbing company—went viral, and that moment changed everything. It brought in so many logo design inquiries that I decided to focus only on logo and brand design, and since then, we have continued to grow!

The momentum from social media led to a steady flow of clients, and in July 2022, I made my first hire to support with administrative tasks. Our client base continued expanding, and in August 2023, I welcomed our first full-time designer, followed by a second designer in January 2024. We’ve grown into an amazing team, and I’m so grateful for them!

Today, we’re proud to work with clients of all sizes, and our online community has grown to nearly 500,000 amazing people. This journey has been an absolute dream and I’m excited for what’s next as we continue growing Nicole Weber Design!!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, three key skills have had the biggest impact on my journey: starting out as an artist, mastering Adobe Illustrator, and learning the essentials of marketing.

First, I’ve always considered myself an artist before a designer. This background in painting and drawing has been a powerful foundation for my design career. I do know many graphic designers who were never artists and hated fine art and are amazing designers. However, for me, learning how to paint and draw early on gave me a deep understanding of design principles, composition, color theory, and style development. In college, spending hours working on realism paintings taught me how to translate what I saw into a piece of art and doing it in a stylistic way—a skill that has directly influenced my design style today.

The second skill is Adobe Illustrator, an essential tool for anyone looking to start a career in graphic design, especially logo design. Illustrator was tough at first. I could envision designs in my head but felt stuck not knowing how to execute them in the software. The key is patience and practice. YouTube tutorials were a lifesaver, and gradually, I gained confidence as I practiced. For those just starting, I’d say don’t get discouraged; keep practicing, and it’ll come together and eventually become second nature.

Finally, marketing has been a game changer, especially for growing a business. I learned this after college, but it’s necessary for any business owner, especially designers. Understanding what grabs people’s attention and learning to use social media to your advantage has transformed my business. Now, over 90% of our clients come through social media. My advice here is to find your niche, stay consistent, and use social media as both a portfolio and a way to connect with people. Over time, credibility builds, and clients will come!

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

The most impactful thing my parents have done for me is supporting and believing in my career and me. As an artist starting out, I faced the common “starving artist” stereotype, but they never doubted me or questioned my path. They have always encouraged me, lifted me up, and made me feel like I could achieve anything with my career. For that, I am forever grateful.

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