Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Brasher.
Hi Kelsey, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I went to Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) for a music business degree at first, not design. Somewhere along the way, I got assigned a project to record a song, and I ended up way more obsessed with designing the album art than the song itself. That was the moment it clicked that graphic design was an actual career, and I changed my major on the spot.
After college, I did a short in-house stint, then landed at a creative agency, where I spent four years cutting my teeth on global brands and learning what it really means to work as part of a team. From there, I moved in-house at a healthcare marketplace company, where I went deeper, building an internal brand and bringing it to life with partners. Then I joined a tech startup, and when I came back from maternity leave, it imploded—as startups sometimes do—and I lost my job.
That push was exactly what I needed. I’d always freelanced on the side, so I went all in. Becoming a mom made flexibility non-negotiable—I needed to be the present parent I wanted to be and the designer I wanted to be, not one at the expense of the other. Now, several years into full-time freelance, I’ve built a business that does both: brands and websites I’m proud of, and a life that actually fits around my family.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Honestly, no—and I think that’s true for most freelancers who tell you otherwise. The biggest jolt was losing my last full-time job right as I came back from maternity leave, when the startup I was at imploded. That forced the decision I’d been circling for years, but it wasn’t a graceful leap—it was getting pushed.
Since then, the hard parts haven’t been the design work itself—that’s the easy part. It’s been everything around it: learning to price my time so I’m not undercharging, chasing down invoices from clients who don’t pay on schedule, and figuring out how to market myself with the same care I give my clients’ brands. That last one’s still a work in progress—self-promotion has never come naturally to me, and my own website is proof of it. Add in doing all of this while raising two young kids, and “smooth” has never really been the word. But every rough patch taught me what I wanted to do with this business, so I don’t regret any of it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a graphic designer, art director, and WordPress web developer who builds brands and the websites that carry them—from logo to launch, all under one roof. I don’t specialize in one industry; I’ve worked with small businesses, marketing departments, and individual brand owners across branding, print, and development, and I think that range makes me sharper.
I’m known for seeing a project through: I can imagine the vision and execute it at scale, reliably. A lot of designers hand off a file and wish you luck. I build the thing, maintain it, and stick around.
What I’m most proud of is less a single project and more the business itself—I built a freelance career that lets me do great work with great people while also being the present parent I want to be. That combination didn’t come easy, and it’s the part I’d tell anyone else trying to do the same: you can have both.
What sets me apart is my full-stack range—most designers can’t carry a brand from concept through a fully built, fully maintained website.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Honestly, the biggest thing that’s worked for me is joining online community groups that meet monthly—real clubs, not just one-off events. I highly recommend the Co-Promotion Club specifically. I’m also a big fan of CreativeMornings—most big cities host one on the last Friday of the month, and it’s an easy, low-pressure way to meet other creatives in person.
Beyond that, it’s about staying in touch with people you’ve already worked with, not just chasing new connections. I keep a relationship tracker and aim to reach out to five people a week just to check in—no agenda, just staying present. And I make a point of having regular coffee chats with the creative partners who’ve influenced me most. Networking isn’t a one-time event for me—it’s a habit I keep up on purpose.
Pricing:
- $120 hourly creative work
- $5k minimum branding packages
- $2500 minimum web projects
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kelseyraebrasher.com/
- Instagram: @kelseyisadesigner
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelseyraebrasher/
