Meet Sage Aune of Phoenix

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sage Aune.

Hi Sage, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a born and raised Phoenix, Arizona native. Although I have always considered myself an artist, I didn’t have the clearest path to graphic design! After some short and confused detours of college majors such as Exercise and Wellness (1 semester at ASU) and Business (1 year at Phoenix College), I was feeling lost until my mom suggested I attend the Art Institute of Phoenix for Graphic Design. As soon as I took my tour there, it all clicked for me! Fast forward 10 years, I am still designing and freelancing. After I graduated, I still kept my part-time restaurant server job while I made artwork to sell online and post on IG. While I was gaining some following on there, I started getting requests for custom design work! Once that became a full-time thing, I left the food industry to become a full-time freelancer. In 2023, I worked full-time as an in-house Graphic Designer for Dutch Bros and in 2024, I briefly worked as an in-house Graphic Designer for Upward Projects. I am currently back to freelancing full-time and have found that to be the best fit for me! 🙂

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
(Oops I listed some in previous question, but I will add-on!)

Freelancing full-time has come with it’s set of challenges for sure. It was the end of 2019 when I left my restaurant job to freelance full-time and just months later, Covid hit and I was questioning my job security and feared I made the wrong decision. Rather than hope other struggling businesses would reach out for design work, I ended up relying more on selling my artwork on Etsy and that helped me weather that storm!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I love surrounding myself with colorful and positive things and I definitely like to translate those themes into my own designs. I am also influenced by my upbringing in the desert but I also love the easy lifestyle of beachy California where I have also briefly lived.

I aim to create art with the hope that it brings a little joy to your day.

I am most proud of some of the freelance projects I have done such as work for Red Bull, Arizona Coyotes, Vans, Swig and Mandy Moore! I am also proud of the work I did at Dutch Bros such as designing their Pup Cup (which you can still get today!), dog bandana, and a few of their Stickers of the Month.

What were you like growing up?
I was definitely more shy and introverted. I kept my circle small, like one-best-friend-at-a-time small haha! It wasn’t until I got my first job in high school that it helped me break out of my shell!

Pricing:

• Prints in my Etsy shop that start at $20

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sageaune.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagepizza/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sagepizza
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sage-aune-448a40116/
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SagePizza