Hello dear readers. For this month’s interview, I’d like to introduce Emily Miller, founder of Inspire Design Co., a graphic design, product photography, and printing company. Not only was I inspired by Emily’s entrepreneurial story, I was blessed to see she was so well supported by people around her. Because those she loves support her dream, she’s able to do what she loves! You can find more information about Inspire Design Co on Instagram and Facebook, or on her website, InspireDesignCo.com.
Hi Emily, welcome to Made to Create!
Sheri Yutzy: First off, what is your favorite way to create?
Emily Miller: There are a number of different ways that I love to create: cooking/baking, all things DIY, interior design, nurturing all of my plants. But though I enjoy each item I listed by far my favorite way to create is through graphic design, specifically for brides and creative entrepreneurs. I find so much life in creating designs that speak beauty and inspiration. When I take a break from designing, it doesn’t take long until I’m longing to be back at it again.
SY: It’s beautiful to see someone working out of their passion like you do. I know you call your husband your biggest supporter. What advice would you give to the spouses or family members of creative people?
EM: Let them know that you believe in them and their dreams. Validate them! Celebrate their wins. If their creative venture is based at home let them know that you notice the hard work they put into it. Take the time to listen—sometimes they just need someone to talk to. Give advice
when asked, and encourage them to find community with others on the same journey.
SY: What’s one designing tool you can’t do without?
EM: There are many things that I could put down in answer to this question, but since I need to pick one I’d have to go with the Find/Change tool in Adobe InDesign. I recently discovered this tool while working on a book layout. I needed to remove all the extra spaces (there were anywhere from 1 to 4 spaces before each sentence) in the 300+ page document and what would have taken me hours to go through the entire book and manually remove the extra spaces, I was able to do it in seconds using this tool.
SY: Oh, yes. I’ve been using that one when I decide I need to change a character or place name in 300+ page draft of a novel. Such a wonderful time saver! What would you love to be doing creatively in five years?
EM: As a new business, I feel the need to take on each project that comes along, so that I have work. My dream is to be able, at some point, to niche down into the wedding and creative entrepreneur space and take on only the jobs that I know I’ll love.
SY: You’ve mentioned before that you enjoy designing book covers. Why is that?
EM: I love a challenge and that’s probably why I enjoy it! Book covers need to hit a number of things: needs to be appealing to the buyer, must speak to the content of the book, must grab the attention of the casual shopper, and needs to please the person I’m designing for. Making sure those boxes are all checked with the final design can be a challenge at times.
SY: Sounds like an excellent plan. How has your craft shown you God’s character?
EM: I think we can get stuck in the belief that God doesn’t care too much about beauty and the creating of it. But I’m learning more and more through this creative venture that God has created within each of us the desire to create something of beauty. It looks different for each person and I think that’s why we often miss it. I’m finding for myself that often what brings me life is exactly what my heavenly Father created for me to do.
SY: Beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing your story with us!
EM: Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak to your audience!
Emily lives in Holmes County, Ohio and is married to the man of her dreams. She has a passion for eating healthy and loves to learn new ways of doing so. She has a drive to create beauty in everything she does whether it’s in cooking, decorating her home, running her business, or caring for her plants. She began designing over seven years ago for friends or just for fun, but gained the bulk of her design experience by working at a print shop. A year ago, she ventured out on her own and began Inspire Design Co., which provides graphic design and print services to her clients. When she’s relaxing you’ll find her reading, enjoying nature or watching her current favorite show on Netflix. Someday, she would love to own a miniature pig and/or a hedgehog. She has a deep love for God and longs to show Him to others in whatever she does, especially in what she creates.