Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Pruitt
Hi Shannon, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was at the kitchen table with my husband, our 6-month-old daughter snoozing upstairs in her crib, and I was having one of those “something’s gotta give” moments. You know the ones – where you can practically hear the universe saying “girl, it’s time for a change.”
I had just closed my wedding planning business four months earlier, and let me tell you, walking away from something you’ve built? Not exactly a “thanks for coming to my TED talk” kind of moment. But here’s the thing – when I was a wedding planner, I kept running into this frustrating situation where I’d recommend these INSANELY talented vendors to my clients, only to have them turned down because their websites looked like they were designed in the era of flip phones and MySpace Top 8. (No shade to MySpace Tom – he was everyone’s first friend.)
It was like watching the most amazing restaurants serve Michelin-star food out of a drive-through window. The disconnect was REAL, and it was driving me bonkers.
So there I was, sitting at that kitchen table, feeling this burning desire to be creative while also contributing to our family’s needs. And my husband, bless him, basically looked at me and said “Do it.”
Did I have ANY clue how I was going to start a new business with a baby? Nope. Was I terrified? Absolutely. But sometimes the scariest leaps lead to the best landing spots.
Fast forward to today, and Sunday Muse Design has evolved into this beautiful mix of everything I love – design, marketing, writing, and helping other passionate business owners create brands that make their competition’s jaws drop. Together with my small-but-mighty team of amazing creatives, we’re out here turning “meh” brands into “HOLY MOLY, WHO DESIGNED THIS?” brands.
And you know what? That frustration I felt as a wedding planner? It turned into the perfect compass for understanding exactly what creative entrepreneurs need – because I’ve been there, I’ve seen it, and now I get to fix it.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth road? More like a dirt path during monsoon season. But honestly? Those bumps and wild turns have made for some pretty epic stories.
Trying to build a business while having a small child running around is like trying to do a brand launch while simultaneously hosting a toddler tea party. (sometimes the tea party wins, and that’s okay.) There have been plenty of days where I’m responding to client emails from the playroom floor, or finishing up design work after bedtime while mainlining coffee like it’s my job. (“Coffee Enabler” is not, in fact, my job title.)
And can we talk about imposter syndrome? Because WHEW. When I first started, I had this voice in my head going, “Who do you think you are, starting a design business?” Meanwhile, I’m over here like “I am a professional who occasionally stress-eats chips and salsa while coding – that’s who I am!”
The biggest challenge, though? Learning to trust my gut. Early on, I tried to do what I thought a “proper” design agency would do – you know, all serious and corporate-y. But that felt about as natural as wearing high heels to garden in. It wasn’t until I started being genuinely ME in my business that things really clicked.
Also, let’s be honest – the tech gremlins are REAL. There have been moments where I’ve accidentally deleted entire projects (pours one out for that one website draft from 2022), or had to learn new platforms faster than you can say “why did they change the interface AGAIN?!”
But here’s the thing about struggles – they’re the stepping stones that got us here. Every time I’ve wanted to throw my computer out the window (which, for legal reasons, I’ve never actually done), it’s led to a better system, a stronger process, or at least a really good story for my newsletter.
And you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way. These challenges have shaped Sunday Muse into what it is today – a studio that combines strategy with style, delivering brands and websites that make our clients do a happy dance.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Oh, this is where I get extra excited!
At Sunday Muse Design, we’re basically brand and website fairy godmothers – minus the pumpkin carriages, plus a whole lot of strategy. We take established creative businesses that have “meh” brands and “it’ll do” websites and transform them into “OMG, WHO ARE THEY?!” powerhouses that their competition looks at for inspo.
While other designers might focus on just making things pretty (which, don’t get me wrong, we absolutely do), we’re obsessed with the strategy behind the style. Like, yes, your brand will look incredible, but it’s also going to work HARD for you.
We’re known for creating brands and websites that feel like the digital equivalent of a perfect outfit – you know, the one that makes you feel like you could run the world while also being completely, authentically you. No stiff corporate vibes here (unless that’s your jam, in which case, we’ll make it the coolest corporate vibe ever).
What am I most proud of? It’s those moments when a client sees their new brand or website and goes “THAT’S IT. That’s exactly what I wanted but couldn’t put into words!” Or when they message me six months later saying they’ve raised their rates twice because their new brand gave them that confidence. Those are the moments that fire me up the most.
But here’s what really makes us different: we get it. Like, really get it. I’ve been in the trenches as a wedding planner, watching incredible businesses lose clients because their online presence wasn’t doing them justice. That understanding shapes everything we do – from how we approach design to how we translate your real-world amazingness into a digital presence that makes potential clients stop scrolling and start booking.
Plus, let’s be honest – working with us is actually fun. No stuffy design meetings where you feel like you need a dictionary to understand the jargon. Instead, think of it like having a really talented friend who happens to be obsessed with making your business look incredible (and who might occasionally send you dog memes, because work should include joy).
We specialize in serving creative entrepreneurs and service providers who are CRUSHING IT in their field but whose brands and websites are kind of like that one pair of jeans from college – they worked great back then, but honey, it’s time for an upgrade.
Whether it’s our Elite Edition (for those ready for a complete brand transformation), our Design Intensives (because sometimes you need amazing results, like, yesterday), our Creative Kickstart (for when you need that strategic roadmap to level up), or our Express Edits (perfect for those “I just need this ONE thing fixed” moments), everything we do is about creating brands and websites that convert browsers into buyers and make your business impossible to forget.
What were you like growing up?
I was that kid who rearranged her bedroom furniture every other week because “the flow just wasn’t right.” (my poor parents were THRILLED when I finally got old enough to move the furniture myself instead of waking them up at midnight with “but what if we put the bed over THERE?”)
Books were my jam – I was basically Rory Gilmore minus the complicated love life. And guess what? Nothing’s changed. My TBR pile is still growing faster than my daughter’s collection of “art” on the fridge, and I have zero plans to slow down.
Creative projects? YES PLEASE. While other kids were doing normal kid things, I was probably redesigning my Lisa Frank folders to make them “more cohesive” (clearly, I was a super cool child). And you know those kids who actually enjoyed group projects? Yeah, that was me – already trying to art direct everything and coordinate all the pieces. Looking back, I was basically a tiny creative director in Limited Too clothes.
I’ve always had this slightly unhinged mix of Type A organization and creative chaos. Like, my colored pencils were arranged by color (obviously), but I’d use them to draw completely outside the lines. It’s like my brain was saying “But what if we did it THIS way?” about literally everything.
And let’s talk about my early entrepreneurial ventures. I was that kid with handmade flyers advertising my pet-sitting and babysitting services, treating it like a full-blown business operation. Customer service? On point. Marketing strategy? You bet your butterfly clips I had one.
Honestly? Not much has changed – I’ve just upgraded from pet-sitting flyers to brands and websites. And instead of rearranging my bedroom furniture, I’m rearranging website layouts. Though I still occasionally wake up my husband with “but what if we moved the couch over THERE?”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sundaymusedesign.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/sundaymusedesign
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/sundaymusedesign
