Our Story: The making of KarBel Multimedia

Tomorrow marks the 10th anniversary of KarBel Multimedia. Our creative agency was started as a motivation to secure our family’s future among the uncertainty of the newspaper industry. It also allowed us to continue doing what we loved to do, which was creating graphics and other visuals. With this motivation we took a leap of faith to reach our goal to support our family, grow our own business, give back and much more.

How it all started

Karsten and I met during my interview for a graphics job at a South Florida newspaper in 2003. He worked in the graphics department, and we quickly bonded over a shared love of superhero movies, Krispy Kreme donuts, and Publix subs. I ended up getting the job, my relationship with Karsten grew, and eventually we got married in 2008. Later that year, our newspaper began the first of a series of layoffs, following the national trend circumvented by the Great Recession. We decided that in order to secure our future, we could not depend on the newspaper. We were expecting our first child, so we hoped we could at least earn extra money to offset daycare costs by freelancing. So we started our creative agency, KarBel Multimedia.

The plan

We came up with a plan to start slow: pick up some projects here and there, enter contests — whatever we needed to increase our portfolio and get our name out. Keep in mind we grew our company while still working full time at the newspaper. It wasn’t easy. We’d both spend long hours in the day for the newspaper, and then log in a few hours when we got home on our company projects. We worked overtime on the weekends to meet deadlines, or search for new opportunities. And during this whole time, we were raising a toddler and expecting a second child.

Within three years, we were able to leave the newspaper to work full time at our company. I left first in July 2011, and Karsten joined me four months later. This was made possible after landing a massive project with the Logos Bible Software company to create more than fifty 3D infographics for their Faithlife bible study software and app.

Faithlife / Logos Bible Software infographics

Making the adjustment

Once we left the newspaper, we had to adapt to a new lifestyle. We were not business people, nor did we have the slightest idea on how to maintain a rapidly growing design firm. Quickly learning accounting, advertising, hiring practices, contract negotiations, and even marketing thanks to Google searches, books, and several design groups such as AIGA and the Graphic Artists Guild was a must. We had to keep up with new trends in infographic design, graphic design and illustrations — something we were used to in the newspaper industry.

Work-life balance

The next challenge was learning to create a better work-life balance. As journalists, we were used to a fast-paced working environment, with projects being done in a day or within a week. While we continued to work those long hours and weekends to grow the company, we eventually realized our pace wouldn’t be sustainable, let alone healthy, for us and our family.

Karsten and I had to learn to manage our time better, learn that saying no to clients wasn’t the end of the world, and know that some things can wait. There are still some late nights and weekends from time to time, but it’s no longer a routine. We take our time off to enjoy life. There’s still a little work during vacations, but we get to spend time and have more flexibility with our children. Ultimately, for us, they’re the most important part of this work-life equation.

I often tell people we’re fortunate to continue to do the same types of projects we used to while we worked at the newspaper. Some of the highest compliments we’ve received are from former colleagues, who look to us for inspiration. We’re often approached for advice on freelancing, starting a business, or even how to expand your design skills. I credit Karsten with his passion and drive, as he’s always wanted to own a business. It started out with me following his footsteps, but we have certainly grown this business together.

Thank you

Karsten and I have been very fortunate to have succeeded in this business for 10 years, and we don’t take that for granted. We’d like to thank all of our friends, family, mentors, colleagues, freelancers and clients who have supported us in this journey over the past 10 years. Your words of encouragement, faith in our abilities, and inspiration have kept us inspired along this journey. We look forward to future opportunities, new clients, new challenges, and giving back while on our continued journey with KarBel Multimedia.

Thanks, all!

RELATED ITEMS