Meet Olivia Su | Brand and Web Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Olivia Su and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Olivia, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Growing up, I never dreamed of starting my own business. I was raised in the Bay Area, where getting into a top university and working for a big company seemed to be THE goal for everyone around me.

In college, when I decided to pursue a degree in Graphic Design instead of majoring in Computer Science, I knew that I wanted to work in a job where there was creative flexibility. I hated working in a 9 to 5 schedule because being stuck in an office setting, sitting for hours on end, working on designs in a corporate setting wasn’t compatible with my creative process. I knew that I didn’t want to be tied down to a 9 to 5 or spend my life hustling for someone else.

When I first started my business, I mainly identified as a freelancer, taking on whatever gigs came my way and leading with my portfolio instead of my point of view. However, I was tired of chasing shiny objects and decided it was time to hunker down, focus on my brand and get to work.

Last August, I pivoted from freelancer operating under my own name to starting a brand and web design studio – Zig Zag Creative! It was created out of a need to splash the world with more bold and colorful branding in a swamp of sameness. But more than that, I started Zig Zag to help overlooked biz owners embrace their uniqueness and become the no-brainer choice instead of following trends and feeling lost.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a brand and web designer for mission-driven founders! I work mainly with service providers who are open-minded, fun, and desire to leave the world better than they found it.

What sets me apart from other designers in my industry is my passion for creating strategic websites that are not just playful, but designed to convert. I’m passionate about getting genuine results for my clients by helping them increase their website traffic and conversions, while building a digital presence that is unique to them!

I also place a big emphasis on brand strategy in my creative process. I believe that good branding isn’t just visuals, it’s about digging deep, creating a strong emotional connection with your audience, and amplifying your story + personality so you can show up doing what you love + attracting your target audience.

Getting to where I am today took a lot of support from other entrepreneurs and taking messy action to find out what is or isn’t working. I’ve learned SO much from design mentors and business coaches who have helped me refine my offer ecosystem, map out my pricing, and teach me to speak to my audience in a clear and simple way. I’ve also invested in support from copywriters who helped me write my website and sales pages, allowing me to show up more confidently in my business.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting, I would show them around San Francisco, which is one of the most well-known spots in the Bay Area! I would start by taking them across the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin Headlands. We would drive to a beautiful lookout spot in the hills that overlooks the bridge, the ocean, and the city. If we have time, I would take them on a short hike around the area where we can spend some time with nature. Afterwards, I would take them to eat lunch in Chinatown, and then we would hit up other tourist areas such as the Palace of Fine Arts, Ghirardelli Square, Lombard Street, Fisherman’s Wharf, etc! We would definitely stop for milk tea at Boba Guys or find a delicious matcha spot in the city as well!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to shoutout my best friend Joyce. We met in middle school and bonded over our mutual interests of photography! Despite going to different high schools, living in different cities, and going to college in separate states, we somehow stayed close friends throughout it all. After graduating from university, Joyce and I both decided to pursue creative paths and start our own businesses! Joyce has been a huge encouragement and supporter as I embarked on my entrepreneurial journey, and I’m so glad to have someone to bounce ideas off of, co-work with, and dream with!

Website: https://www.zigzagcreative.co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zigzagcreative.co

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-su-40b056182/

Image Credits
Coba Photography