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

Hi carolane, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
For me, it wasn’t just about starting a business — it was about reclaiming my life. After graduating, I worked for five years as a graphic designer in a large corporate footwear company. Even during that time, I was taking on personal projects on the side, because that’s where my creativity felt most alive.

Over time, I felt my inner fire slowly fading. The corporate world demanded 100% creativity every single day, but offered no space for the human behind it. I was seen as a resource, not a person. During the pandemic, I experienced a professional burnout — a clear message from my body that something was deeply out of alignment.

I returned to work for one more year, but I could feel myself dimming again. I knew I had to choose differently. I saved up a year’s salary and made the leap into the unknown to launch carolanebel studio, a space where I could honor my rhythm, my energy, and my true creative voice.

Now, I work differently — better, slower, more intentionally — with clients and projects that feel aligned. I organize my days based on how I feel, how the weather moves me, and when inspiration naturally flows. From the outside, it might not look “productive,” but creativity doesn’t show up on demand — it arrives when you make space for it.

In leaving the corporate world, I chose to put the human being — myself and others — at the center of my work, not profit. And in doing so, I feel like I finally got my life back.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My work lives at the intersection of softness and clarity.
As a multidisciplinary visual artist and designer, I create with the intention to reveal — not to overwhelm. Whether it’s an identity, an illustration, or a composition, my approach is intuitive, minimal, and emotionally grounded. I’m drawn to honest visuals, organic shapes, quiet rhythm, and textures that feel alive.

What sets my work apart is the feeling behind it. I don’t just make visuals — I translate energie into visual language. My goal is always to create space for meaning, for depth, and for resonance.

I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve built a studio where I can honor both my creative rhythm and my human needs. It hasn’t been easy — there have been doubts, financial pressure, and a lot of unlearning — but I’ve learned to trust that alignment is more important than speed. I’ve learned that slowness can be a strength, and that beauty comes when we stop forcing and start listening.

What I want the world to know is this: my work is a reflection of who I am — sensitive, thoughtful, and deeply intentional.
I don’t create for trends. I create for truth.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There’s one person who comes to mind immediately — my dear friend Camille Scheemaecker.

She may not even realize the impact she had on me, but watching her create and grow her own design studio a few years ago planted a powerful seed in me. Her success showed me that I could do it too — that all I needed was to believe in myself.

Camille was a quiet mentor in the early stages of building my business. She generously shared resources, guidance, and insight — from the administrative structure to the day-to-day reality of running a studio. But what moved me the most was how she approaches her work: with clarity, softness, and deep self-respect. Her way of navigating challenges, setting boundaries, and putting herself first — especially that part — truly inspired me.

She reminded me that creating from a place of wholeness is not only possible, but necessary.

Website: https://carolanebel.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolane-b%C3%A9langer-14911a9b/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolanebelstudio

Image Credits
@carolanebel

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.