I’m Rosie. I help freelance designers grow into healthy brands so they can attract better clients. Here’s my story…
I spent years as a freelance designer relying on referrals until I discovered how to stop overthinking, build a future proof niche, craft a unique marketing message and attract the clients I desired…I now help freelance designers to do the same, so that they can earn more, work less and spend more time doing the things they love.
me & making…
I grew up with my mum on a small holding in a quiet village in Yorkshire, England.
I made bread, mud pies and make believe stories in my mind. I painted, fed chickens, played dress up and watched my thrifty mum knit and sew many of my clothes.
She gave me my kindness, creativity, and a curious mind. Living with my mum was tricky at times, but her influence on my creativity runs deep; creativity is my superpower.
So much of who I am is inspired by her love of textiles, and timeless quality…
me & my career…
At 11 years old I decided I wanted to be a fashion designer.
So that’s what I did.
It was the acid house 80’s; manufacturing, music and retail were changing fast. Adaptability was key. I arrived at my first job to find myself working alongside graphic designers, and to my surprise I was hired not only as an apparel designer, but to create graphics for fashion as well. This shaped my whole career; graphics, typography and surface pattern became a passion that went on to support my varied career and curious creative mind.
My life mission was to gain as much experience as I could about making things…and one day work for myself. I spent 10 years working with factories and suppliers in the North of England, understanding exactly how a product was made, from concept, costing, cloth and onto the customer.
The highlight of my career was coaching graduates in my role as design manager, and it makes me feel happy that those grads are now established freelancers, friends and past clients of mine to this day…
KIND WORDS
“You've help me create clarity that I've failed to initiate for months. And I'm usually self-motivated and good at creating vision. But a few months of terrible clients and being in lockdown for so long have made me very short-sighted. Thank you for shining light on areas that I need to focus on.”
— MABLE TAN, MABLE TAN DESIGNS
a twist of fate…
I went freelance in 2005 after being made redundant for the fourth time and whilst carrying my second child. It was a happy twist of fate, my dream of working for myself made real.
As a freelancer I designed for some of the world's biggest retail brands whilst rocking my little girl to sleep, and like a fly on the wall I began to notice how the fashion design and retail industry, largely made up of women, did not support women…
I saw fashion designers get ripped to bits, left in tears and then asked to show up and do it all again the next day. I saw zero workplace well-being and zero flexibility.
As a design consultant for over 15 years I unknowingly became a mentor and coach to designers, buyers and product developers.
One day, out of the blue I was offered an opportunity on LinkedIn that I’d never considered before…“you are seen as an expert in your field, would you consider mentoring?” I quickly fell into helping creatives and it made my heart lift.
KIND WORDS
“You have been a huge source of help and encouragement over the years. I remember when I first met you thinking “she’s a tough nut”, but I couldn’t have been more wrong really. You are so kind and thoughtful and you have really inspired me to succeed.”
— ELISE | @ELISEBUTTONBOX
deep in thought…
The beautiful house, a successful career, two loving children and a second home in the sun…but something was wrong. I was sick of churning out products that were more about money than meaning.
But I didn’t know how to get better clients.
I made the decision to get serious about building a sustainable creative business. I signed up for government business support but they had no clue about creativity. I hired business coaches but they didn’t understand the complexity of the fashion and retail industry and knew nothing about the midlife mind.
Having just signed a project for my highest ever paid work as a freelance designer I came to a worrying realisation. I ought to have been delighted, but my heart sank. I’d fallen out of love with my creative business.
I felt terrified…
a new mission…
In 2020 I signed up to the Courageous Living Coaching Certification, an ICF accredited training programme led by Kate Swaboda, author of The Courage Habit. I was terrified of investing so much money into high end business coaching and a marketing diploma. But I’m so glad I did, because it was the best investment I have ever made.
Immediately after gaining my certification I began coaching creative women in business.
I coached music therapists, writers, podcasters, surface pattern designers, artists, freelance designers and small makers. I continued to hone my craft whilst building my coaching business.
What I noticed through my work was a pattern. My clients were insanely skilled creatives, yet the combination of a naturally creative mind, midlife and a lack of confidence was stopping them marketing effectively.
Even after years of experience designing for world leading brands I noticed designers were insanely talented yet lacking the tools and mindset to create a truly sustainable lifestyle business.
I now had a new life goal; to be the creative business coach I couldn’t find.
what my clients are saying
“Rosie really helped me get out of my own head. I have a lot more confidence in myself, not only as a designer, but also in terms of how I communicate with people and how I work with clients. I started from zero clients, and now I have five.”
— Jessica Bucci, FREELANCE DESIGNER
TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE