Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley McCaskill.
Hi Ashley, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Art History and thought I would likely go into some type of museum work. Having been a dedicated “art kid” all of my life, I knew I would be most fulfilled in a creative community and field. After am internship in New York City, family brought me home to Kansas where I believed I would be temporarily. I found work at a local bank and had the most fantastic boss, who was genuinely interested in helping me find happiness in my work when it was very clear working at a bank wasn’t for me. She encouraged me to tap into my creative skills by doing design work for the branches at the bank for promotions and events, and suggested I consider going back to school for Graphic Design. I went back to school, worked multiple internships, landed work at a local marketing firm, all while slowly building up a client base that really begun with donating my time to local non-profits that I valued. I decided to take the leap into working full-time on my business with my clients in 2016. The pandemic brought my office from downtown Lawrence back into my home and I am able to enjoy collaborating with clients and creating brands and all types of graphic design communication tools while spending the day with my dogs.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Certainly there are challenges in running your own business. I’ve had all types of clients with a huge range of expectations and have learned so much along the way about how to better serve my clients and my business, sanity, and home life. The Covid-19 Pandemic was a very challenging time for most of us, I was very fortunate that my husband remained employed and that I had clients that served crucial roles in the community during that time and needed ongoing support to communicate with those whom they served. Overall I have been extremely fortunate in my business and clients. I would attribute that to having a very supportive community, friends, and family, trying to maintain an approach of problem-solving versus doom or disaster-avoidance, and investing in projects and people that I truly believe in.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Ashley McCaskill Creative is a creative agency focused on strategy, design and clarity. Our mission is to develop brands and visuals that are bold, powerful and unforgettable. I partner collaboratively with clients to bring clarity and intention to their brand. Through open communication and intentional understanding, I create thoughtful graphic design and marketing solutions—from visual identities and brand collateral to digital assets and campaign materials—that not only look great but truly connect with the right audience. By focusing on purposeful design and strategic storytelling, I help brands stand out with bold, authentic visuals that drive meaningful engagement and lasting impact. I am proud to be very timely, consistent, and reliable with all of my clients in a sometimes chaotic field. I am most proud of the relationships I build with my clients in order to truly understand their underlying intentions and values. I believe the result is design and brands that connect in honest and meaningful ways.
Clients include: Mass St. Fish House & Raw Bar, Fresh Cut Smoothies, Just Food (Douglas County Food Insecurity Non-Profit), The Willow Domestic Violence Center, The Lawrence Arts Center, The Spencer Museum of Art, the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, The University of Kansas, and many more.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Listening and reliability. When I first got started I felt so much pressure to stay up to date with the latest trends and fell into the trap of comparing myself to other designers and fearing that if my work wasn’t “the best” I wouldn’t succeed. Great work is of course a huge element of the value you provide, but what I’ve learned is that it doesn’t come from the outside nearly as much as it does from the inspiration I get from my clients when I truly take the time to understand their values, goals, and vision. Design can be very skilled and cutting-edge but if it isn’t in harmony with the message it’s meant to convey then it is probably good art, but not good design. Through fully dedicating myself to listening to my clients I find that I find a ton of inspiration and start from a place that is grounded in a successful end result.
As for reliability, I am certain is has directly contributed to my success. I’ve heard from so many clients over the years how meaningful it is to them that I am organized, on-time, and very up-front about project timelines and budgets. I think for some people in the “freelance world” it can feel pushy or too direct to have clear expectations for both clients and ourselves as the service providers. But 99% of the time I find that it is reassuring to the companies and folks with whom I work, and results in a clear plan to meet their goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ashleymccaskillcreative.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleymccaskill_creative/
