Meet Tiauna Hendrickson | Graphic Designer

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

Hi Tiauna, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Honestly, I didn’t have a “thought process” behind starting my own business. It started off as a hobby in middle school, I’ve always been very computer savvy, creating images on photoshop, etc. In college I completely stopped to pursue my career in IT & computer science. After having my second son, I wanted an invitation made for his party and was like oh i’m not paying anyone to do that because I know how to do it. So I picked it back up, just randomly. From there I had friends and family asking me to make this and edit this, so I got back into it heavy. But I still had a 9-5 IT job. My job was easy though I didn’t do a lot of “busy work.” Then I got engaged, and got reconnected with a high school friend of my who is a dope a$$ event planner. She saw my graphics I created for my engagement party and said “Tee I didn’t know you did graphics” and she hired me to do all her graphics in 2016. From there, I went from just making party invites and backdrops, to logos and branding elements. The whole time, everybody was saying “oh you should do graphic design full-time quit your job.” But I wasn’t quitting my job, I made a guaranteed GOOD paycheck with bomb benefits, and could still do my graphic design side business at my 9-5. Then Covid-19 happened and I was laid off. And there really was no thought behind it, I had to make it happen for me and my family and that’s how Hendrx Designs started.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
So Hendrx Designs is a Business and Event Branding Graphic Design company. And what I try my best to do is provide my clients with a personal experience. I always hear that, I purchased this through a website and they only email me, 24-48 hours later sometimes. And I try to set myself apart from that. Although I do have business hours and am busy designing most of the day, I still take the time out to reach out or answer when a client has a question or suggestion or just need to talk. And most graphic designers don’t operate that way. I have been fortunate enough not to have anyone abuse this, but I understand completely why most graphic designers do so because I’ve heard horror stories. I got to where I am today with the help of my family and friends. Social Media for business is a blessing. They day I was laid off from my job of 6 years, I made a post of something I was working on, about 50 of my friends and family and even followers on instagram reposted and from that day my business took OFF! I worked maybe 4 years without acknowledging publicly on instagram that I did graphics or even creating an instagram showcasing my work but the one day I did, my followers showed out.

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?
Wow, this is hard because I do not go out often. Let’s see… Me and most of my friends like to drink and socialize, so I’d take them to Spin off Peter St, it’s always a vibe there. The pizza is AMAZING, and you literally only need one drink to get you there because their drinks are potent LOL. Brunch – ladies love mimosas & two urban licks has one of the best brunch menus ever and their mimosas pack a punch as well! We could go strolling down the belt line trail on a bike to catch some air and sun and maybe end with a picnic at piedmont park Again, I’m a homebody, so that’s my idea of a good time LOL.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are 2 significant individuals I can attribute to ALWAYS encouraging me to push forward me my business, even when I didn’t want to. My friend and business bestie Raven, she would randomly pay for business brunches and seminars for me to attend. Send me dm’s about starting business, calling making sure I chose a name for my business, made a business instagram, got my LLC, registered with the state. She never let me half ass when it came to HendrxDesigns. And she never let me will. Then there’s my best friend Jahlil with all of her connections in the event industry who always recommends my business to whoever needs branding and graphics. She invests in me to make sure I’m up to speed with everything. And not to mention, she gave me (and still gives me) a chance even when I felt like another designer could’ve helped her better. She always chooses me! And then there’s my mom and significant other who always invests in me financially, physically and mentally! Because having kids and a business, it truly takes a village.

Website: www.hendrxdesigns.com
Instagram: Instagram.com/Hendrxdesigns