Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Thompson.
Hi Sarah, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m Sarah Thompson, a brand and visual identity designer based in Austin, Texas.
I started college as a biology major. Science had always been my goal and a passion of mine, while art was my way of channeling energy. When trouble found its way into my life, I had to step away from school and recalibrate. My focus shifted to family, mental health and ultimately, survival.
During that difficult chapter, I found my way back to art as my outlet. Art was something I could pour myself into when everything else felt uncertain.
When the time came to consider returning to school, my options looked a little different. The people who had supported me through that period saw what had come out of my art and encouraged me to pursue it professionally. I landed on graphic design and never looked back.
I was attracted to graphic design’s versatility. As a mostly mixed media artist, I loved the ability to interweave these two creative disciplines. In school, I was equally fascinated by the role design played in business: how a visual identity could communicate something meaningful, connect with people, and give a brand a personality of its own.
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to work in-house across a diverse range of industries, including music, beauty, entertainment, fashion, live events, healthcare, real estate, apparel, sports, recreation, the arts, and even oil and gas and industrial machinery manufacturing.
With all that experience under my belt, I was on a clear path toward a director’s position at my last (not knowing my final) in-house design position. Then my husband was offered a career opportunity that would take us overseas for a few years.
I didn’t bat an eyelash. My response was a blunt, “When do we go?”
I’d always wanted to see the world. The opportunity aligned with the timing. I don’t regret that decision for a second.
I continued freelancing and working remotely for a while, but this was a time when most companies still wanted their designers in-house. Finding consistent work became more challenging, so I decided to explore another passion. I went back to school and earned certifications in nutrition, functional sports training, and pre/postnatal personal training.
While living abroad, I worked with clients through several embassies and had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. Some of those connections turned into lifelong friendships. It was an entirely different chapter of my career, but one I wouldn’t trade for anything.
When we decided to start a family, we moved back to the United States. I continued personal training and running boot camps throughout both of my pregnancies and afterward. We moved between a few different states before finally getting our chance to return to Texas.
When both my girls hit school age, I’d just dropped them both off at school for the first time. I was driving home thinking, “What do I do now?”
Kid you not, my phone rang during that drive.
It was a call about a graphic design opportunity I hadn’t even applied to. I’d been referred by a family friend. Persona Creative Design was born on that same drive.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No paved roads here. I answer this question in both the literal and figurative sense because my path has taken me over mountains, through hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes, across oceans, and digging my way through snow and ice.
I’ve actually faced all of those obstacles physically. What they represent mentally and emotionally as the challenges along the way means some knocked me off course entirely, while others forced me to carve out a new path when the one ahead of me disappeared. There have been moments when moving forward meant taking a leap into the unknown and others when simply getting out of bed was an accomplishment.
But every WTF moment has earned me resilience, adaptability and trust in my intuition. Which have rounded me as a person and as a business owner. I always want to know who and where my clients are coming from. I listen to their stories and goals because it’s important to build their story into the business they’ve worked so hard for to overcome their obstacles and struggles.
And with that I’m happy to forecast a high chance of sunshine and rainbows on the other side. BUT, I’m keeping an umbrella handy considering my track record with weather.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a graphic design genie, fulfilling all your digital and print design wishes! My forte is branding, rebranding, and helping businesses show their visual personas.
A brand is so much more than a logo. It’s the colors, typography, imagery and details that make the personality. People may not consciously notice these details, but when done right, they absolutely pick up on them. That’s what builds recall, trust, and ultimately, connection.
My favorite part of both art and design is finding unexpected connections between seemingly unrelated things. My own aesthetic is a bit of a remix of retro counterculture, surrealism, vintage glamour, and irreverent editorial design. I love the unconventional blended with the beautifully strange, balancing poise with grit while somehow maintaining a sense of sophistication.
I’ve worked across enough industries to know there’s no magic formula for making a brand stand out. If every business followed the same rules, we’d all look pretty damn boring.
I go the distance with my clients, asking all the questions, hearing their stories, and picking up on little details they may not even realize they’re giving away. When I do a jigsaw puzzle, I never look at the picture. I approach my clients the same way. I want the details to tell me the story. Sometimes it’s something they’ve said in passing, other times it’s noticing they’ve worn green to every meeting. It’s all part of the puzzle.
The goal is to deliver a brand tailored to the client. When they look at the design, they feel it. They are it. Their internal theme music starts playing.
That’s what I’m most proud of. Not just making something look good, but helping someone see what makes their business worth noticing in the first place.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
It’s curiosity. I want to know who, what, why, and how. But, I have been known to investigate circumstances that were probably better left alone. I’m worse than my kids.
Curiosity has led me down some unexpected paths, both personally and professionally. It’s made me comfortable with the uncomfortable. Opening doors to great opportunities, in work partnerships, personal relationships, and business referrals.
It’s also what drives my creativity. It keeps me asking questions, looking for new ideas to make connections, and turning problems into “what ifs” to reach a solution. My mothers always told me I’ve never chosen the easy road. For me my detours is where I’ve found growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://personacreativedesign.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/personacreativedesign/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-wiseman-thompson/
- Youtube: under construction
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@personacreativedesign
