Today we’d like to introduce you to Eliza Barrett
Hi Eliza, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always been into art and design, and my parents encouraged me from a young age to explore drawing and painting. Magazines have always had a special place in my heart, too. I loved flipping through the glossy pages, admiring the beautiful photos and layouts. At first, I thought I wanted to be a fashion designer, but that slowly changed into wanting to be a magazine editor— very much inspired by Anna Wintour and The Devil Wears Prada.
When I got into Clemson’s Graphic Communications program, I slowly realized how much I loved graphic design as a whole. A class I took in my junior year where we had to design a logo opened my eyes to branding, and I was hooked. After graduation and doing a 3-month long internship with Charleston magazine, I went through the grind of applying to hundreds of jobs without much luck. So, I decided to start freelancing to build my portfolio. Living with my parents at the time gave me some breathing room, so I just went for it, taking any job I could get, while bartending on the side to make ends meet. I had a lot of luck on Instagram finding clients and collaborating with other designers who needed help with projects.
A few years later, I landed a full-time job as a designer at a small Charleston agency called Outline. I spent about a year and a half there, and it was amazing—I learned so much from the talented people I worked with. But after a while, I started to feel burnt out and missed the flexibility of freelancing. That’s when I decided to go back to it full-time, and I’ve been loving it ever since. Of course, working for yourself comes with challenges and security isn’t guaranteed, but it’s definitely toughened me up and forced me to learn to budget and manage my money!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Haha, no, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road! I graduated in the summer of 2018 and freelanced for about a year before COVID hit, which turned everything upside down. Coincidentally, the day I moved out of my parents’ house was when lockdown started. Suddenly, I had all these extra expenses and the constant worry about job security. Freelancing felt especially unstable at that point, and there were plenty of moments when I thought about giving up and changing careers entirely. But just when I was at my wits’ end, I landed a full-time job at a branding agency, which gave me a sense of relief and helped me feel more grounded.
However, even with the stability, I struggled with burnout and imposter syndrome. The creative industry can be demanding, and I often felt the pressure of always needing to be “on” and producing new, innovative ideas. It’s exhausting, and after about a year and a half, both my employer and I realized that I was burning out. I was missing the freedom that freelancing gave me—the ability to control my own time and projects. So, after a lot of reflection, I decided it was best to go back to working for myself, where I could set my own pace and be more intentional with the clients and projects I took on. It’s been a challenging journey, but those ups and downs have really shaped who I am and how I approach my work now.
Finally, social media. Many can relate to my love/hate relationship with Instagram. From having to keep up and post consistently to comparing myself to so many talented and successful designers, there are so many things about it that are challenging!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Eliza Design Studio offers comprehensive branding and web design services, focusing on every touchpoint that shapes a brand’s presence. What sets my work apart is the equal balance of beauty and utility. I believe that great design isn’t just about looking good; it needs to be functional and meaningful, too. My design ethos is rooted in taste, not trends. I create branding and websites that stand the test of time—maintaining their beauty and relevance even as trends shift and my clients’ brands evolve.
What I’m most proud of is the intentionality I bring to each project. I don’t use premade logos or generic templates because I believe that good branding is contextual. It’s not one-size-fits-all—it has to have a story, a point of view, and it needs to reflect the founder’s vision while also resonating with a very specific audience. To me, branding is about creating a strong sense of identity that not only stands out in a crowded market but also feels deeply personal and connected to the brand’s purpose.
I’ve always been drawn to classic, sophisticated designs, but I like to add a touch of whimsy and flair to keep things interesting. I love working with clients that appreciate elegance and timelessness, but also aren’t afraid to show a bit of personality. My goal is to craft identities that are visually stunning, highly functional, and truly reflective of the founder’s vision, all while helping my clients carve out a unique space in their industry.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
when I first started out, I watched a lot of videos, listened to Podcasts, and took classes from The Futur and Michael Janda – both whom are industry leaders. Hoodzpah is another great agency that offers a lot of content. Working on my mindset with meditation and journaling, and I use an app called Aura that offers a ton of great meditations.
Pricing:
- Branding: 2k-10k
- Web design + development: 2k-10k
Contact Info:
- Website: https://elizadesignstudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizadesignstudio/
