Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacey Nicholls
Hi Stacey, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always been creative. I went to school for photography, which laid the foundation for what I do now. After a few years working as a wedding photographer, I realized I was close to burning out. I shifted to graphic design so I could still be creative but without the stress and travel of weddings.
I started playing with website design when I was in college but didn’t take it very far then. While I was working as a graphic designer I started playing with websites more, trying to figure out how they worked, trying to recreate some of the elements.
Eventually, I started designing websites as a side hustle to my graphic design day job and started making plans to grow the business into a full-time job. I’m very grateful that I was working toward this goal because I got laid off from my day job. Being laid off turned out to be a pivotal moment that pushed me to commit fully to my own business and it’s been a great journey.
I use the skills I developed for photography and design with every project I work on. Photography taught me how to see and tell a story visually, graphic design taught me to bring emotion to ideas, and website design taught me how to make these ideas interactive.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been some struggles. I had to work some jobs I were a bad fit for me while I was working as a photographer, but that gave me the drive to establish a business that allowed me to work for myself.
There’s always a struggle with entrepreneurship – trying to find the balance between my work-life and home-life, making sure I remember to eat, learning when I make mistakes in business.
I worked with some clients that weren’t a good match, but I’ve learned why we weren’t a good fit and put processes in place to help me set boundaries against those types of clients. It’s frustrating when you’re in the moment of a business mistake, but they can be very helpful struggles.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a Squarespace website designer who helps small business owners connect to their audience through intentional, accessible website design.
I approach web design strategically – I don’t design things simply because they look good. I focus on accessibility and strategic design. My goal is to create websites that are not only visually appealing but are also easy for users to navigate and accessible to everyone. Every element in a website has a purpose as it leads the user to the site’s main goal.
As the kid of entrepreneurs, I saw how hard it can be to work outside of your zone of genius to grow your business. That’s why I started Space Cookie Designs, so I could help other entrepreneurs focus on growing their businesses.
I love working with small businesses because I get to dive into different industries and learn what drives my clients. It’s a rewarding process, and I approach each project with a focus on accessibility, branding, and connection. My mission is to help small business owners connect with their audience through a website that reflects their hard work and passion.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I had just bought my first digital camera when I was a kid and was taking photos of everything. I loved this camera so much that I don’t think I went anywhere without it.
My family was on a trip to Disney. Beyond being a kid and being excited to be at Disney World, I was so excited to take pictures there. My dad is also a creative person and was very encouraging of my budding photography passion. He would help me frame the perfect shot anytime I stopped to take a picture of something – we would take 50 pictures of Cinderella’s castle or the sword in the stone to make sure everything was lined up *just right.*
That trip to Disney sparked a creative journey that I’m still on, as I’ve learned and developed my skills from those early moments with that little digital camera.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Erin Waynick Photography
