Meet Nicole Locken | Brand Designer

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

Hi Nicole, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

Nicole Locken Creative was born shortly after my husband and I started our family. After working in the advertising agency world for over a decade and having a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old, I quickly realized I wanted to find a way to spend more time with my family while also nurturing my passion for helping clients create and grow their brands. Thus, Nicole Locken Creative, a boutique branding studio was born. For the past 7 years, I’ve had the privilege of partnering with businesses to grow their brands and I absolutely love it! I love meeting new people, hearing their stories, and creating unique ways to communicate their brands.

My daughter who is now 10, has also shown an interest in design. So much so that we created our own company, Wild Ones Threads – a children’s apparel brand designed to inspire and empower kids. I wanted to teach her what it means to own a company and all the dedication and hard work that goes into it. It’s important to me to instill a good work ethic in my children, to help them make a difference in the world, and to inspire them to chase their dreams. My son, who recently turned 8, has also been helping with the business.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
About Nicole Locken Creative: Nicole Locken Creative is a boutique branding studio crafting brand design with heart. We specialize in brand identity design and implementation. We are passionate about creativity, collaboration, and creating meaningful brands that tell stories. Simplified design is our jam and passionate clients are our people. Together with my team of exceptional talents in design, copywriting, web development, and PR, we bring brand stories to life.
What sets us apart:
Our process, our team, our heart. Because we are a boutique branding studio, we offer a very customized experience. We truly take the time to get to know our clients and are genuinely invested in their success. We believe quality is the best business plan and to always go above and beyond.

How did you get to where you are today business-wise:
While I feel very fortunate to have my own business and get to do what I love every day, I believe we’re all still learning and constantly evolving. I think it’s this constant strive to be better than the day before that has gotten me to where I am today. Hard work and determination play a big role, but also my relentlessly stubborn drive to succeed.

Lessons I’ve learned:
1. Work hard. Be kind. Stay humble.
2. Quality is the best business plan.
3. Always go the extra mile and deliver more than expected.
4. Honesty and transparency are the best policies.
5. Be a nice person, always.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
We are passionate about crafting brands that tell stories. Brands with meaning; not creativity for creativity’s sake, but creativity with purpose. We are creative problem solvers, thinkers, doers, and collaborators. We are Nicole Locken Creative. A boutique branding studio crafting brands with heart.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am a huge fan of nature. There’s something really magical about being outside in the fresh mountain air with the sun shining down that you can’t help but be inspired. And thankfully, Colorado isn’t short on inspiring views.

One of my favorite places to take friends when they visit is Mount Evans. There’s something pretty awe-inspiring about being at 14,000 feet. Roll down your windows, blast your favorite tunes, and take in the incredible views.

Steamboat Springs: This is one of my favorite mountain towns. The Strawberry Hot Springs are amazing. You can tube the Yampa River in the Summer and hike to Fish Creek Falls. Plus the town itself has amazing food and shops.

Union Station: I love this place for the constant buzz of people, food, and sounds. It’s a great place to grab a coffee and work for the day. It’s especially lovely over the holidays.

Stanley Marketplace: Lot’s of great shops, food, coffee and drinks. Another great place to work for the day if you’re looking for some inspiration.

Rockies Baseball – whether you’re a sports fan or not, there’s something exhilarating about catching a game at Coors Field. The smell of popcorn and food swirls in the air as the stadium erupts with excitement. Not to mention the views are pretty incredible.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I feel very fortunate to have an amazing circle of family, friends, and colleagues who have all helped support my journey. First and foremost, my husband and 2 kiddos are my biggest supporters. If it weren’t for their love and encouragement, I wouldn’t be able to do this. My kids write me inspirational notes before school and tape them to my office door. It’s such a good reminder, (especially when ‘mom guilt’ creeps in) for why I’m doing this. I hope I’m setting a good example for them and teaching them to chase their dreams.

I’m also really grateful for my parents for always believing in me and for teaching me through their actions to always treat people with kindness.

Finally, I’m incredibly grateful to have a wonderful circle of friends, colleagues, and mentors whom I have had the pleasure of working with and who are always there to listen, share advice, and who are ready to collaborate on projects together. I’ve learned that surrounding yourself with people who are passionate about what they do, treat others with kindness and respect, and genuinely want to see you succeed is not only important, it’s essential. A big shout out to Jay Roth, for being such an amazing copywriting partner.

Website: https://nicolelockencreative.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolelocken/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolelockencreative/

Other: Wild Ones Threads: https://www.wildonesthreads.com/

Image Credits
Image Credits for image numbers: NicoleLocken-1.jpg, NicoleLocken-2.jpg, NicoleLocken-3.jpg & NicoleLocken-4.jpg  Credit: Creating This Life Photography