Marisa Howenstine
Marisa Howenstine
Web Designer
Los Angeles, CA
https://www.hiptowix.com
instagram @hiptowix
linkedin
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I’m the Owner/Creative Director of Hip to Wix, a design business that creates websites within the Wix platform.”
What sets me apart from the crowd is that I’m a Web Designer, Photographer, and Copywriter—a one-stop shop for your creative online services.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
My journey’s been a long, but fruitful one! I started out with an English degree as a copywriter and became a self-taught graphic designer. Then I went back to school for a second degree in Photography. Hip to Wix is an amalgamation of my three top skills—design, writing, and photography. You’re in solid hands with a consummate professional.
FOR OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR FIELD, WHAT DO THEY USUALLY LACK?
The ability to politely challenge clients. Many clients think they know what they want, but often it’s from a clichéd point-of-view. Or their bar is set so low with what they currently have, that they don’t think much beyond that. I love setting clients in a new direction that has them looking better than their competition.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
Just wrapping up a website for a voice-over actress. The challenge was to get her to stand out from her competition. So I came up with the idea to focus on the anonymity of her profession. Instead of designing her website with typical headshots, I used a sexy close-up image of a woman’s lips and came up with the tagline, “My lips, your scripts”. Then I carried the lip theme throughout the site and wrapped it up with a headshot of my client. But not a headshot featuring the front of her head — I photographed the back of her head instead! She and her agents loved it, and it’s my favorite design project to date.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
See my answer to the above question.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
I would love to be more left-brain oriented. I’d much rather come up with the creative than handle the technicals (e.g., mapping out specs for a website). My clients greatly benefit from my plethora of right-brained skills, but my bank account isn’t happy with my left brain not wanting to balance my checkbook!
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HOUR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
Open up my mail. I rarely go to my mailbox because of all my student loan bills from art school!
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
I’m open and up for anything.
WHAT IS YOUR RATE?
Websites start at $1,500. Graphic design and writing is $75/hr. Photography starts at $350 (my half-day rate).
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
Email or text me. I’m happy to talk on the phone, but email or text me to let me know that! ; )
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Cooking. Love it. Made a to-die-for seafood salad last week with lemon, white wine vinegar, and mustard. Many of my creative ideas hit me when I’m dicing away at the chopping board. Cooking is my meditation.
This member profile was originally published in May 2016.