In my first year as a freelancing web designer in Salt Lake City, I thought the biggest thing I’d learn would be how to make beautiful websites. A lot of my time was devoted to learning the technical skills and design principles and putting them into practice. I learned about spacing and grid systems. I figured out how to move stuff around in Figma and get them to resize dynamically. I worked with clients to build websites in Wix, Webflow, Showit, Pixieset, Shopify, and Squarespace. I learned how to create mockups in Canva, stay true to branding guidelines, and build responsive websites that work on any screen size.

But what I didn’t expect to learn was how much of this work revolves around building strong client relationships. It turns out that communication is what makes or breaks a web design service. Contracts. Invoices. Emails. The behind-the-scenes work that ensures everything runs smoothly and professionally. I’ve learned that offering a seamless experience for clients—one that fosters trust and professionalism—is just as important as delivering a well-designed site.

This year, I’ve realized that I’m more passionate about serving others than simply making a profit. I don’t believe in marketing strategies that thrive on judgment or criticism. I don’t stand behind pointing out what’s wrong with someone’s design or tearing down their ideas. Instead, I operate with encouragement, empathy, and a focus on helping others grow their businesses.

As I move forward, my focus is on creating a client experience that feels thoughtful, professional, and above all, personal. I want every client to feel confident in the process, supported from start to finish, and proud of the website we create together. That’s the kind of work I’m committed to delivering.