Today we’d like to introduce you to Joanna Holden.
Hi Joanna, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a graduate of the University of North Texas, a school renowned as a launchpad for creative careers, I was classically trained in design. I come from a family of artists and designers so it was very natural for me to pursue a career in design. I started out as a fine art major to follow in my mother’s footsteps but soon realized I wanted to be more of a commercial artist.
I wandered the halls of the art school at my University and stumbled upon some Graphic Design students brainstorming logo design ideas and I was instantly intrigued by their process. I soon enrolled in the graphic design fundamentals class and learned how to design my first logo, which immediately won an award. I realized I had found my passion. Immediately out of college, I began work at Anderson Consulting and had a crash course in global re-branding as part of the team that completely transformed the corporate identity from Anderson to Accenture in only six months.
After ten years working in Dallas creative agencies, I missed the rewards of working directly with clients. I founded Modular, ink. to engage personally with business owners and leaders to help them bring their visions to life through a creative process that is intuitive, personalized and fun for the client. My work is inspired by a decade of living and working in Los Angeles, where architecture, fashion, and visual design are at the forefront and the influence of the motion picture industry ripples through all aspects of business and life. That L.A. energy is evident in my design work, my direction of video and photography, and my ability to tell a compelling brand story. I recently returned to Texas to raise my family and join the thriving creative community in Austin.
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?
Starting my own agency was quite easy compared to some of my colleagues, but it has not been a particularly smooth road. There is so much reward with owning my own creative agency but it is a daily challenge. I am determined to create an agency that meets all of my goals and have identified a couple of my own blocks and work daily to overcome them.
There are two things in particular that I have struggled with and am still working on, fear and hiring. Since I started my agency, I’ve had a fear of it failing and it kept me from confidently promoting myself and my talent. I have done a lot of work in learning how to manage that fear and it has made such a difference.
As an artist, I have learned the hard way that I need to hire help for the things that are not my strengths. It has taken me a long time to understand the value of finding help for the business side of my agency. For a long time, I spent my time on things that I shouldn’t be spending my time on and it kept me from growing. I am happy to say that I am now getting that help and I have immediately seen a difference.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My agency, Modular, ink. is your go-to agency for branding, visual identity, and digital marketing. I work to develop long-term partnerships with businesses that are going to market with innovative ideas and products. My devotion to beauty and quality results in brands that last and campaigns that bring your vision to life.
I have a wonderful combination of fine art sensibility, design discipline, marketing intelligence, and innovative problem solving that sets me apart from others in my field. I listen carefully and collaborate openly with a balance of intensity and ease. I’m a visual problem-solver; I’ll showcase your brand with conceptual flair, compelling design, and attention to detail.
Contact Info:
- Email: joanna@modularink.com
- Website: https://modularink.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modular_ink/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modularink
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Modular_ink
Image Credits
Photography: Kristen McKelvie instagram.com/kristenmckelviephotography
