Born in 1992, my creativity showed up quite early. From modeling, singing, dancing, sketching to even designing my own clothes at just 6 (see skirt on my sister above lol.) -- I've always had an artistic flair. At 8, I ran my first flower-picking 'business,' selling bouquets to local shops. Really showing off my love for entrepreneurship early as well. I fell in love with photography and guitar a bit later on in my adolescence, which led to my role as yearbook editor in high school, where we hit design records. That class in highschool is what sparked my lifelong passion for design. My path continued at Centralia Community College, where I earned my Associate of Arts degree. There, I dove into 'formal' graphic design education as an elective and quickly shifted my entire career path and swapped majors. I knew then that design was my lifelong calling, and the rest is history. Or maybe it's not ;) you can keep scrolling for more.

1992 - 2012

In 2012, I made a life-changing decision and moved to Phoenix, Arizona to persue my dreams. There, I enrolled at the Art Institute of Phoenix and dove head first into my next-level of my design journey. Three years later, in 2015, I proudly earned my Bachelor's degree in Graphic and Web Design. I worked my booty off and put everything i had into my schooling --  and it paid off because I was inducted into the Deans List, Alpha Beta Kappa Honor Society, won The Best Portfolio Award in my graduating class, and ended my time with a 4.0 GPA. My time at school was not just about academics; it was a genuinely enjoyable experience. During those years, I discovered my true calling, and for the first time, I felt like I had found my rightful place in the world. Design is a lifestyle, and this time of life is where i found it.

2012 - 2015

In 2015, I moved home and got a job on a marketing team in Seattle, working closely with local news stations/channels + publications, as well as collaborating with all of the pro local sports teams. However, the turning point arrived in 2017 when my Etsy venture (my designs on mugs) took off and I was even featured on BuzzFeed. It was then that I decided to leave my corporate job after two years and fully embrace the path of a freelance designer (THIS WAS MAJORLY SCARY.)

In the same year, I experienced significant personal milestones, like getting married and becoming pregnant lol. From 2018 to 2020, I devoted my energy to nurturing my new family and my love for upcycling fashion. My freelance design journey started to take off here as well; including local coffee shops, an international client from Egypt, and an incredibly enjoyable business based in Las Vegas that helped me discover my niche and value in the industry.

2015 - 2020

In 2019/2020, I decided to take my career to the next level by opening a creative venue in my local town "A Pretty Place". It really derived from the bottom of my heart, as I aimed at bringing people together during a time when connection was needed more than ever (IYKYK.) Initially, the venue was available for rent, catering to small gatherings. However, it soon became v well known for the rad events we organized, most specifically our selfie museums that were just a major hit. Alongside these ventures, I remained deeply involved in both vintage and new fashion. From my office within the venue, I continued to send out boutique clothing to customers all across the country. Simultaneously, I continued serving my valued freelance clients in design and web development, maintaining a multifaceted and dynamic professional journey. I did end up selling my business and everything in it at the end of 2021 -- as we wanted to expand our family and I was ready for my next adventure.

2019 - 2021

My next opportunity swiftly came into play as I was invited to take on the role of a Graphic and Web Design Professor at Grand Canyon University, where I had the literal privilege of educating college-level juniors and seniors. Alongside my teaching responsibilities at GCU, I also nourished my own online education community. To this day, I am proud to have a community of over 500 students in my design, website, and entrepreneurial workshops. In addition to these professional milestones, my personal life also flourished, as we achieved our goal of expanding our family. It was a year of nourishing a lot of other people. Hundreds of students, and my own babies as well.

2021 - 2022

In the middle of 2022, we welcomed our second child into the world and I centered my attention on nurturing our growing family. But even with the  personal responsibilities, I continued to serve my branding and design clients and keep growing my clientele. It was really during this time that I discovered my niche within the boutique and salon industry, aesthetics have always had a place in my heart and I realized that people in these industries just GET ME. I accomplished some rad things during this time; book covers, Amazon documentary covers, a nationwide sold planner, fashion "patterns" and apparel designs for boutiques. Notably, I found myself collaborating with high-caliber clients, propelling them to 6, 7, and even 8-figure business milestones through MY design solutions. 

2021 - 2022

In 2022, I made a GUT decision to fully immerse myself into my own fashion journey. Witnessing the transformative power of my designs for other businesses, I became determined to do the same for myself. I didn't just want to earn the recognition I deserved but I also wanted to enjoy the benefits of royalties/income and receive samples of the items I had meticulously designed so I could rock them proudly. My mission was clear - to be treated fairly in the industry.

One year into this adventure, despite facing challenges from others in the industry who were less than supportive, I succeeded. Today, I proudly own my very own clothing line, EMY AVE. Although my business is still in its infancy, it's soaring like a rocket 🚀, and I continue to deliver branding and website design for businesses all over the country. <3

2022 - now