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

Hi Golsa, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When I started my own business last year, no where I was ready to do so.
I always knew eventually in the design world I would be having my own firm, but I thought I would start the process tow years from now.

After graduation, even though I had some pressure from my family to start my own firm, I did not have any experience to do so, and I must also add, I moved here from Iran when I turned 18, so I couldn’t even turn to my dad or any family member for help, as they had not the experience in the United States.

I started working in different firms, learning what to do and what not do. The last firm I worked at, after 13 months, they let me go, after series of long job applications and job interviews, and rejections, I knew I had to put more energy into self marketing.

I posted on social media daily, saying the services I give. I would go out and introduce myself as working self employed, and willing to take projects. I would talk with confidence and praise the projects I worked on at the old firms, even though inside I was scared to my bones, with a ticking clock of running out of money. Then I printed series of business cards, I would and still take them with me everywhere. Concerts, restaurants, a normal outing.

Another place I put my time and energy on was LinkedIn as a focus for my main platform. Getting connections, followers, meeting new people. Many times you can find engineers and contractors and they can be your marketing platform. Introduce you to someone who needs your service.

What should our readers know about your business?
My art is when I envision a space for people to enjoy. Although I’m a painter and artist too, I have not made a sell in that genre yet.
However it’s not something I’m giving up on. In mid April I visited New york for the first time, and while walking in Moma, the first room I entered, I came across a painting that is similar to what I have done in 2022.

Professionally as a designer it was not easy getting where I am today. From sleepless nights in school, to later on working in firms, learning the ropes. As an architect designer I was overlooked alot, by clients, by contractors. I worked in an office that out of 8 people only 2 of us where girls, clients/developers who worked with the office before my arrival would ask the owner what I do there. Contractors would not talk to me, instead treated me like an assistant on the site. I then moved to a bigger firm with 20+ people and then everyone where ranked from senior to Junior, and thats when more problems started. It was a toxic environment and taught me alot of not to do at a work place. Where as at the first firm I worked at, I learned alot of do’s. Mostly in how to operate a business.

Anyways, I parted ways with the last firm on January 2024. It wasn’t an easy time for me. But I focused more on advertising, marketing, constantly posting about myself, my services. And finally on September 2024 I was approached by my first client, but they wanted to wait before starting the project. I signed their project in October 2024. Now I have one finished job that was a bathroom remodeling. couple of ADU’s coming along, another project in Anaheim, and potential ones in the near future.

It was not easy getting here. When you don’t have much money to work with, creating a website and self marketing can be really hard. Mostly our job is word of mouth. You do work for one person, and if you do a good job, they tell others.

Along the way I learned as much as you want to bring your own vision, you have to remember the client gets the last say.
Listening to them is important. You cannot deliver a bohemian design to a client whose asking for modern, hoping you can change their mind just because you don’t like that vision. The goal is to take the idea and make it your own. I was overworked on a project at my last firm because the client requested one thing, and the owner of our company, kept ignoring my notes, ending up many redesigns, long hour works, and our senior designer saying, “there is no way to change their mind, these people want this design.”

Now with the clients I have at the moment, I make sure I double check so that they’re happy with the design process. Changing things on paper is much easier than changing once its built or its halfway built.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The first visit has to be to the santa monica pier, a walk on the pier and then dining at the watergrill. That is my go to place. Next stop would be to my favorite beach in Malibu. Drinking at Nobu. A visit to the Grove is another must, unless they’re coming from Europe, then to them would be a funny facade. Rodeo 208 is one of my favorite to go restaurants that would be the next destination when visiting Rodeo Dr.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It’s so important to surround yourself with people who are good for your mental health. With all the ups and downs I had with my parents, still comparing them to other peoples parents I know, I will not trade them.
They criticized my choice of choosing art and design, and my dad was waiting for me to do one year in college and say “I made a mistake.” But it turned out differently; He confessed he made a mistake of not believing in my choice. Also my sister, I could say my dream is to fly and she would say she know I can grow wings tomorrow.
I look like I’m a social girl, but actually my circle is very small. The biggest shoutout I can give is the luck if finding my bestie in Los Angeles after series of bad friendships. Hanna Shebar, we met during our party days while clubbing. During covid, Hanna started writing her first novel, and when we re-connected in 2021 after a couple of years, she kept pushing me and persuading me to show my art, talk more about my work, get clients. And every little achievement I made, she would celebrate the loudest. Ofcourse I do the same for her two.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g0lsart/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/golsa-sadreameli-2309b1b7/

Other: https://issuu.com/golsadesign/docs/design_portfolio

Image Credits
All photos and work are original by me.

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