Meet Ella Weingart | Brand and Web Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ella Weingart and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ella, what do you attribute your success to?
This is sort of a funny question to answer because I think it varies depending on your definition of success! Right now my business is in a slow season – one that wouldn’t seem “successful” perhaps to somebody that’s raking in consistent profit. But for me, in this season, success looks like showing up and working hard every day despite the nagging fear that I’m going to fail. I’m not sure that that feeling will ever go away! Even in seasons of financial abundance. So to say it in a single sentence, I think the most important factor behind my success is my slow, patient, consistent determination to keep going!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I started a brand identity and web design business in 2020 after graduating from CSU with a degree in natural resources and sustainability. One of my capstone projects included creating a logo and a few posters for a collaborative conservation network. That was my very first foray into the world of Adobe – and I was hooked!!

I’ve always been creative – like so many others, I started an Etsy store when I was eight and sold handmade greeting cards. I think I only ever sold one (unless you count my family members purchasing them for each other for Christmas…) but I did it for the thrill of creating something that I thought was beautiful. I still remember what a lot of the cards I made looked like! I was so proud!

Now, I’ve got some experience under my belt and I’m absolutely LOVING how much I’m learning – about everything! Running a business, design, client experience, taxes, messaging, and marketing. It’s all fascinating (and at times so overwhelming!) to me. Something that I’m proud of is how good I am at design – ha! I’m really good at it. And I just love doing it. I love making things beautiful, but more than that I love solving people’s problems. And design is so amazing! Good design is just a tool that designers use to solve problems. It can be so valuable!! I didn’t know that when I started, but I’ve invested so much in courses and coaching and I’ve spent so much time on Youtube and down research rabbit holes and now I know exactly what design can do – and it’s exciting! It gives my work so much purpose. I’m proud of the contribution that it allows me to make to the world.

KAT Workshop is the name of my design studio. (It’s called KAT Workshop after the women in my family who share the middle name, Kathryne.) It’s a fun and friendly design workshop creating forward-focused brand, packaging, and website design for people that are Going Somewhere. I’m all about using design as a tool that helps you get to where you want to go! Partnering with people to problem solve is my favorite part of my job.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh – Fort Collins has so much to offer! It’d be a packed week! And let’s say it’s summer because that’s when Fort Collins really shines! We’d start with Snooze, Lucille’s, Bindle Coffee, Butterfly Cafe, or Philippe for breakfast and stroll around Old Town (with a stop in my favorites – Sunday Supply, Topo Designs, and Dandelion Toys) for a while. At some point, we’d hit the dusty trail for a hike up to Arthur’s Rock and then enjoy a little Odell on their patio. We’d also take it up the canyon to Chamber’s Lake for an overnighter at a campsite on the water. At some point, we’d probably have to take some trusty Jax tubes to the river, and then dry off for some fish tacos on the Illegal Pete’s upstairs patio. A movie at the Lyric, a bike ride on the Spring Creek trail, drinks at Social, a stroll through the perennial garden at CSU, a stop at the Welsh Rabbit for some cheese and a demi-baguette, and Reuben nachos on tots at Lucky Joe’s (have you tried that yet?) – it’d be a hard week to beat!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This is probably going to be the easiest question to answer in the batch! My husband, Drew – he has been extremely supportive from the beginning. (Heck, he was the one that first had the idea that I should pursue brand identity and web design!) He’s supported me financially, spiritually, relationally – acted as a business partner, helped me to get the heck out of the house when I’ve been staring at the computer screen for 11 hours straight, allowed me to process a billion times, and right now he’s dancing around the kitchen table trying to make me laugh while his computer updates. It’s cliche, I know, but I wouldn’t be writing this if it weren’t for him!

I’ve also gotta give a huge shoutout to my parents. They’re both so entrepreneurial and definitely nurtured that in me as I was growing up. My dad told me probably twice a week that I could do whatever I wanted to do when I grew up. And here I am, doing it! If I hadn’t received that encouragement and learned from my parents’ own grit, I probably wouldn’t have had the gumption to take the leap myself!

Website: https://www.katworkshop.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katwrkshop/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ella-weingart-kat-workshop/

Image Credits
Image credit: Drew Weingart @drew.weingart on Instagram