Meet Nat Alves | Graphic Designer & Founder of Nat Marie Design

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

Hi Nat, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I have had the opportunity to work in a lot of different design environments and while I am thankful for all those experiences, I couldn’t shake the feeling that if I were in charge I would take a completely different approach. What it comes down to is how people are treated and how they collaborate. I feel like there is such a great opportunity for creatives and business owners to work together and create something truly amazing for their brands. From my experiences, I didn’t always feel like we were on the same team. My job is to take your vision and bring it to life. To think outside the box and create memorable impressions that make your dream as a business come true. Being a designer in a lot of ways means being selfless. I want to do right by others and know that my work is going to speak for itself and let me grow. Working for myself, I am able to build new friendships. I am able to push boundaries and experiment with creative ideas. I feel right about the way I work with people and the core of my business is helping others.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My true love is brand building. This can mean many things but overall I want to be a part of what gives a business a unique edge, its own voice. I like to approach the brand as more than just the logo but all the visual elements that work together. I also love working with businesses long-term to help them grow and have really strong marketing.

I think what sets me apart is that I am a bit of a dreamer. While working with clients, I strive to create something different. How can we collaborate together to do something eye-catching and thoughtful? I combine strategic marketing and graphic design skills to think outside the box. I want their work to stand out and to give them more than they asked for. I am also a people person. Building these relationships is so special to me.

Getting to where I am today was not easy, nothing great in life ever is. Ever since I was a kid I felt this call to entrepreneurship. For a long time, I freelanced on the side while working a full-time job. I worked a lot but I was afraid of the inconsistency of being 100% on my own. While working my corporate job, my entire department was laid off. I decided to go all in on my own business. I had to learn to get over my self-doubt and believe in myself. Even today, I am still a very small business but I am so much happier. I just have to believe that if I do great work and treat people well, then I will continue to grow.

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?
I love hiking and being outside. I would definitely start with a beautiful hike in the morning. I live in San Antonio and just north of the city in the Hill Country, there are a ton of beautiful places to go.

One of my favorite places to go hang out for the afternoon is at The Pearl. They have several perfect places for lunch and a drink. On the weekends they also have farmer’s markets and I love supporting local businesses. After that, I love to show people the Japanese Tea Gardens nearby. It is incredible!

To end the day, we would go to the Riverwalk downtown and eat at a restaurant right along the river. Then we would walk through the Riverwalk and grab a margarita and explore. The Riverwalk runs through the entire city and it is absolutely beautiful.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Of course, I have to start by giving my husband, Zach, and my family (especially my dad) a shoutout for all their love and support. I also want to thank Victoria Akkari (www.victoriaakkari.com) for getting me connected with Shoutout Arizona to make this article possible. I am so thankful for all of the businesses I have been able to partner with and design for. My alumni, The University of Cincinnati DAAP deserve recognition for having such an excellent design program. One company that I look to as a mentor is Hoodzpah Design, they wrote an incredible book that taught me so much about starting your own design company. I also want to thank Mimi Rasor (gorasor.com) for being the woman I call when I need help or encouragement!

Website: https://www.natmariedesign.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-alves-503551138/

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

Other: https://www.pinterest.com/natmariealves/natmariedesigncom/