Company: STHETIK STUDIO (freelance)
Founder: Steven Seip
Date founded: October 2024
Industry and company: Communication design (branding & corporate identity)

What drives you? What is your motto?
Your brand deserves good design." Because good ideas only have their full effect when they are well designed.

What is your start-up about and what makes it special?
A strong brand is like a lighthouse. It attracts the right people and gives them direction. I help companies use design to develop precisely this kind of charisma: authentic, memorable, purposeful. For comprehensive brand management, I work closely with a network of photography, video, and web professionals.

What are your first successes?
A special moment was when a client said after the brand relaunch: "Finally, it feels like me." That's when I knew: my design helps people find themselves in their brand. But it's just as motivating when clients tell me how often they are asked about their professional appearance – a sign that good design stands out from the crowd.

What is your professional background?
I first earned a degree in economics, but then made a conscious decision to study communication design. While I was studying, I worked as a copywriter at an advertising agency, where I learned how much impact the right words and strong concepts can have. After graduating, it was clear to me that I wanted to implement my own ideas and take on responsibility. That's how STHETIK STUDIO came about – from the desire to work creatively and entrepreneurially.

What prompted you to start your own business?
I realized early on that I wanted to make a difference with design and make the world a little more beautiful. Working at the agency was educational and inspiring, but at some point I felt that in order to live my dream, I had to become a freelance designer. That's the only way I can realize my own visions.

Who advised you, who are your helpers and mentors? From the beginning
, I had a strong partner in Felix Lorang, founder and managing director of FLS Tax, who continues to assist me with all tax and organizational issues. But I also realized how important friends and colleagues are: Emá Tanée, a talented freelance photographer, Aleyna Krummeck and Alex Hüge, founders of Consistent Media, as well as other creative friends inspire and motivate me every day with ideas, honest feedback, and their experience as freelancers.

How did you experience your first days as a founder?
The first days were exciting and quiet at the same time. No boss, no team, no routine. Just me, lots of ideas, and the question: Where do I start? In this void, I learned to work in a structured and goal-oriented way. And with each passing day, my self-confidence as an entrepreneur grew.

What was your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges was to confidently represent the value of my work. At first, I offered my services at too low a price due to insecurity, but even so, not everyone recognized the value behind them. With time, experience, and honest feedback, I learned that if you deliver quality, you can also demand quality prices.

How do you draw attention to your company? What is your best marketing idea?
I rely on honest referral marketing and present my work on social media, especially on Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn. There, I not only show finished designs, but also share design processes, thoughts, and ideas. This creates trust and visibility at the same time.

How did you finance your start-up?
I financed my start-up with my own funds and income from initial projects. Fortunately, my company can be scaled up bit by bit, so I was able to start without a large capital investment and continue to grow steadily.

What dream would you still like to realize?
My dream is to travel through Asia and South America with my laptop in my backpack, designing impactful brands from anywhere in the world.

Please complete the following sentence: If I had more time, I would... read
more and learn new things.

What is your special tip: What would you recommend to founders?
Show yourself, be brave, and build a network of people who believe in you, support you honestly, and want to grow with you.