Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Colleen Eakins of Midtown

Colleen Eakins shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Colleen, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: Would YOU hire you? Why or why not?
Yes, most definitely! I often wish I could clone myself and had a team of me’s to get work done. I feel that some of my strongest points are that I am organized, creative, and highly motivated to get the work done. I meet deadlines on time and when I am unclear about something, I don’t mind asking questions to get clarification. Sometimes I have more work than I can handle on my own and while I would love to hire a clone of myself to pick up the slack, I must rely on others to step in and lend a hand. I’ve had some amazing contractors that I have worked with, but there have been a few that required a little more hand-holding to complete the task.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Colleen Eakins, founder and principal designer at Colleen Eakins Design, a creative studio where strategy meets style. I’m a graphic designer, art director, and creative problem solver with over 20 years of experience helping businesses bring their brands to life in meaningful, visually compelling ways.

At my core, I believe design should do more than look good—it should work. One thing I always say is, “Anyone can make a pretty picture, but is it effective? If it doesn’t make your customer commit the action you want, it’s worthless.” That philosophy is at the heart of everything I create, from logos and visual identities to digital campaigns, packaging, and print collateral.

What makes my work and brand unique is the way I approach design from both a creative and business mindset. I hold an MBA in marketing, which gives me a solid foundation for understanding not just how a brand looks—but how it communicates, converts, and grows. I work with everyone from solopreneurs launching their first business to established companies needing high-quality creative support they can count on.

Right now, I’m continuing to partner with brands across various industries, while also expanding my services into more integrated marketing support and consulting. I’m especially excited about projects that involve full brand storytelling—where I can help shape not just the visuals, but the message and experience that surround them.

My goal is always to help clients cut through the noise, feel confident in their brand, and show up consistently and effectively wherever their audience is. If you’re looking for design that’s not just pretty—but purposeful—you’re in the right place.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I truly believed that I could do anything I put my mind to. It was something I heard often—and I embraced it fully. I thought that with enough determination, time, and hard work, there wasn’t anything I couldn’t accomplish.

But as I grew older, I realized that wasn’t entirely true. No matter how much I practiced, I was never going to be the fastest runner. I gave it everything I had, but my body just wasn’t built for speed. And despite all the hours I spent in tutoring, I came to accept that math just isn’t where I shine. I simply don’t process numbers in the same way others might.

That realization was humbling, but also freeing. It helped me recognize that while I may not be able to do everything, I can still do a lot—especially when I focus on my strengths. And that’s where I’ve found success: by leaning into my creativity, communication, and problem-solving skills, and building a career around what I am naturally great at.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me resilience in a way that success never could.

My college years were incredibly tough—I was the classic broke college student, working multiple jobs while attending school full-time. It was a constant hustle just to keep my head above water. And even after graduation, things didn’t magically get easier. The early years of my career were marked by struggle, instability, and trying to prove myself while simply trying to make ends meet.

But I never let that stop me. If anything, those experiences made me work even harder. I developed grit, perseverance, and the ability to keep going even when things felt uncertain. That resilience became one of my greatest strengths.

Years later, when I decided to take the leap and go full-time in my own business, I found myself back in that same struggle mode—but this time, I wasn’t afraid of it. I had been there before. I knew what it felt like to push through hard times and come out stronger on the other side.

Today, my business is thriving. Life is much more stable, and I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve built. But I carry that resilience with me—it’s the quiet strength that keeps me grounded and reminds me I can overcome anything, because I already have.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes—absolutely. What you see is what you get. The public version of me is genuinely who I am. I show up in every space—personal, professional, online, and off—as the same person: strong, kind, empathetic, and, according to some people, even a little funny.

I do enjoy cracking a joke here and there, especially to lighten the mood or connect with others. Someone once told me I should try stand-up comedy, but I think I’ll stick to design for now! Still, I take it as a compliment—because I believe in bringing authenticity, warmth, and a bit of joy into everything I do.

At the end of the day, I don’t believe in putting on a persona. I’m proud of who I am, and I believe that staying true to yourself is not only freeing—it’s what builds the strongest connections, both in life and in business.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’m definitely doing what I was born to do.

Growing up, I always heard the phrase, “If you do something you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.” That stuck with me. I was always the artsy, crafty kid—constantly drawing, creating, and making things with my hands. At the same time, I had a real interest in computers and technology. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was already being pulled in the direction of graphic design.

When I eventually stumbled upon graphic design as a career option, it felt like the perfect match. It combined two things I genuinely loved: creativity and technology. It didn’t feel forced or like something someone told me I should do—it felt like something I was meant to do.

Over the years, that sense of alignment hasn’t changed. I feel incredibly lucky to have built a career doing work that lights me up, challenges me, and allows me to help others bring their ideas to life. It’s not always easy—but it never feels like I’m doing something that isn’t mine to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://colleeneakins.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceakinsdesign/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleeneakins/
• Twitter: https://x.com/CEakinsDesign
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CEakinsDesign
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/colleen-eakins-design-atlanta?osq=colleeneakins+design&override_cta=Ask+for+information
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CEakinsDesign