Story & Lesson Highlights with Ellen Monen of Franklin, TN, USA

Ellen Monen shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Ellen, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work on a lot of what I’d consider “dream” projects.

I’ve designed one of the most comprehensive brands I’ve ever seen for a restaurant, which wound up gaining a cult following – Milk & Honey, and of course my favorite little cowbee. I’ve designed and conceptualized promotional branded materials for the Midtown Atlanta W Hotel Living Room. I branded dtox juice, which not only has multiple locations but also sells at a slew of Whole Foods. I’ve even gotten to watch one of my long-time clients, DJ Willy Wow, make his way to his own SiriusXM show, on top of working with clients who I get to see in the media regularly – Dr. Daria and Mira Lowe. More recently, I branded wine labels Horse Creek Winery (yet to be launched) and Jasmine Cellars — all of this has been ridiculously FUN for me! And I’ve done so much more that excites me. But what has challenged me both professionally and personally is The Star of David project.

In January 2024, I started The Star of David, a full-on passion project with a goal of healing the world. I brought on a bunch of artists and creatives to join me through the process. The name and logo came first, and social media feeds came next. The artists kept pouring in. Now, we have a collection of 250+ artists and creatives from all parts of the world, every religion and walk of life — each one independently stands for religious freedom and kindness amongst humankind. Together, we fight for a better future for our children, our children’s children and so on.

The mission of The Star of David is to bring clarity to conflicts throughout the world with palatable, provocative and sometimes even playful educational posts. Artists contribute images of their work, and those images are paired with often-surprising facts that divulge how our reality has been shaped through history to today. My latest creation as part of this project is the Solidarity StarTM, a jewelry statement piece for every woman, man and child to stand tall for freedom of all kindness amongst humankind, soon to be available for purchase at www.thestarofdavid.art.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
As a graphic artist, founder and owner of SeeMeDesign, I specialize in branding and identity design. You might be wondering what that means…

Basically, I evaluate what excites my clients’ the most about their businesses, their forté or passion for the craft. Then I figure out how to reflect that into their marketing materials. The ultimate goal is to create graphics and messaging that relate with authenticity to their business. When done well, the process can dramatically help a business connect to consumers from just around the corner or all the way across the globe. It’s all about strategic and effective graphic styles and messaging that really speak with authenticity.

I work on all the basics from logos and business cards to interior art and signage, print materials, tradeshow booths, car wraps, menus, merchandise and so much more. I’ve worked with small mom and pop shops and HUGE corporations, communities, non-profits, restaurants, service and retail providers, and more.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
The state of the world today has opened my eyes to things I never imagined I’d see in my lifetime. When I really began to study it all, what I found was most shocking: I had been living in a bubble thinking the world was a place that’s full of kindness. Unfortunately my global bird’s eye view certainly brought about a rude awakening.

I created The Star of David because it stands in my truth and moral compass. For me, standing for what I believe in is such an important value, especially when it’s not the easiest option. With that being said, I understand that life can be confusing with all the misleading information flowing through the media and on the Internet.

I knew that if I was going to start the project, I was not about to do it alone. So, I found my tribe. I brought on several volunteer helpers, from historians to web developers and area locals — we hit the ground running all with the same altruistic drive and intentions to help guide the world towards the good. We had the skills, knowledge, (most of the) know-how… and we winged it from there.

I saw very clearly that the real issues we face today aren’t about political and celebrity affairs or singular departments of government being dissolved, as unfortunate as they are… they are about the future intentions behind social structures and this conquistador complex we are seeing surrounding current tragedies all over the world.

When did you last change your mind about something important?
Every single day! I find it important to keep an open mind because nobody knows everything, BUT we must all learn to love lifelong learning and seek true and confirmed facts from both sides of each conflict.

You just never know until you know… and this applies to everything in life from world history and politics to the chatter down the street. ALWAYS, always, always KEEP AN OPEN MIND.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
There are so many intelligent people who believe they understand the world at a higher level than average right now. But the truth as far as I see it — if their perspective has taken them down a path of negativity or hate toward an entire race or religion, it’s time for a mindset re-evaluation. The world is not our oyster until we turn those outlooks upside down and help encourage everyone around us to do the same.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
My honesty has always been my tragic flaw, but I also consider it my greatest superpower. I hope to lead a legacy where people say that I was one of the nicest people they ever knew, but that I never could effectively tell a lie, even for the sake of kindness.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Photo Credits to Tennille Melcher, SeeMeDesign, DJ Willy Wow!, Milk & Honey, Spa at Serenbe, Willow & Vine, Aviary, dtox juice and Horse Creek Winery.

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