Today we’d like to introduce you to Roberta Morris
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve been a designer my entire life. Always an artistic kid, I come from a long line of creative folks including writers, crafters, metal workers, fine artists, photographers, and the musically inclined. You might say creativity is in my blood. As far back as elementary school, I’ve incorporated graphic design elements into my assignments and personal projects. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed many of my subjects in school, including history, science, and English, but design has always been my first love.
During my studies at Arkansas State University, I was fortunate to have great professors from all over the country who exposed me to a wide-ranging sense of aesthetic and experience. One professor in particular became an amazing mentor to me, and as the only woman in the department at that time, she instilled a sense of professionalism and confidence in me that was equal to any design technique I ever learned.
During my studies and after graduation I worked for various local print and graphic shops—even doing a stint in desktop publishing back at Kinko’s (now FedEx Office). After about a year I realized it was time to find a bigger design pond to swim in. I’d previously attended a conference in Dallas where I met a guy from a boutique agency. I reached out to his, and yes, the firm needed a graphic designer, so I relocated to Dallas with a paid summer internship. That internship turned to a full-time job offer.
After 10 years in advertising in Dallas and Paris, France, I moved to San Francisco where I pivoted to branding and publishing. I’ve since relocated to Memphis (my hometown) after 30+ years. Branding is an area of design that’s always been a passion for me and I feel fortunate every day that I get to do it for a living!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been a long, strange trip along a bumpy road at times.
After graduation, the first challenge I overcame was location. I realized I needed bigger and better opportunities, so I moved to Dallas where I launched my 10-year career in advertising. While it was a great jumping off point for my career, the hours were long, the pay was low, and the stress was high. Basically, it was a grind. I eventually decided it was time to go freelance. While it was scary at first, I had made a lot of connections. One of my closest friends and one of my biggest champions, helped me brainstorm the business name Leave It to ’Berta. This memorable brand identity gave me the ‘stickiness’ and confidence that I needed to get clients, set my own work schedule, and make more money doing what I love.
Like all designers, I’ve had my share of challenging clients and deadlines, but I’ve never regretted starting my own business nearly 26 years ago!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My passion is helping organizations to brand and promote their products in a consistent and thoughtful way. The best branding happens when clients feel heard throughout the creative process, so I lean into listening and working closely with my clients to create high-impact strategy and design solutions that meet (and exceed) their needs and expectations. A lot of folks claim they’re graphic designers, but only some achieve the level of creativity and craft necessary to stand out and truly help clients achieve their business goals and thrive.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Clients come in many different sizes, so I team up with other professionals such as developers, copywriters, marketers, illustrators, photographers, SEO experts to offer scalable service levels. As a Creative Director, I am a true partner and collaborator for my clients. Having worked agency-side and in-house for a wide range of organizations from solopreneurs and nonprofits to Fortune 500 and 1000 companies, I provide all my clients with quality, creativity, and variety in the project work I do. From logos and slogans to collateral and packaging—and just about everything in between—whatever the brand, Leave It to ’Berta!
Pricing:
- $100-150 / hour if hourly work is what’s required
- I prefer to charge per project, if appropriate. That way the client can budget accordingly.
- I also offer package bundles of varying scales/sizes so that I can offer a solution for most budget levels.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://leaveittoberta.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justleaveittoberta/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leaveittoberta/
- Other: https://medium.com/martini-minute
Image Credits
Bordeaux Kitchen Naturals images courtesy of Tania Teschke
