Meet Ellen Monen: Brand Specialist + Graphic Designer + Creative Consultant + Owner of SeeMeDesign

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

Hi Ellen, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?

Well, it’s funny. My business sort of found me.

When I was about to graduate from college, it seemed like a no-brainer that a website would be a requirement for someone who advertised themself as both a graphic and web designer. So, I searched for a domain name… I tried everything until I finally landed on seemedesign.com. I used it to build a portfolio site. It helped me land a corporate design job plus little freelance jobs from time to time.

Five years later, I started my own jewelry line – Marcellina G. As a graphic designer, you can imagine my favorite part of that process was naming, branding and designing all the marketing materials. I wound up getting a lot of press (including the Real Simple gift guide!! — thank you, Sharon!), and I started meeting other small business owners. A couple of them asked me where I got the Marcellina G. brand and graphics work done. That’s when my branding business was born.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I spend most of my time building brands. I’ve had people ask how I do it. Here’s the thing — every business owner has a super interesting and inspirational story, but even the best of them rarely see it that way. You sort of have to wake them up to their own personal glory and help them understand that their story is generally what really sets them apart. It almost always explains the motivation behind the company, and that alone helps connect to the people who are already out there just waiting to find them.

I really try to make sure to keep things fun… I’m big on going with the unexpected, breaking the rules in the best ways, and including playful humor throughout our projects… you know, those little Easter eggs – we put them everywhere. It keeps things interesting for us and hopefully the world around us too.

It’s always amazing to see the magic we can create together when the circumstances are perfect. Instead of putting much of an effort into marketing, my focus has always been to produce great work and treat people well. Between word of mouth referrals, unsolicited press and publications and our work going viral on social media, we’ve been staying busy with some unbelievable projects. Never would I have expected to even be touching some of the projects in our hands today.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Ohhh, this is a great question. I spent almost my entire life in Atlanta until January 2020. Right before the world collapsed, my family and I moved to Franklin, Tennessee. So, I am that friend visiting my favorite city.

When I’m in Atlanta next, I will definitely take a walk through the Highlands and make my morning stop at Dtox Juice for my favorite Rise & Shine smoothie along with some sort of immune boosting shot. I’m all into that stuff.

I’d check out the Beltline to see the latest art and Tiny Houses. I’d definitely make a stop into Ponce City Market, maybe check out the crystal store and get my favorite avocado toast and coffee at Spiller Park. I’d be giving lots of hugs to all the people I haven’t been able to see for such a long time. Then I’d have to go visit the brand new Summerhill location of Aviary Beauty + Wellness (can’t wait for it to open!) to catch up with my friend Amy and get some of her special treatments.

For dinner El Rey del Taco on Buford Hwy will be a MUST. And at some point, we will definitely need to get the flourless chocolate cake at La Tavola — please tell me it’s back on the menu. I’m still confused about what they were thinking when they removed it.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

My shoutout goes to my family. They have always been very encouraging and given me the emotional thumbs up to pursuing a creative career and veering slighly off the standard path.

Sometimes you just need to silence the voices telling you those other things… you know, like that leaving your job (slowly and responsibly, of course) might actually cause you to become homeless and die a slow and lonely death. : )

Website: seemedesign.com

Instagram: instagram.com/seemedesign

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/ellenwitt/

Twitter: twitter.com/seemedesign

Facebook: facebook.com/seemedesign

Image Credits
Callie & David Photography, Milk & Butter Social, SeeMeDesign, DJ Willy Wow!