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

Hi Courtlyn, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?

I love this question! I like to think that art has been a part of me since birth. I remember every day on my walks to school with my mom and sister how I always needed to look at EVERYTHING around me for as long as I could. I had to read every single sign and remember the colors on it, the shape, and the way the letters were written. I did this with cars, people, trees, flowers…you name it. I was obsessive because I knew I needed to draw it as soon as I could. Sometimes I had to wait all day, but regardless, I was always able to draw it. I am the youngest daughter of four who used to walk around our apartment carrying a backpack of my drawings crumpled up inside. In school, I was known by my teachers and classmates as “The Artist.” That was my title and it was always who I knew myself to be. My mom and dad both encouraged my obsession with art. My mom helped me make the most beautiful projects together for school, and it was always the hit of the class, and my dad trained me to be the best artist I could be. Whenever I drew anything, I’d have him review it and help me edit the shadings and proportion. I worked with him a lot when I was preparing to get into the art program for my middle school applications.

My dad passed away when I was 10, a few days before my elementary school graduation. He never got to see me start in the art program for middle school, but he was still with us at least to know that I had been accepted. I promised myself, after he passed, that I would still pursue art because it kept me close to him. It was our bond and I wanted to hold onto it forever. I studied art all throughout my school career, even went to my dad’s alma mater: The Fashion Institute of Technology, studying in the field of graphic design. I traded in my paintbrushes and charcoal pencils for digital design, but fine arts will always be my first love.

Today, I am the founder of The Design Database, the leading online community platform for female and non-binary Creatives (designers, illustrators, painters, photographers, writers, etc.). I still draw for fun or whenever I need to escape to my own place of stillness, but for my creative career, I work as the Creative Director and Designer for my own company. My mission is to help other women in the arts gain more exposure, opportunities for collaboration and community, and be a support system for female Creatives worldwide.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

I am the CEO and founder of The Design Database, and I have just FINALLY relaunched the platform in April 2023 and it is better than ever!

The Design Database is the leading online community and job platform for female and non-binary Creatives who need more visibility and connections so they can build their dream careers. After launching the first version in 2021, I realized that I needed to make improvements to better serve my users.

The first version was a disaster, if I’m being truly honest (or brutal). I was unable to afford or find the right developers or investors, so I took matters into my own hands and learned how to code. This came from me being so damn frustrated and tired of waiting around and fundraising for over a year and a half. Coding is HARD (obviously!), so I learned no-code instead and built the entire platform on my own, which I consider to be a remarkable achievement, especially since I saved $100,000 and learned a new skill. Now I’m able to maintain the website on my own, at least until I can hire my new team.

The Design Database is a platform that connects female and non-binary Creatives with higher-paying clients and brings Creatives together to collaborate and make new friends. Think “Indeed meets Instagram.” The platform is designed to help Creatives find clients that actually value their talent and will pay them their worth. Our jobs are vetted to avoid any “cheap gigs” lowering the value of these extremely talented artists. It also offers a community aspect where Creatives can connect with each other, share their work, and collaborate on projects.

As a Creative myself, I understand the challenges that come with finding the right opportunities. Female Creatives are the most underserved and overlooked community in the creative industry and that’s why I chose to build this as a support system to help women in the arts. I’m sick of the low wages and I’m even more sick of us accepting it because we don’t know our worth. Now we can help one another!

I designed this company to make it easier for female Creatives to find guidance, inspiration, and build connections that will help them advance in their careers. The new version allows Creatives to promote their services, take courses (coming soon), host both virtual and in-person events with us, and be featured on our podcast “Fearless Narratives” to share their stories.

I am proud of what I have achieved with The Design Database. As a Black female entrepreneur, I’ve faced many challenges along the way. I never gave up on my vision, and I am excited to see where The Design Database will go in the future.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

One of my favorite LA events would be the Create & Cultivate LA Conference at the California Market Center so if anyone comes to visit me during that week, I’d definitely take them there. Last year was especially incredible and I got to see Winnie Harlow, Bella Hadid, Olivia Culpo and so many other incredible and fabulous women speak on stage.

As for lunch spots, I would highly recommend the tacos from Mariscos Jalisco food trucks, but if you’re looking for an actual restaurant, I love Tower Bar in West Hollywood. It’s wonderful for breakfast and they have a beautiful outdoor patio that’s wonderful for relaxing or people watching. I always hear there’s so many celebrities that go there, but I’ve never seen any yet. I’m clearly not going at the right time, but that’s probably for the best. No need for me to be fan-girling in public.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

I always credit my dad for encouraging me to pursue art, but my mom deserves this shoutout.

My mom has been my biggest supporter and best friend since Day 1. She’s shown up at every one of my art shows, never held back on her honest feedback when I showed her my portfolio pieces which helped me to get better every time, paid for my art supplies when I couldn’t afford them for school, and most importantly, she always hangs up my artwork to show how proud she is of my talent.

To be honest, after my dad passed away, I almost wanted to quit art entirely because I was mad. I was mad that he died and never got to see me actually start my art career. It was my mom who kept me going and the fact that I wanted both my mom and dad to be proud of me. I’m a Jones girl and as a Jones, we don’t give up. My mom always helped me find new materials and inspiration whenever I was stuck and she’d accompany me to the art stores to pick up whatever I needed to create “my best work.” Not only has she always supported my fine arts, she has also consistently praised me for my writing and inspired me to write my first book, which is something I am working on right now.

So yes, this shoutout is for my mommy. Thank you for everything. I love you very much!

Website: www.thedesigndatabase.net

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thedesigndatabase OR www.instagram.com/courtlyn.jones

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/courtlynjones

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thedsgndatabase

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thedesigndatabase

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