Inspiring Conversations with Ashley Dehnke of Dehnke Design Studio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Dehnke.

Hi Ashley, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I received my bachelor’s in Marketing in 2013. After graduating, I worked in marketing, PR, and management for several locally-owned restaurants in the Nashville area. I had worked in the hospitality industry for as long as I can remember, so it seemed like a good path at the time. I have always loved art and graphic design and would create websites for friends over the years. I eventually had the opportunity to design a few sites for those restaurants and chefs I worked for. Then, more and more offers started coming my way, and I began to gain more experience.

January of 2020, I was hired as a general manager to help open a whiskey distillery downtown. When everything started shutting down during the pandemic, It was both stressful yet extremely educational. I learned so much about running a business and had to really master problem-solving. Managing real human beings who were struggling financially and mentally, plus being responsible for a business that had barely opened its doors, made me really think about what I wanted to do for my future. I took a huge risk and left a good-paying job with all the benefits to start my own path. Dehnke Design Studio started as a website design service, but after only six months has evolved into so much more. In those short months, I have helped over 10 (!) small businesses build their brand identity, help write their brand story, and launch a website they are proud of.

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?
As a “new” designer, it’s been a struggle managing my client’s expectations. I now know why most designers put a limit on revisions! Projects that I predicted would take a few weeks have easily turned into months because clients want to see every revision possible without understanding how much time goes into each design or website. This is not just an issue with time, but with money as well. I did not understand how to manage that process from the start, and it’s something I am trying to get better at.

I have learned that most clients hire me before, really knowing what they want, or have done little to no research in their own field. Which is ok, I get it! But that means I have to walk them through it from the beginning, helping collect all their collateral, creating logos, color palettes, font selections, photography, graphics, inventory management, pricing, etc. Anything you can think of, I help with. That is a big reason why Dehnke Design Studio evolved so quickly from a simple website designing service to a full, brand, and small business consultation service.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Dehnke Design Studio has three major services; Website Design, Brand Design, and Small Business Consulting.

I (Ash) help small businesses put together all the necessary content to help them launch online from social media, email marketing to websites. This includes all copywriting assistance, logo design, packaging design, photo-editing, and of course, building websites. I help ensure that these businesses have a cohesive brand look and story through all media platforms. I have collaborated with restaurants, e-commerce, athletes and coaches, general contractors, chefs, podcasts, etc.

One thing that makes me different from most designers is that I am extremely budget and user-friendly. I like to create beautiful, functional websites on platforms that are easy to use for the not so tech-savvy business owner, so they don’t have to hire me for small future edits. Though, I am always there to help! After the design is complete and the website is launched, I teach my clients how to maintain their site on the backend and make them feel empowered and in control. I have heard so many stories of small businesses hiring big-name marketing or web development companies and having to pay thousands of dollars to launch, then hundreds more to make small changes. For most of these locally-owned shops and businesses, that is not feasible. I take this same approach to my brand design as well. Finding tools that help my clients with their business and making it easier is always in best practice.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I grew up in the mountains of Vail, Colorado. I loved being outdoors. I was (still am) obsessed with animals and school. I loved learning about science and art. I was so lucky to grow up in an area that really valued all of those things. We were always doing fun science projects in school, going for mid-day hikes, camping trips with the whole class, etc. The public schools even had us take a week off each year for skiing lessons (yes, that was my reality).

I moved to New York during high school, and I think that is where I really connected with art. I always liked visual art that my friends would call “weird.” Meaning unconventional artists that when you saw their work, it made you feel weird or uncomfortable. I had an art studio behind my house and would spend time alone painting (although I am not great at it) while listening to only Radiohead albums. I took graphic design courses and ended up designing school welcome packets and other materials. It was fun, but I did not even consider it a career until my early 30’s.

I moved to Nashville about 13 years ago but absolutely plan to move back West soon. I still enjoy all the same things I did when I was little. Now I also really love attending live music festivals, traveling as much as possible, and supporting my local small businesses!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.dehnkedesignstudio.com
• Instagram: @dehnkedesignstudio

Image Credits
Kayleigh Walder, Ashley Dehnke