Today we’d like to introduce you to Kiersten (Kiki) Bakowski.
Hi Kiersten (Kiki), can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Buffalo NY, raised by a single mom who is creative with hair, cooking, fashion, and hosting parties. She always encouraged me to travel and get the most out of life.
In high school, I thought basketball was my future because I loved it so much and one year when I didn’t make the team, I walked down an alternate path which was my art. The art room was my new hangout and I took AP art twice for both my junior year and senior year so that I could get college credit.
I was accepted to Pratt in Brooklyn and decided I didn’t want to be a starving artist so I switched my major from painting to Graphic Design. When I graduated in 2011, the economy wasn’t amazing, and it was hard for a lot of freshly graduating college students to find good, full-time positions.
One day, my friend said to me, “I’m moving to L.A. in 5 months to become an actress, do you want to go with me?”
Nothing special was happening in my life at that point and time and I always wanted to live near the beach. I decided that would be my next move and I would move home, work two jobs, and save to go to California.
We drove cross-country in my little fiat and had made it to L.A. in one piece.
I got a job at Mattel as a junior designer and I was ecstatic, and then. Mattel went through some changes and I left to work at Urban Decay. Both experiences were incredible and I learned so much but coming from a hard-working, independent family full of business owners, I felt that I wanted to work for myself as well.
I started my business on the side in 2017 and was fully able to leave my 9-5 a year later to work for myself and travel around with my fiance.
Freedom meant everything to me, not the money.
It’s now 2021 and it’s been my busiest year yet! I’m blessed that my business was able to blossom and after I get married this month, I’m going to be shifting my business model a bit to more digital; products and potentially NFT’s.
Hi! I’m Kiki the founder of EyeSavvy Design. I believe in helping my clients grow their business by providing them with a strong visual brand foundation so that all design remains consistent throughout. My diverse background in all aspects of the creative process brings a unique and fun edge to everything I produce. From research and brainstorming to production, I enjoy the journey of bringing brands to life.
Not interested in branding? Totally cool. I love to hand-draw, design icons, paint, create logos, design business cards… etc. the list goes on! Get in touch with me and we’ll make it happen.
I’m an award-winning artist and designer from Buffalo N.Y. As a talented and trained artist and painter, I attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn where I earned her BFA in Communications Design. After graduating at the top of her class, I drove my little fiat cross-country to the Southern California where I have worked for Mattel, Urban Decay Cosmetics and many other well-known companies.
I have an extensive background in concept design, marketing communication and brand development across all design & marketing platforms. My work is original, innovative and visually attractive.
Today, I’ve launched my own brand design studio, EyeSavvy Design, where I plan to build strong relationships with my clients as well as teach and sell my online courses on branding, art and design.
WHY BRANDING IS SO IMPORTANT
As human beings, we have what is called a “memory bank”. We experience things, hear certain sounds, see different visuals, feel different textures and taste different flavors.
Every time we experience or sense something we like, it creates a memory.
Your brand should stand out to your customers, leaving them with a lasting impression that keeps them coming back for more.
8 CHARACTERISTICS EVERY SUCCESSFUL BRAND MUST HAVE:
1.) A UNIQUE PRODUCT OR SERVICE
What makes your product or service unique, fun, and exciting? You want to build a product or a brand that people will want to keep coming back to because they’ve had such a great experience with it.
2.) A STORY
Customers like the sentimental connection of hearing your story. They like to know the history behind who you are and how your business came to be.
3.) A TARGET MARKET
Knowing your target market is a crucial part of your brand and the marketing involved. Who is your ideal customer? Where do they shop? What do they wear? What are their favorite activities?
4.) AN ONLINE PRESENCE
We live in a digital world and it’s only going to become more advanced each day. You should always have an online presence and constantly be updating it with different SEO (Search Engine Optimization) strategies.
5.) GREAT DESIGN + BRAND CONSISTENCY
Great brand design is more than just a logo; it goes much deeper than that. A brand is a feeling or a memory. It’s how the customer remembers you through visuals, communication, and experience. It’s important to define color palette, style, texture, photography, etc. in the beginning so that everything you create uses the same design formula and will remain consistent.
6.) FANTASTIC CUSTOMER SERVICE
Customer satisfaction is vital. I know that if I experience bad customer service somewhere, I’m 97% positive I’m not going back. Put yourself in the shoes of the customer. What’s the first thing the customer sees when they walk into your store? What do they get excited about? Could there be improvements to help make everyone happier?
7.) THE “WOW” FACTOR
When I say, “wow factor” I mean doing something no one else has done that literally makes the customer shout “WOW!” Surprise them so that they can’t stop talking about how awesome your business is.
8.) CONFIDENCE
Comparison is the fastest way to unhappiness. What matters is your confidence in your business and what YOU believe. Be your genuine self by following your intuition; your “gut” will be your most valuable possession that drives your inspiration and passion. Use it and give yourself the confidence to excel in your brand.
I️ love creating. Period. Even more so, I️ love to provide my clients with unique art and design.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It’s never a smooth road, life is a rollercoaster, there are always ups and downs and challenges. I had to really learn customer service and even though I’m a trained professional with almost 15 years of graphic design experience… I needed to understand that everyone has different tastes, which is why the design industry can be a very tough industry to work in. Most creatives just want to not be bothered and create what they want but it’s important to find a balance with your customers.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I think what makes my work unique is that I had an extensive fine art background before I became a graphic designer. I can design in multiple styles and I like to hand-draw a lot of my logos too.
What I am most proud of changes every year because I am always growing and learning and challenging myself to do something I don’t know how to do.
I think this year, I would really love to understand how “etching” style logos are created.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t know if I believe in luck but I do believe in fate.
My life path was already chosen for me, and when I go through hard times and wonder why certain things are happening to me in my life, I realize that I am meant to go through the hardship to learn and grow.
I have multiple moments of gratitude every day, I know how fortunate I am. I’m fortunate right now to be invited to this interview and everything happens for a reason.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://eyesavvydesign.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eyesavvydesign/
- Other: http://eyesavvydesign.com/cotton-love-studios
Image Credits:
Kiersten Bakowski, EyeSavvy Design
