Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Guerassio.
Hi Amanda, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been interested in art and creativity through visuals, as far back as I can remember. And when home computers came on the scene, I was instantly fascinated. In high school, my art teacher introduced me to Photoshop, and the idea of ‘graphic design’ was game over. Was I getting to merge art and tech in one? Yes, please. I got my degree in Graphic Design and have worked in that field ever since. When I moved to Austin after graduation, I initially intended to get a job at an agency or in-house somewhere. A friend then suggested taking on a few freelance gigs to earn income while I job-searched. I did that; it worked well, and I loved the freedom and flexibility. So, I went all-in on that route and decided to freelance full-time. I had never planned on or considered being self-employed, so there was a big learning curve in all business aspects. But I still love the freedom and flexibility of it. While I started as a generalist designer, these days, I specialize in branding. I help my clients clarify what they want their brand to be at its core and translate it into a visual brand for their business.
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?
It definitely could have been a smoother road. I had a lot of design know-how from college but zero business know-how. There was a lot of learning things the hard way. The tax bill after that first year as a freelancer knocked me back – suffice to say, I had not realized I needed to save much more for taxes as a self-employed person. There’s also been a lot of learning regarding what I want to focus on, the kind of people I want to work with, what boundaries work best for me, and ways to have my own back in my business. I don’t remember who said it, but a quote goes, “Entrepreneurship is the quickest road to personal growth,” which has proven true.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Studio Guerassio offers stress-free branding with a big dose of clarity and a little magic touch. I partner with serial entrepreneurs and multi-passionate empire builders to craft branding that looks awesome, feels right, and works hard for their business. I bring a holistic, structured approach to branding that helps my clients make the next level of business their best. I help my clients clarify their brand strategy, hone a unique design direction, and bring their vision to life across all of their channels and materials (yes, ALL – I grew my coding chops at the same time as my design skills). Whether they need a brand audit to see where they stand with their current business or a whole brand-spanking-new brand, I help my clients move from the overwhelm of not knowing where to start and having too many ideas to having a clear path forward and the design to get them there with panache.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love that Austin doesn’t feel like a ‘big’ city, even though it is. The green spaces and the closeness of nature are wonderful. I also love that we celebrate being weird, and there’s a great mix of culture, food, music, and people here. What I like least about Austin is the traffic. I avoid going anywhere at rush hour because it’s such a headache.
Pricing:
- Pricing based on package
- Flat fees, no surprises
- Payment plans available
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.studioguerassio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studioguerassio
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandaguerassio/
- Other: https://tinyurl.com/studioguerassio
Image Credits
For photos of me, Photo Credits: Korey Howell Photography
