Today we’d like to introduce you to Evelyn Frei.
Evelyn, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
After I got introduced to Canva when I was in 5th grade, or 11 years old, I just fell in love. I ended up using it for everything from presentations to posters, or just any excuse I could find. At some point, word spread and a teacher got in touch with me to design my 8th grade graduation invitations, which would get sent to all the 8th grade families. I was ecstatic! This moment right here, was the start of a journey that got me to where I am today!
When I went into high school, I felt like a nobody until the end of freshman year when I helped design the grade’s class color t shirts. Suddenly people knew my name from something I made and by the end of my sophomore year, I was designing the junior year shirts too!
Then I joined DECA, a student organization and competition that prepares high school students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management, and for the first time I was a part of a real community. I was awarded as an overall state finalist that year and fell in love with the strategy and the creativity of marketing. By my senior year, I became the VP of Marketing for my DECA Chapter, and I made posters and merch to promote membership, resulting in an increase of almost 68%! My peers would actually stop me in the hallways to tell me how my posters were awesome and some teachers started to ask me to decorate their classrooms. I continued to fold in some of my skills with my DECA project, developing hypothetical marketing ads, and app mockups, and that year I became a Michigan DECA State Champion.
That’s when I knew I wanted to keep doing this after high school.
When I got into the University of Michigan to study Business Administration, my design work slowed down. After realizing that I was letting go of my passion, I had the idea for Designed by Ev, but I was afraid that my work wasn’t as good as I always thought it was. However, one day I let go of that fear and posted my logo and all my friends and peers from my community showed up with praise and encouragement that pushed me forward.
This summer, I started making content to build my marketing skills and as a way to keep designing and connect with a community again.
Looking forward, I want to use everything I’m building with Designed by Ev to show the world who I am and to help build a community where people don’t have to be afraid to express themselves. Designed by Ev is my heart, and it truly will never stop beating.
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?
I strongly believe that getting where you dream of being will never be a smooth road. I had my bumps while I was a kid because I was very shy and struggled socially in school. When I got into design, I was able to discover an outlet I could show people without having to show all of me at once.
When my parents got divorced back when I was just getting into high school, I lot a lot of my friends during the move. However, when I was able to join organizations, and design t-shirts for my grade, connecting with others became easier. I was able to break out of my mold while also being supported through my work. This opened a door of possibilities for me and got me to where I am today, and because of this outlet I created for myself I was able to build a community along the way.
So, while it took some time, and overcoming some challenges too, all of it has made me who I am and who I want to be for my community with Designed by Ev.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a self-taught designer in graphic design, with an emphasis in marketing, I love to do work with branding, social media content, and promotional design, with a little bit of experimenting with merch design. A lot of this skill, though, came from years of experience and research, along with a drive to learn! And while I am still a small designer, I am known in my communities for my work that feels personal and approachable. Whether it was posters for my DECA Chapter or content I make now, people tend to say my work feels real rather than like a template.
Out of all of the work I have made over the years, my favorite by far is the posters I designed as the VP of Marketing for my DECA chapter, which helped boost the organization’s membership. This chapter means a lot to me, and I really wanted to show others how much it means to all of us as a community. The posters I created showed the energy and the excitement of students who won as state champions from our school and those genuine reactions really helped push the chapter forward, and I really have never felt prouder of that work.
I feel like what sets me apart is this: I don’t come from a design school background, nor am I studying design in college, I simply taught myself design from 5th grade with Canva, and everything I know comes from real projects like school events, DECA, school merch, and graduation invitations. I think that gives my work a honesty to it, showing others that I am not trying to impress others, I am designing to connect with people.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I have two big credits to shout out to two, amazing people.
One of for my mom, and my biggest supporter. My mom has always, and I mean always, pushed me to be the best version of myself and has never once doubted that I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’ve had countless moments where I lost hope in myself and my ability to be a successful person, and in those countless moments, my mom has given me the encouragement, strength, and grounding, to get me back up again. She is truly amazing, and I love her to death!
The second shout out goes to Mrs. Jennifer Milke, my high school marketing teacher and DECA Advisor who pushed me, encouraged me, and supported me through my work in DECA, which would then lead me to dreaming about studying marketing and tying in design along with it. Without her help, I wouldn’t have known what I wanted to do as a career for the rest of my life, and I own that all to her.
Thank you, to my mother and advisor to everything you both have helped me accomplish. I couldn’t have done with without you both!
With lots of love,
Ev
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedby.ev
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evelynfrei/
- Other: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfeSx-yjZMDnkBDZiBXj3WP5GLBBwYfTQBslU3_RNX8dVtueA/viewform
