Rising Stars: Meet Sarah Bell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Bell.

Sarah, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I remember falling in love with graphic design at the age of 13 when I discovered I could use photoshop to create fun pictures for my Geocities homepage. I dabbled with it all throughout high school but ended up choosing to study something entirely different in college and in my career.

I remember coming to a breaking point after I had children, realizing that between being a mother, working at my job in education, and helping out as my husband worked long hours at his job, I was burning out fast. I didn’t have a passion for what I did because all I could do was survive each day. I made a decision to start a business and come back to my first love: Design. I’ve never looked back. I created Bell & Whistle Design Studio with the goal of creating branding, logos, websites, and other graphic design services for small businesses.

Getting to help fellow entrepreneurs bring their visions to life while being able to put my family first is the most incredible life I could have imagined for myself. I’m so grateful that I get the chance to do what I do, and I’m deeply thankful for the incredible clients that have chosen to partner with me.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Some of the biggest battles that I’ve fought have been with myself. Imposter syndrome is huge; I find myself asking why I would ever dream of being successful when there are millions of other designers out there who are way better than me.

Why would a client ever choose me when they have so many other incredible choices? The fear of not being successful and of failing my family is a constant battle as well.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I offer branding, web, and graphic design services to small businesses, and I operate a small retail shop that offers products with uplifting and affirming messages.

I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in English and my Master’s degree in Business Administration, and throughout my education and my former career, I built my communication, interpersonal, & leadership skills. I believe those experiences set me apart as a designer because I can understand my clients so much better and translate their needs into designs.

I am not a designer that sets out to make my own visions a reality; instead, I strive to understand what it is my client really wants (which isn’t always what they initially ask for!) and turn those into beautiful designs that represent their business perfectly.

What were you like growing up?
I was always creative; I spent my childhood sketching, painting, drawing, and exploring all kinds of art. However, I always felt like a terrible artist because I was too practical.

Every time I tried to paint, I would struggle because my mind struggled to find some sort of function for my work. I was most drawn to things like weaving, sewing, or ceramics because my work could be used for practical purposes. Aside from that, I was a pretty normal kid. I was outgoing and always loved being around people.

My family was very close and I was fortunate to grow up close with some of my aunts, uncles, and cousins. I loved sports, especially basketball (still do – Go Suns!), and have fond memories of both playing and coaching.

Contact Info:

• Email: sarah@bellandwhistledesign.com
• Website: www.bellandwhistledesign.com
• Instagram: @bellandwhistle.design
• Facebook: @bellandwhistle.design

Image Credits
Unsplash, Envato, Carmela Joy Photography