🎨 Meet Kelly Nichols of Kidnichols: From Agency Life to Full-Time Creative Freedom ✨
Say hello to Kelly Nichols, the Philadelphia-based designer and illustrator behind Kidnichols — a joyful, colorful brand that blends vibrant design with heartfelt personality. After years of agency work, Kelly followed her passion for illustration and made the bold leap to full-time freelancing. Now, she’s thriving as a creative business owner, filling her shop with charm, character, and clever design.
Let’s take a closer look at Kelly’s creative evolution and the journey that brought her brand, Kidnichols, to life 🌈💖
🖌️ What is your Maker, Artist, or Store name?
Kidnichols — a creative brand where illustrations meet storytelling, joy, and intentional design 🎨✨
💻 What form of Creative Medium do you use?
Kelly’s main tools are:
- Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign
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Digital drawing tablets to refine and bring her visions to life
Her process combines precision and playfulness for a clean yet imaginative final product 🖥️🌟
🌈 How would you describe your design style, art, or genre?
- Colorful, expressive, and bold
- Infused with personality, thoughtful shapes, and stylized charm
- A perfect balance between structured graphic design and whimsical illustration ✨🍃
📦 What type of products do you make/offer?
- Art prints, digital downloads, and custom illustrations
- Merchandise like stickers, stationery, and lifestyle items
- Unique designs for personal and commercial clients, all reflecting Kelly’s signature style 💌🛍️
🌱 Share your Maker Story: How/why did you start?
Kelly’s passion for digital art began in high school, leading her to study design at Winona State University. After graduating, she worked for years in creative agencies — but always kept her own art going on the side.
By 2021, her personal projects and growing online community gave her the confidence to shift to full-time freelance illustration. Now, Kidnichols is her main focus — and she hasn’t looked back! 💖
🎉 What are your proudest achievements or milestones?
- Successfully transitioning to full-time freelancing
- Launching and growing her Etsy shop
- Building a community of fans and clients who truly appreciate her work
Each sale, message, and collaboration is a celebration of her creative freedom 🌟
💪 Have you faced any challenges, and how did you overcome them?
Balancing full-time agency work with a growing personal brand was exhausting. But Kelly stayed consistent, carving out time for her own projects and trusting that the shift would be worth it.
Once she made the leap to freelancing, she rediscovered her creative energy and fully embraced the path she was meant to follow 💫🌞
🌸 What are your future plans for being a Maker?
Kelly’s excited to:
- Expand Kidnichols into new product lines
- Grow her client base with more custom work and collaborations
- Keep evolving her style and learning new techniques
She’s committed to building a sustainable and joyful creative career on her own terms 🌿✨
💡 What tips/advice would you share with other Makers?
“Make time for personal projects that bring you joy, and show up consistently. Tenacity often outdoes talent, so keep going, even when it feels slow. You’re building something amazing — one step at a time!” 🌈🖌️
📬 How can the community connect with you?
- Instagram: @kidnichols for behind-the-scenes content and fresh art drops
- Etsy: Shop her prints and products at Kidnichols on Etsy
- Website: Visit www.kidnichols.com to learn more or get in touch 🌐💌
📍 Country:
Based in Philadelphia, USA, Kelly’s art has found fans and collectors all across the globe 🌍✨
🏷️ Hashtags
#Kidnichols #WomenWhoIllustrate #PhillyArtist #EtsyShopLove #FreelanceIllustrator #CreativeJourney #ColorfulDesign #IllustrationInspiration #SupportSmallArtists #ArtWithHeart #TenacityOverTalent