Exploring Life & Business with Eva Smith of Odd Poppy Brand

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eva Smith.  

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I first fell in love with graphic design when I was 15; I took a web design class in high school on a whim because my favorite teacher would be leading the class. I had a really unique opportunity to compete in a website design competition (the MCWT Website Design Competition for Girls) at the time, and (very uncharacteristic of my cautious, introverted ways) I decided to enter. I had never done anything like that before, and I spent a lot of late nights combing through my code and teaching myself Adobe Illustrator. I became really obsessed with the whole design process, and I put so much of myself into the first website I ever built, I actually won an award in the website design competition. 

I competed in the website design competition throughout the rest of high school (winning more awards), and when it came time to pick a college major, the decision was easy. Graphic Design. For the first time in my life, I felt a sense of purpose and passion. I was really able to spread my wings in college because I was surrounded by people who shared my passion and “zest” (as my high school web design teacher would say) for design. Eventually, I got a part-time design job in a marketing team for one of the college departments. I got my hands on so many different types of design while at this job, and I had the BEST manager I’ve ever had to date (Hannah, if you’re reading this, I miss you!). I developed whole brands from scratch, learned social media strategy, I managed a team of interns, the list goes on. This really prepared me for what would eventually be my calling: starting my own brand & website design studio, Odd Poppy Brand Co. 

I started Odd Poppy as the destination for women an LGBTQ+ business owners. At the time of starting my business, there wasn’t a whole lot of representation for people like me in the branding world, and that didn’t sit right with me. So, I did what any bisexual cancerian gal would do, I took matter into my own hands. My philosophy through my work is simple. Good design shouldn’t be gate-kept; that passion is the main ingredient to a successful business, and that (just like Lady Gaga said) whether you’re gay, straight, or bi, you deserve to be treated with the same love and respect as anyone else. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I mean, we had a global pandemic in 2020, so with that alone, I’d say the road hasn’t been smooth. Who starts a business amid massive economic uncertainty? If you’re thinking to yourself, “a crazy person,” then I’d agree. It felt crazy, but at the same time, it was the one thing that made sense to me in a time of “unprecedented” uncertainty. 

Like a lot of designers, I started freelancing while I had a full-time job. There wasn’t a guidebook for freelancing back then (now there is, Freelance and Business and Stuff bu Hoodzpah, highly recommend), so I was figuring it out on my own. I was most definitely undercharging, but as I gained experience and started embracing all of the responsibilities that come along with working for yourself, I got more confident. The line is really blurry for when Odd Poppy became an official thing; I guess it was something I was working toward the whole time I’d been freelancing. 

In retrospect, I’d tell my past self not to wait so long before starting my business. Originally, like when I was in college, I swore I’d never freelance or own my own business because the idea honestly terrified me. It’s a lot of work, but it’s not as scary as you imagine it to be, and the reward more than makes up for any of the downsides. Yeah, I struggle with work/life balance, and not having a co-worker to bounce ideas off of is a bit lonely. But that doesn’t mean that I’ll be alone in my business forever. 

We’ve been impressed with Odd Poppy Brand Co., but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Odd Poppy is a woman-led, independent brand and website design studio creates thoughtful, intentional, and beautifully crafted branding solutions. I primarily focus on brand and website design, but I also collaborate with other creatives to offer other brand-adjacent services, like photography. I really like to defer to other experts whenever I can to get the best possible outcome for my clients; I’d be doing them a disservice if I tried to do it all myself. My clients have really appreciated this approach too. The creative field is saturated with so many overnight experts. Anyone can do a quick Google search for “how to build a brand” or download a brand strategy template, and they’re off to the races. I have 10+ years of experience in my specialties, and I’m really proud of that. Being a formally trained designer gives me an edge. Not every designer has or needs a degree. 

I also do everything with kindness and empathy in mind, first and foremost. Some of the feedback I get most frequently from my clients is how much they appreciate the collaborative process that I’ve created and that I really take the time to listen to them and get to know their business. I don’t just send out a questionnaire and expect my clients to fend for themselves. We work together intimately every step of the way, so I understand them, and they understand the design process. To me, having confidence in their brands and understanding the strategic decisions behind every unique details is the most important outcome to me, not just the brand itself. It’s so much bigger than a logo, fonts, and a color palette. 

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
One of the biggest lessons I took away from the COVID-19 crisis was about how I look at my business and the longevity of it. I like to do a little check-in with myself and ask, “if XYZ disappeared tomorrow, would I still be able to do my job?” If the answer is no, I need to make some changes. I see this a lot, specifically with Canva, a platform that I use and love. But if it disappeared tomorrow, I’d still be able to do my job with little trouble. I’ve seen other businesses who are completely reliant on one or two specific platforms to make a living, and that makes me nervous for them. The same goes for social media. If you are completely reliant on Instagram to market yourself, you could be in hot water the next time the app crashes. 

Pricing:

• Brand Identity Packages starting at $1,500
• Squarespace Site Design & Development starting at $3,600
• Brand Photography starting at $800

Contact Info:

• Website: https://oddpoppybrand.co
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/oddpoppy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/odd-poppy-brand-co/
• Other: https://pinterest.com/oddpoppybrandco 

Image Credits
Alexis Backus
Moyo Studio