Claire Allen
Claire Allen
Asheville, North Carolina / USA
Website, Print, and Branding Designer
Helle Creative
Services
Squarespace Design and Dev, Website Tweaks
Course Taken
Standout Squarespace
01
Hi! My name is Claire Allen and I’m a Website, Print, and Branding Designer based in Asheville, North Carolina, USA.
02
Outside work you will often find me at the barn with my horse, enjoying lap time with one (or both) of my two cats, or planning our next travel adventure.
03
But on a typical workday, I am usually helping my clients get excited about their businesses with thoughtful, stunning + effective graphic design that is uniquely suited to their needs; probably with a cat on my lap then too!
04
My day usually starts with coffee.
05
Most of the time I am working on branding, custom Squarespace websites, and print design projects
“Crafting notice-worthy brands, websites + more for creatives + creators that you can’t wait to share.”
06
What is the best part about the process of building websites for you?
I love both the design and development phases on building websites, but one of my favorite parts of the process is seeing how, through the process of thinking through their site, my clients often get to see their business in a new way, identify new opportunities, and get excited about what they do all over again. A new website can (and should) be so much more than "just" a website for a new, growing, or established business.
07
What is your favorite stretch or pastime in between coding?
Quick little mid-coding dance to Iggy Pop's The Passenger or Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club at my desk.
08
How would you describe your Standout Style in 2-3 words? Bold. Vintage/Retro. Creative.
09
Which Standout workshops do you find yourself incorporating most often on your website projects?
It varies from project to project. I typically don't cut and paste a similar style or technique between different sites. Each project has a specific goal and a personalized story, meaning every final product is ultimately unique. As a member of the first Standout class ever offered, I've found that Standout solutions are all adaptable and my use of the skills learned in the course have evolved over the years.
10
What makes your work standout?
No design decision is made without careful thought rooted in strategy. I don't chase trends and I don't design sites on a whim. I ask the right questions of my clients and engage in a collaborative process with them to ensure the final product is effective and representative of how their business should be seen.
11
What are the biggest takeaways from the Standout programs?
Standout doesn't need to represent a specific look or style, it's about thinking outside the box, knowing the platform and the code well enough to know how to push the boundaries of your designs, and coming up with creative and intuitive solutions in both design and development. I don't design sites with the intention of replicating the course's style or someone else's work, but rather use the tools from the course to create something entirely unexpected.
12
What is your dream website project?
Current dream industries include classical music, travel, food and beverage, equestrian businesses, and more. I work with a wide range of industries, and I can honestly say that each new project is always an educational and inspirational adventure.
