Meet Erica Neubauer | Branding & Web Designer

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

Hi Erica, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I’m naturally a very risk-averse person, but I am working on viewing risks not as “potential failures” but as “possible successes.” I’ve definitely taken some risks in my work as a graphic designer. Not every gamble works out- but I try to chalk it up to experience and move on. I would like to see the business community talk more openly about their failures- I think there’s too much emphasis on sharing success stories. The reality is- failure happens to everyone, even the very best. If we normalized missed opportunities, we actually encourage people to keep trying and to go for big. I love the Michael Jordan quote where he talks about about how many missed shots and lost games he’s had in his career- he says, “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” To designers and creatives (and anyone really)- don’t be so afraid of failure that you don’t try something big.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a creative entrepreneur running my own branding and web design studio. I’ve worked for 12 years with small businesses and non-profits creating high-quality logos, branding, websites, and annual report designs. I have had lots of challenges as a small business owner- but the drive is always there- I love the work I do and I can’t imagine doing anything else. Helping a client identify and then portray their business ethos with a logo that’s custom and perfect for them is one of the most rewarding things that I do. When we take it a step further and work on a killer website that not only is beautiful but has great user experience and is optimized for speed and conversions, that’s even better. I love the challenge of taking a company’s branding and applying it in a cohesive way to all digital and print aspects of their business. I always have my clients best interests in mind- they are the reason for what I do.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Macon is a super fun little city right in the heart of Georgia! We’re home to the oldest structure in the US- the Earth Lodge at Ocmulgee Mounds. There are tons of fantastic micro-breweries (my favorite is Piedmont Brewery) where you can grab a bite to eat and sample a locally made beer. The Ocmulgee River offers miles of biking and walking trails, or you can rent an inner tube and float for a couple of hours.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to the art director at my internship, Darren Eagles. He encouraged me by continually recognizing and naming my talent- but also I saw the realities of mistakes made even at the agency level, and that was even more impactful.

Website: https://ericasneubauer.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericasneubauer/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericasneubauer/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericasneubauer/