We love inspiring stories from amazing people across the globe who are doing great things. This week’s feature focuses on Patricia Tibere. A creative marketing professional with extensive experience in copy writing, brand development, and art direction. She earned her BA in English from Seton Hall University where she also completed a double minor in Fine Arts and Sociology. She went on to complete her MA degree in English, with a concentration in creative writing.

She was able to employ these seemingly “useless” fields of study toward a rewarding career in marketing where she provides consulting in the areas of graphic design, content marketing and web development through her company, Think Designz LLC. She is also a Marketing Coordinator for a Top 50 ENR-ranked A/E/C firm.

Who are is Patricia Tibere

I almost became a social worker. Then a teacher. I wanted to help others through my chosen career path, but I just couldn’t determine how.

It’s not that I never considered pursuing design; I was just conditioned to believe that a career in the arts wasn’t an option. I grew up in a Haitian household where we were encouraged to pursue more traditionally lucrative career paths (i.e. Medical, Finance/Accounting or Law). But I’ve never been able to fit that mold. I was the girl who preferred drawing and creating works of art.

After graduation, I discovered my niche by entering marketing industry, where I utilized my talents as a digital artist along with strong writing skills to catapult my career. I had also been freelancing independently for quite some time, so in 2013, I began to provide creative consulting services under my newly formulated company, Think Designz LLC. Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of working with clients from a wide range of industries across the United States.

I had always aspired to serve others, and it’s fulfilling to be able to achieve this objective through my passion for art.

What is Think Designz?

Think Designz LLC provides visual solutions for corporate marketing, event branding and personal branding by means of graphic design and digital art. My specialty lies in brand development and advertising art.

I chose this profession because it allows me to utilize my skills to help others win. Quality design has the power to grant validation and legitimacy. With impeccable branding materials, the audience is more likely to believe and invest in what one has to offer. It’s rewarding when a client raves about how their upgraded design played a role in their increased value within the marketplace.

What made you leap forward to make the first step to starting Think Designz?

The idea of building a meaningful legacy led me to take the leap toward entrepreneurship. I would like to be remembered for being courageous enough to build my own dream, rather than for only building the vision of someone else.

How did you know this what you wanted to do for sure? 

Art is my contribution to the world, so I must create.

I have always known that I was created to be an artist. Unfortunately, I wasn’t raised in an environment that encouraged this sort of creativity because of its perceived lack of value and practicality. I went for it anyway.

Graphic design is truly a worthwhile career path because it is literally everywhere. Just about everything we touch requires some level of design from the websites we visit daily to the packaging on our favorite foods and products. Design is valid, and it’s necessary.

So after getting set up, what were the setbacks and what did you do to improve?

The lowest point in my career was the day that I felt my creativity begin to die. My creativity is the lifeblood of my business; my biggest asset, but it began to whittle away because I failed to take the necessary steps to protect it. Exchanging your passion for profits can be a slippery slope. Unless handled with care, the very gift that you love can quickly become burdensome.

My creativity suffered due to external factors in the way I was running my business. I often underestimated the costs of running business, which caused me to undercharge for services, which in turn resulted in zero profit margins. It was getting increasingly difficult to stay afloat, being unable to invest in services or resources that would’ve simplified processes while improving the buying experience of my clientele. I was wearing far too many hats to keep my business running. This ultimately led to much fatigue and burnout, which nearly killed my creativity.

Women often make the error of undervaluing their services due to factors linked to fear, insecurity and lack of confidence in their abilities. While every service provider should operate in integrity, setting fair rates based on their industry, skillset and level of value, it’s important not to undercut margins in the process. Charge your worth, plus tax; because when you build it, the audience will come.

I was only able to bounce back after taking some time off, establishing a concrete vision for my company, setting realistic goals, and recognizing my value in the marketplace.

Do you have any featured products, sales, promotions, launches – etc?

I recently restructured Think Designz LLC to provide design and marketing services in the following three tiers: Corporate Marketing, Event Branding and Personal Branding.

Packages vary based on client needs, but can include any of the following: Logo Development, Ad Design (for both online and print), Marketing Collateral, Business Cards, Stationery, Email Marketing, Web Development and much more.

For the month of May, Think Designz will offer a special branding promotion exclusively for women solopreneurs. This package will include logo development, business cards, and 3 advertisements that can be utilized in email or social media settings. Women (specifically women of color) are highly underrepresented in business, so I have created this package as a contribution to elevate their value.

Tell us something unique about Think Designz that sets it apart from your competitors?

In addition to creative consulting, I am marketing specialist by trade having dedicated my full-time career to marketing professional services. I’m currently a marketing coordinator at a Top 50 ENR-ranked A/E/C firm.

That said, I am able to provide more value to my clientele by imparting marketing solutions in addition to design packages. With my expertise, I equip my clients with the knowledge to fulfill their marketing objectives to purposefully generate results. My goal is to strategize and help my clients successfully drive their brand message home.

Fun fact: I’m the designer responsible for a Love and Basketball 2 faux movie poster that ultimately went viral. With strategic planning, and by maximizing my network, this work of art eventually reached millions, generated much press, and even caught the attention of the director and actors of the film.

What is your advice to people having a fear of launching their business?

Entrepreneurship definitely isn’t as glamorous as it seems. It requires hard work, dedication and consistency! There will be sleepless nights, and endless days where you might question your capacity to be about that life. But there’s such a reward in being able to provide value to others through what you have to offer.

The truth is, there will always be an element of fear when it comes to running business. My advice to alleviate this would be to establish your company vision and goals early on, and to never lose sight of them. Protect your business as you would your child, and set appropriate boundaries for yourself and your audience. And lastly, always have fun doing what you love. Your fears must motivate you; not stagnate you.

Where and how can people find you?

Think Designz LLC can be found at www.thinkdesignzstudio.com. If you would like to connect with me on your next project, feel free to shoot an email to letscreate@thinkdesignzstudio.com to discuss. My business handle on Twitter and Instagram is @ThinkDesignz. Think Designz can also be found on Facebook and LinkedIn.

And if you’re just looking for me, I can be found over at www.patrisms.com.