We had the good fortune of connecting with Casey Olson Designs and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Casey, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The original reason I wanted to have my own business is because I am a single mom and need a job where I can make my own schedule and be home with my kids when they are home. They are very important to me and my reason for doing many things I do. My very first company was a blog design company I started in 2009 when I was pregnant with my oldest. I immediately fell in love with helping my clients showcase who they are on the custom blogs I designed for them. Seeing them light up when I delivered their new blog design where they could start writing about their lives and being vulnerable with the world was EXTREMELY rewarding. From there I started creating logos and websites for businesses and went back to school to get a degree in Web Design to expand my portfolio. As my capstone project in December of 2017 I launched my current company Casey Olson Designs that offers much more than my Hot Bliggity Blog company. Now I am able to help other entrepreneurs in a variety of ways from simply believing in themselves and their ability to follow their passions to creating their website, logo, company branding, and taking marketing photos that will blow their clients (& future clients) minds. I am now as passionate as ever and am on a mission to help others have the life they want and start believing in themselves and following their dreams like I did.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The art I create that I am the most passionate about is my graphic art and landscape photography that I sell through my company as well. These pieces can be hung in the businesses or people’s homes that want to be inspired. When I share these pieces I often write about believing in yourself and choosing paths in which you can test yourself and grow into someone stronger than before. To get to the place I am at right now professionally it has been something I have worked towards for the past 12 years. Nothing good comes completely easy, but I am grateful for every step and every hurdle since it only has made me stronger as a business owner and creative. I will say it has been easier than most people think it is and I can help pave the way for anyone else who wants to achieve it.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
My favorite spots in the area are mostly the places where I can experience nature and the beauty of Arizona. I love taking people to the Salt River to adventure to find the Salt River Horses and watch the sunset on the river. I take them on my double kayak and float down the river as we marvel at all the horses we see and the clouds as they change from golden hour to blue hour reflecting in the water. Another favorite activity of mine is seeing the moon rise across Saguaro Lake (bonus points if it’s at blue hour). I love doing bonfires out by the Superstition Mountains, watching the city lights come on in the distance, and staying until darkness falls and the Milky Way appears over head. Bonus points if who is with me also loves taking photos because there is nothing more fun to me than capturing beauty with the ones that I love. If they enjoy going into the city I would take them to Downtown Gilbert and be sure to be there for sunset to see the water tower light up as the sky grows darker. There are an insane amount of amazing restaurants right there to walk around to and even a splash pad under the water tower if we get hot. Another favorite place of mine is Roosevelt Row in Downtown Phoenix. I love walking around and seeing all of the street art and taking in Arizona’s rich art culture.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would not have created my first company Hot Bliggity Blog without my best friend and business partner, Alisa, who helped me launch it. She had created companies before and was a graphic designer and always inspired me. I don’t think I would have believed in myself enough to go for it if it hadn’t been for her encouragement. She also was the first person who showed me Photoshop in 2008 and I was immediately mind blown and excited to learn more. Photoshop has been a program I have used every day since then. Now my passion is that I want to be an Alisa for those that were like me and maybe don’t believe they can follow their dreams or just need someone to help show them the way so they can believe in themselves. Once I do that I can create them the graphics & marketing photos to truly start living their dreams.

Website: caseyolsondesigns.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reminiscement/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caseyolsondesigns
Yelp: https://yelp.com/biz/casey-olson-designs-gilbert
Other: https://www.instagram.com/caseyolsondesigns/

Image Credits
The main image of me was taken by Blue Haught. All the other photos and designs featured here were created by me.