Meet Robin Son

We were lucky to catch up with Robin Son recently and have shared our conversation below.

Robin , thank you so much for making time for us today. We can’t wait to dive into your story and the lessons you’ve learned along the way, but maybe we can start with something foundational to your success. How have you gone about developing your ability to communicate effectively?

I wouldn’t say I was a natural communicator; I’m actually pretty bad at talking about myself. But when I started out as a designer I realised really quickly that if I couldn’t explain my work, no one was going to get it. So I didn’t shut up about my work.

At first I was just figuring it out as I went along by writing out my thoughts about design, practicing how I’d walk someone through the things I create and learning how to make design language simple so it made sense to clients. Every project I did and every post on socials gave me a chance to refine that.

I started podcasting in early 2023 and that pushed me even further in terms of vocal communication rather than just written. With my podcast Brand Your Brain there was no script so over time I got more confident communicating my points. Interviewing guests was where I learned to really listen, ask clearer questions and get comfortable speaking in my own voice. So for me, communication shows up every where. It’s is so important it’s all about practice.

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?

I’m a brand identity designer and I mostly love working with fun, non-traditional business owners to create bold, expressive identities that truly feel like them. I didn’t go to design school; I studied Photography, Psychology and English Language & Literature but I built my business from scratch by learning along the way with a lot of trial and error.

I became a designer by accident. At the end of 2022, I was on maternity leave with a newborn using nap times for creative projects. I was interested in logo design so I’d tried it and loved it. I started posting my work on Instagram which led to my first clients and over time I took the leap to full-time freelancing. Now in 2025, I’ve worked with amazing clients, become an Adobe Express ambassador and launched a podcast that helps creatives deal with the messy side of freelancing.

I love helping clients find their voice visually by making designs that are accessible but packed with personality. I also just want the creative space to be one where we can be unapologetically ourselves, embrace the ups and downs and use those lessons to grow because everything is so oversaturated with looking perfect online.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The three qualities that had the biggest impact on my journey would be curiosity, communication, and boldness.

Curiosity really pushed me to learn everything I could about brand design, even without formal schooling. I’ve had creative curiosity since I was a kid; I feel like most creatives do. It’s in our nature. I spent countless hours reading, practicing and figuring out how to turn ideas into designs in software I was still learning to use.

Communication became essential as I worked with clients and started promoting my work. Being able to clearly explain my design choices, listen to a client’s needs and guide them through the process not only helped me build trust but also reduced revisions and made the work more enjoyable.

Boldness helped me share my work publicly, take creative risks, and lean into creative ideas that reflected a client’s personality. Boldness is something we all need a bit of. The way I see it, clients are trusting us to be the expert and guide them; we have to show up. But it takes courage.

For anyone starting out, staying curious and learning is the best thing we can do. Practice communicating clearly with clients, peers and even on social media. And don’t let fear hold you back from sharing your work or taking on new opportunities. I think that growth comes from trying, making things and embracing the messy bits.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

I think it’s best to lean into your strengths because that’s where you stand out and make the biggest impact. That said, improving weaker areas strategically (especially ones that affect how your work gets perceived) is important.

For me, communication wasn’t my natural strength at first. I think a lot of designers out there have this too. They can design beautifully, but struggled to explain the ideas or even communicate who they are as a designer. Communication is one of those skills we can all work on, a muscle we can all keep exercising no matter if its a strength or a weakness.

So my approach is kind of a bit of both. Double down on your strengths will make you stand out, but working on the weak spots that help your strengths shine is just as important, especially if those weaknesses are ‘softer skills’. They’re just as important as your ability to deliver a design.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photography By Whitney Nicole
https://whitneynicolephotos.com/

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