Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Jordan.
Hi Ashley, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have always had a passion for art and creating things. I always loved to draw when I was younger. I had sketchbooks full of drawings. I could look at any picture and draw it or draw freehanded. It was my plan when I grew up to be a cartoonist! Life definitely took me in a different direction. I started working in healthcare in 2007 and still am now. A few years back, I got back into “my art”. My mind was filled with ideas that I thought would look good on a shirt. I started a t-shirt brand in 2018 called UNCXMMXN. With this brand, I wanted to take away the notion that you have to follow the crowd to be “cool”. (It was definitely a message for myself first!) I always did my own designing and promoting for my brand. In 2021, I started doing logos and flyers for my sister’s business which I found that I actually liked doing.
I started studying little ins and outs of design and following other designers and learning all I could. She would always tag me when posting any work that I had done for her and I was a little surprised at the amazing response that I got! People began contacting me to do graphic work for their businesses. At the early part of 2022, I decided to go full force with my graphic designing business and Ash Kash Creative Designs LLC was formed! I have designed logos, flyers, business/thank you cards, signs, banners, t-shirt designs for numerous businesses, brands and organizations and have even began to learn website design. One of my main focuses has been small business owners which is why I offer clean graphics at affordable prices. My goal is to help and my passion is to create. This is how my graphics business was born.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the biggest obstacles I have faced has been myself. I am very shy and more of a behind-the-scenes kind of person. This journey has taken me out of my comfort zone. Interacting with people I have never met on a daily basis is different for me. I also wondered if my work would be good enough or if people would like it. Once I started believing in myself, everything fell into place. I have received an amazing response! It has definitely been a learning experience from day one. Once I decided this is what I wanted to do, I committed to learning, making sure I had the equipment and software I needed and haven’t looked back since. It’s my goal to make designing my full-time job!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am most proud of being a mother. I have a daughter who is a senior in high school and getting her to this point makes me more proud than anything! I’m excited to see her next chapter unfold. Professionally, I work in healthcare. Although that is my “9-5”, it’s not who I am. I am also a musician. I’ve been playing since 1999! I play keyboard for a church, several ministries, a quartet group, funeral home and any churches or organizations around the community that may need me to fill in. It definitely keeps me busy. I also started a clothing brand in 2018 called UNCXMMXN MMXVIII (Uncommon 2018) Apparel. The whole purpose of this brand is to promote individuality. Many times we get caught up in trying to be like everyone else that we begin to lose ourselves. There is nothing wrong with following your own path. X out your fear of being different and stand out on purpose!! You can read more about and shop the brand at uncommonvybz.com. These are probably the two things most people know me for!
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
When taking risks, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons. Does the good outweigh the bad? Some situations, you can start small, take baby steps in a sense. Then there are situations where you dive in head first and hope for the best! With any risk, there is always a chance for failure. I think the most important thing is if you do fail, don’t stop there. Get up and try again. I was scared at first to go public as a “designer” because I didn’t know if people would like my designs. I took a chance and put myself out there to be “loved or hated”. I have never considered myself a risk taker. I always liked to play it safe and stay in the background but I put in the work to learn, bought the equipment/software and went for it and it has really paid off. I think back to all of the small businesses I have helped get started, the brands I have helped to develop and the organizations I have helped promote and I realize that none of that would have happened had I been too afraid to step out and start my graphics business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.uncommonvybz.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashkashcreativedesigns
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashkashcreativedesigns
