HEY, I'M MADZ

What is your creative Journey?

Creativity and I have never moved in a straight line. From a very early age, I’ve always enjoyed bouncing from one creative medium to the next. Writing to photography. Singing to dancing. Sewing to printmaking. Branding to web design and so on. I found graphic design in high school, by way of a scrapbooking hobby I somehow turned into a summer job. Since then, I’ve loved turning my creative passions into businesses, and helping other female entrepreneurs do the same through branding & creative web design. My path tends to zig-zag, and I’ve learned to embrace the magic of not knowing where it will take me next.

What are Your future business plans?

Right now, I’m having a lot of fun focusing on the education side of things–building a YouTube channel for other female Webflow designers that wonder how they can make this tool work for them & their clients. So much of Webflow felt over my head when I first started, so I want to uncomplicate the learning process and show just how powerful these tools can be for anyone who wants to learn, regardless of their background. Additionally, I’m focusing on launching new website offers that are more accessible for early-stage entrepreneurs who have outgrown the ‘DIY template’ phase of their business but still want to keep things flexible & simplified.

What piece of advice would you offer creatives entering the field?

To learn as much as you possibly can about the things that excite you, but always run it through your own filter. Take what resonates, leave what doesn’t. We are all so wonderfully unique, so don’t get caught in a trap of following someone else’s blueprint to a T just because they’ve found success. Trust your gut and realize that if you’re wanting to do something a bit differently, there’s probably a reason. You aren’t here to do it exactly like someone else.

How do balance your personal and professional life?

I balance them by not trying to separate the personal & professional, but instead creating a life & business where they feel in harmony with one another. The 2 hours I spend on a Monday morning surfing, journaling, & listening to a podcast are just as important to the success of my business as the hours I spend in Webflow or in my inbox. It’s all connected. So I try to treat my personal goals & routines with the same importance as my professional ones.

How do you think you stand apart from other creatives?

Over the years, I’ve learned that I love to straddle the line between right brain & left brain in my work. While I love creating unique & dynamic brand visuals, I can’t help but think 5 steps ahead and wonder how it will actually be used/edited/implemented in their day-to-day business. I think that’s why building websites has felt like such a natural fit for me, because it allows me to flex both sides of my brain. Yes, I’m helping a client express themselves through brand design, but I’m also building them a flexible & strategic system on the back end that can help them run their business better & hopefully free up time to focus on the areas they truly want.

Can you share some lessons you've learned through your creative career?

Well, as an avid journaler, I’ve got endless pages of lessons this career has taught me at the ready. But one lesson I feel like I’m re-learning right now is the illusion of perfection & the importance of taking messy action. The fears that often hold me back from launching the idea, sharing my perspective, doing something differently, etc. are never as scary or as real as I think they are. Instead, acknowledging them & choosing to face them head-on (even if that results in failure) is the only way to build confidence and truly grow as a creative. Or just as a human. The messy action will always be more beneficial for me than staying stuck in the same place waiting for the perfect moment.

How does tools like Webflow and Figma help your business process?

Webflow and Figma have changed the game for me as a web designer. They gave me the freedom to break free of limiting tools like Squarespace, Showit, etc. and actually build things the way I want them. I can do so much more on my own as a solo business owner than I ever thought I could because of these tools.