Meet Diana Banes | Owner & Lead Designer for Banes Creative Designs

We had the good fortune of connecting with Diana Banes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Diana, why did you pursue a creative career?
I knew at a young age that I had a creative “super power”. Being creative came so easily for me and gave me lots of confidence; I always excelled in art and any school projects that had visual components. Artistic talent runs in my family; my great uncle, Sebastian Trovato, was a well known abstract painter and sculptor in Miami, Florida and my grandfather, Joseph Trovato, was a commercial artist and freelanced for big brands such as Texas Instruments and Twentieth Century Fox. Having successful artists in the family made me feel supported and never made me doubt that I could turn my skills into a career. I aspired to become an animator and work for Walt Disney Studios. I grew up idolizing Walt Disney, his animated films, and the legacy of magic he worked so hard to build. I had a deep desire to be involved in the creation of entertainment that made people happy.

While I was in high school I took all the art classes that were available including the advanced placement course because I knew I wanted to go to go to college and that would allow me to apply credit toward a degree. It was during my senior year that I shifted my career goal from animator to designer after I joined the yearbook staff; I discovered how much I enjoyed creating layouts and designs using computer programs. At the time, Adobe software was fairly new and really cutting edge and I enjoyed being able to use digital tools to design anything I wanted to create. It was a revelation and I knew I had to pursue a career in graphic design.

Well-known art schools were beyond my budget, and I wasn’t quite ready to leave my family and attend a college far from home, so I opted for a local university which turned out to be a great experience. Thanks to the Hope Scholarship, my tuition was covered, and I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Graphic Communication from Kennesaw State University (KSU). I was able to gain employment right out of college and spent the next 4 years working as a junior designer. In 2011 I ended up back on campus at KSU, but this time as an employee within the Strategic Communications department. I was part of an incredible creative team and got to work on a wide variety of design projects for the university including publications, illustrations, campaign ad designs, and lots of brand collateral designs.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
(following the first question about why I chose a career in the art field >>> What was your thought process behind starting your own business?)

By 2020 I gained 13 years of valuable experience in the graphic design industry, nine of those years were spent working at KSU, but during that time I also freelanced on the side and eventually built-up a clientele and a demand for work that brought me to a cross-roads during COVID. Although I was a valuable asset on the creative services team at KSU and enjoyed the work I did for the university, I felt compelled to focus on brand identity and other communication design to help businesses grow and flourish in their industries. After much contemplation and with the support from my loved ones, I took the leap of faith, left my position at KSU and went “all in” with my business, Banes Creative Design, in the fall of 2020.

About Me

As I celebrated my 40th birthday last year, I reflected on the past two decades of my life with a profound sense of gratitude. Over the course of these 20 years, I’ve been blessed in many ways. I’ve shared 17 wonderful years of marriage with my college sweetheart, Louie Banes, and together, we’ve raised two children and a beloved family dog.

Navigating the responsibilities of family life alongside the challenges of owning and operating my own business has certainly been demanding. Yet, despite the hurdles, I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything. Entrepreneurship has not only tested my strength, but it has also reaffirmed my confidence in my abilities. I’ve learned to adapt business processes to better fit the needs of my clients as well as learn to manage my time on a whole new level to maximize productivity. As a successful business owner, I’ve discovered a newfound sense of empowerment—the power to shape the direction and path of my business and influence my own future.

I believe that one of the key attributes of my brand is the level of attention and care I devote to the quality of my work and how it is perceived by my clients. I approach each project with a genuine commitment to delivering personalized service that combines sincerity with dedication. Every design I create with deliberate intentionality, ensuring that it is not only visually appealing but also resonates deeply with the audience of my client.

In conclusion, I am committed to continual growth, both personally and professionally, and I’m excited to continue navigating the ever-evolving landscape of business with determination and enthusiasm.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
World of Coke Georgia Aquarium
The High Museum
Centennial Park
Ponce City Market

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am incredibly grateful for my two best friends, who are not only remarkable female business owners but also inspiring creatives. Their unwavering support and encouragement were instrumental in giving me the confidence to take the leap into entrepreneurship. They’ve been there for me every step of the way, checking in regularly, lending a listening ear, and offering invaluable advice whenever I needed it. Their availability to discuss my challenges, their willingness to listen to me vent, and their unwavering support in every aspect of my journey mean the world to me. They are not just amazing entrepreneurs; they are truly beautiful souls, both inside and out. I am endlessly thankful for their presence in my life. Lauren Hubbard – Photographer – Laurenlizphoto.com
Diana Raciti – Graphic Designer – crystalcreative.com.au

I’m proud to be one of the founding members of The Magnolia Collective, a community of female entrepreneurs based in the Metro Atlanta Area. Alongside the other three founders (Heather Cleverly, Lauren Hubbard, and Rumana Sultana) our aim was to create a space where women could come together for collaboration, learning, and building connections. It’s been an absolute joy to meet and engage with other like-minded women in our region who share similar interests, aspirations, and a genuine desire to uplift each other. As a business owner and creative, especially when working from home, it’s easy to feel isolated at times; this group has provided a fantastic avenue for social interaction, filling that void and fostering a sense of camaraderie among us.

Website: banescreativedesign.com

Instagram: instagram.com/banescreativedesign

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dianabanes/

Facebook: facebook.com/banescreativedesign

Image Credits
Photography by Lauren Liz Photo