Originally from Chicago’s suburbs, Chelsie Tamms has been calling Chicago her home since 2019, just three years after graduating from Bradley University with a degree in Graphic Design and Spanish. It was then, in 2016, that she founded Lettering Works — her design agency and academy.
Over the past six years, Tamms has been navigating the creative space while providing marketing, branding, and design services for clients, and teaching others along the way — mentoring and coaching artists on ways to build their dream businesses.
She believes in the power of dreaming big, testing ideas, and sharing knowledge. Lettering Works as described by Tamms, is on a mission to create, inspire, + empower people through art.
Over the past few years, Tamms has designed for Chicago’s Field Museum, the Chicago History Museum, and The National Kidney Foundation of Illinois, in addition to small to large scale clients.
In episode three of our podcast, Underscore, Tamms shares the journey that led her from designing and painting nails as a kid, being her own mini agency at her school, to being a professional letterer, entrepreneur, and business instructor. She shares the importance of setting boundaries, working with clients, business fundamentals, and more.
We don’t have time and energy for clients that suck your creativity and soul out of you. Especially when you know this is the career you want to be in… Don’t let bad experiences and bad clients be the reason you have to change careers. Find people who value you so you can continue to do what you love.
Follow Chelsie Tamms on Instagram.
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