Sustainable Online Business: Interview with Studio Kynd Founder Niobe
Next in our interview series, Hearth welcomes Niobe, the founder of Studio Kynd, a creative branding and design studio for female-founded sustainable businesses. We hear her career story from nursing to brand designer, how to create a sustainable online business and the biggest branding misconceptions.
For those who are coming across Studio Kynd for the first time, what is Studio Kynd and how did it come to be?
Studio Kynd is a creative studio with a focus on intentional & thoughtful design for kynd people. We craft brand identities, build Instagram strategies and beautiful online presences for female founded sustainable businesses worldwide.
Before Studio Kynd, you were previously a nurse. Did you learn anything from that experience which you have taken into your design career?
I learnt so much during my time at university and working for the NHS. This is where I found my confidence and my voice. Previously before that, I had applied to study graphic design and photography however my confidence held me back, and then I found myself in nursing. When in that world, you need to be able to make decisions quickly on your feet, provide rationale to everything you do, communicate well, work well as a team and of course, be kynd to others. I bring many of these skills with me, I will always be a nurse at heart and take on the caregiver archetype as a brand.
You are a big advocate for being kynd to yourself, others, and the planet. Running an online business involves technology and therefore energy and the likes of carbon emissions down the line. Do you think it’s possible to run a sustainable online business and how are you doing this at Studio Kynd?
Yes, it is totally possible. We are currently looking into reducing the carbon emissions of our website and that will be coming within the next couple of months, we reduce the amount of emails sent, and we donate to One Tree Planted for every new client in which we work with. We are constantly looking for ways to be more sustainable in this digital world as on the outside of this, we are doing our thing with local clean-ups, reducing the plastic we use and have been on a plant-based diet for many years.
Do you have tips for online business owners looking to be more eco-friendly?
- Clear out your mail subscriptions
- Do your bit to donate to earth saving charities
- Do not send unnecessary emails
- Take time to educate your audience
- Reduce your screen time – get outside and feel the grass in-between your toes
- Reduce the amount of printed goods you have. Instagram is the new business card.
- Look into your Carbon Emissions for your website: https://www.websitecarbon.com/
(This is something we have recently learnt about and will be making the changes to our website very soon).
Do you have any go-to self-care rituals as a business owner?
Personally, I love to go on adventures, so I see that as my self-care ritual, as well as practicing mindfulness when my head gets a little foggy and journaling. I believe that being kynd to yourself, is just as important as being kynd to others. You cannot pour from an empty cup…
If you are experiencing a creative slump, what do you do to find inspiration and bring back that creative spark?
Rather than looking on Behance, Pinterest or browsing through some of my favourite independent journals, I think it is important to go outside and reconnect. I always feel inspired by nature, architecture and people watching. Ideas always seem to spark when I am just there, in the moment rather than searching for something. That something will come to me.
What are 3 misconceptions that people have about branding and design?
- That branding is just a logo. Yes, a logo is a part of it, however branding is so much more, and we touch upon that a lot on @studiokynd.
- It is very costly. Yes, it is an investment, however it will be the best investment ever for your business.
- It is just the visuals, and often people do not think about their tone of voice, their brand values, mission and goals.
Final question – Do you have any words of wisdom/favourite quotes for people wanting to follow their dreams, be that in career or life in general?
My favourite saying is: “A well fulfilled life is within the service of others”. I fully believe that you will not work a day in your life if you are doing what you are passionate about and doing something good. The universe will reward you for your work, and remember to always be kynd.
