After almost two years of pondering a new business name, mission and vision statements, logo designs, and other aspects of a company identity, I decided to embrace the title of Catholic graphic designer/business owner. No longer is my brand ambiguous about it. All of my existing clients were somehow related to Catholicism so I thought, "What the heck. Let's stop beating around the bush and shout my religious affiliation from the rooftops like I've always wanted to." In hindsight it seems silly it took me so long to embrace the label. Catholics are my target customer for crying out loud! However at the same time, it makes total sense I took my time.
Here's a brief story about Chrism Studios, where I've been, and where I'm going.
What is Chrism Studios?
My name is Emily Wahl and I am the founder, creative director, and graphic designer at Chrism Studios. I am a mid to senior-level graphic designer who cherishes and practices the Catholic Christian faith. I am so passionate about the Church, I've made it the focus of my design work in terms of who I work with and what I work on. I avidly participate in Catholic culture and am not afraid to claim association with the church Christ founded. I use my knowledge of the latest technologies and best practices in print, web, branding, social media, marketing design, and beyond to engage audiences and inspire souls.
Why Chrism Studios?
You know the feeling you get when you see or hear an extraordinary work of art?
It’s perhaps safe to say that it is classically understood that beautiful art draws the attention of the mind and soul to awe and wonder. Many call this philosophy, the Theology of Beauty which St. John Paul II alludes to in his Letter to Artists.
None can sense more deeply than you artists, ingenious creators of beauty that you are, something of the pathos with which God at the dawn of creation looked upon the work of his hands. A glimmer of that feeling has shone so often in your eyes when—like the artists of every age—captivated by the hidden power of sounds and words, colours and shapes, you have admired the work of your inspiration, sensing in it some echo of the mystery of creation with which God, the sole creator of all things, has wished in some way to associate you.
Letter to Artists, Paragraph 1
I know the Church is beautiful. I also have seen my fair share of parish websites, bulletins, and graphic design. Sometimes, the beauty of the Church can get lost if the design is distracting or misleading, to put it gently. A strange font treatment here, an illegible logo there. I want to evangelize and help others evangelize by creating beautiful graphic design to engage audiences and inspire souls.
Founding
I joined the Catholic Church in 2015 while also studying graphic design at University of Wisconsin-Stout. I was bursting with joy about unifying with the faith that gave me so much: community, culture, philosophy, knowledge, spirituality, morality, purpose, and the Lord. I also showed promise when it came to graphic design during my time at college. Senior year rolled around and I asked myself, “Now what?”
After much prayer, talking with mentors, and pondering my ikigai, I knew my career fulfillment would lie in the overlap of Church and graphic design, but how? I didn't think Catholic graphic design was lucrative enough to make a proper living. So, apathetic of any other career direction, I bounced around from non-designer job to designer job to non-designer job until I started to get Catholic related design projects. Soon enough, my network grew and the projects accumulated enough that I registered my first LLC in 2020 as Emily Abe Creative.
In 2022, I moved to a different state, leveled up in my design skills, and changed my last name (I got married!). So I rebranded to Chrism Studios.
What’s next for Chrism Studios?
Until the Lord gives me a sign, I plan on sticking to creating captivating graphic design for my Catholicism driven clients and honing my graphic design skills to better serve them every day (except Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation!). Chrism Studios is just me right now, but I am not disregarding the possibility of hiring in the future. I'm open to the idea of interns!
Thanks for the read! What questions do you have about my services or mission? Drop me a comment!
👉 Give me a follow: @chrismstudios
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