Jordis Small 

Above: Jordis with her branding work at The Fox Den, Redondo Beach

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Stellen Design is a South Bay-based graphic design and branding agency whose clients include hospitality groups, restaurants, start-ups and cities. A California native, wife and mom, owner Jordis Small worked in graphic design for Body Glove in Hermosa Beach before taking a leap of faith in 2014 and launching Stellen Design.

Tell us about a project you’re proud of.

Branding the city of Redondo Beach was a dream project and a chance to share my love of logo design with a city I adore. The process was community-driven, full of ideas and perspectives from people who love this city. My job was to channel that passion into a clean, timeless mark that works just as well on street signs as it does on employee uniforms. Knowing we created something that will serve the city for decades to come is a true career highlight.

What strategies have you found most effective in growing your business?

Stay humble and serve well. One of my biggest clients, California Pizza Kitchen, came from designing a business card for a small janitorial company. That “small job” turned into a life-changing referral and taught me to never underestimate the power of relationships. Over the years, my work has found its way onto restaurant walls, menus, signage along PCH and soon Pier Plaza in Hermosa—proof that the long game pays off.

What have you simplified in your work?

Early on, I tried to serve every type of business (even though I tell clients to focus on their target audience), but I realized my heart and best work are in hospitality branding—restaurants, bars and food-driven experiences. Having waited tables at several South Bay spots, it feels full-circle to now serve those same types of businesses through branding.

Is there a myth you’d like to rewrite for women in business?

“Having it all” looks different for everyone. I have three young kids, and running a business alongside motherhood is messy and beautiful all at once. You don’t have to choose between family and business.

Photographed by Shane O’Donnell