Molly O'Neill
Graphic Designer / Founder of Fred&Co.
Minneapolis, MN
www.fredandco.studio
instagram @fredandco.studio
Twitter
Pinterest
Q What do you do?
“I am an independent graphic designer and art director and I work directly with clients to create visual brands that people want to know and love!”
Whether they are starting from scratch or looking for a fresh take on their legacy brand, people come to me knowing that design will make a strategic difference in how they are marketing themselves to their audience. Woohoo!
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
When I was in undergrad studying graphic design in Boston, I loved my classes, but I also really loved freelancing. I worked with the on-campus student-led design studio Scout, as well as with a few of my older friends–Julia Karlsson-Wilson, who was later joined by Nathan Hulsey–as they were deep into building their design studio.For a few years, I picked up more and more hours with Julia and Nathan and kept asking them to keep the work comin’. They also passed along projects that were too small for their roster which ended up being the perfect size for me. Win-win-win!
I always say that I fell into freelancing, but working with my peers on client work was always the most exciting thing for me to do. I had the opportunity to present my work and interface with clients right from the jump and saw how design was really powerful in getting new businesses off the ground. When I got close to graduation and started interviewing at other smaller design studios for a full-time role, I knew that I wanted to do more than design in my day-to-day and decided to do the truly insane and freelance full-time right out of college. I do not know where I found the confidence to do that, but I am so glad that I did!
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I always try to bring design and the creative field down to earth, making it more approachable to both clients and my peers that are newer to the industry. A lot of times art and design feels untouchable to people who are not in it everyday, or who are fresh to the job! So many people made it a welcoming place to learn, grow, and succeed within so I hope to pass that along to the people around me. And I have to remind myself/everyone that there is no such thing as a graphic design emergency, I swear!
Q What are you working on right now?
Right now I am having so much fun working with a few other independent designers and super small design studios as a gun-for-hire, helping to buff and build out parts of their own client projects. Projects have ranged from branding, packaging, magazine design, and art direction! It has been so fun to be able to jump into team settings where I am not the top leader of the charge, but play a big role in how visuals are rolled out. I have found myself learning a lot about design again which has been such a refreshing thing because for the past five years I have been deep in trying to learn about running a business. Getting back to learning new indesign shortcuts and ways to think about color has pushed me to grow my creative side again which I love.
Q What’s your style?
I am all about bright, fun, friendly, and type-driven projects. My work on Noted by Post-it and with Campagna Coffee shows how my love of color, type, and pattern can really sing.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
I took a sign painting class recently and hope to make time in my schedule to really get the chance to work outside of the computer. I know if I put my time towards it I could be making some rad stuff, but I think when it gets to be dark and wintery again I might jump back in. For now I am excited about having slow summer nights!
Q What is frustrating you right now?
Finding a better balance between client work and outreach is always something that I am juggling and trying to re-learn every time my calendar fills up then immediately drops off. I know I could really embrace the cycles of all-work and no-work, but have not spent the time yet planning what that looks like. It’s scary! It feels like there are no rules, and that everyone is out there saying to “embrace” the ebbs and flows, but I am just not quite there yet.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
For $20 an hour, I would have someone help me manage my project flow. I know project managers can definitely stand to be paid more than $20/hour, but I think if I had an extra pair of hands I’d have them check in with me and the freelancers I work with to make sure everything is on track, keep my notion up to date, and enforce my no-meetings days for deeper work time!
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
If I had the option to go back in time, I am not sure that I would. I have learned a bunch of big, ugly, and hard things right at the top of my career and I do not think I would have wanted to be warned about them because I would have dreaded the future. I feel very grounded knowing what I know now, and having moved past those things has made me a better professional, designer, and person.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
Finances! These questions definitely reveal what I should do next for my business, so thank you thank you! I feel like I have gotten a bit more of a handle on what needs to come into the business to stay afloat and then what is a nice-to-have. Having expertise on cash flow and growth would be the next thing I start looking into, and creating a way to have some more steady work or income come in is always a pie-in-the-sky goal. I want to try to expand my team to see how that feels!
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I am looking for branding, print, and packaging design work for businesses of all shapes and sizes. I love anything CPG, food, or people looking to add fun to their business’s look-and-feel.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
I loved working with the Noted by Post-it Team and Target on their specialty line of desk supplies. Putting a new twist on a legacy brand to make it feel fresh, new, and exciting was such an exciting task. I also got to work on a ton of different parts of the project, from brand to packaging, to in-store signage and end caps. I was able to wear a ton of different hats and see the whole thing go across my computer screen and then into their aisles of Target.
Q What is your rate?
I have a project minimum of $5,000 when working directly with clients, and my hourly rate typically starts at around $120 for working with other creative studios. I scope every project on a case-by-case basis so if you are interested in working with me I am flexible!
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
The best way to get in touch with me for a client project is through my client inquiry form on my site here. Otherwise, you can shoot me an email at molly@fredandco.studio
Q Who is a creative you admire?
I have been working with Elizabeth Goodspeed on a few of her client projects and have been learning a TON about how she finds inspiration outside of pinterest, her colorplay, and how she approaches design. She has been a treasure trove of new design ideas and ways of thinking!
I would also recommend Lauren Martin, she is my most favorite illustrator, maybe EVER! I have not gotten to work with her yet but I HAVE gotten to buy a few of her shirts.
And of course Chae Hong! She has worked with me on a ton of my client work and is starting to work on my business’s brand too. She has such an amazing style, work ethic, and is so kind.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
I have learned to Take a Break when I am totally out of steam if I can! Otherwise power through and have that break in the cal so I actually take it.
This member profile was originally published in July 2023