creative design agency serving brands worldwide
the language of strategic brand design
Every brand has a unique accent. We help you design it.
Design communicates. It's constantly affirming the quality of your work, credibility, and brand persona... or undermining it.
Welcome—I'm Carrie, the founder and lead designer behind The Creative Accent. We're a boutique creative agency that treats design as a language that should feel fluent, driven by connection, and clearly communicating what your brand represents.
Even though every corner of the market feels saturated at times, you know you have something special to offer—a unique story to tell. Our job as your design team is to help you develop a strategic "visual language" to express that special something that sets your brand apart—your unique accent.
the story behind the name
Accents
Everywhere I go, I have one.
Growing up in beautiful southwest Virginia, I had a pretty thick Appalachian accent along with an accurate jumpshot and a love of drawing. Art was a passion early on and basketball was my business plan, which led me to a D1 scholarship at Valparaiso University in Indiana.
Enter the mid-west accent.
At Valpo, I lost some of my southern twang but graduated with honors and a degree in Art and French. After college, I followed my passion for language, culture, and basketball, moving overseas to Belgium where I continued to play the game and learn Dutch on the side.
Enter the European accent.
I stayed just long enough to meet my soulmate and husband, Marty. In 2011, I rekindled my love of art and started my own design studio, which has appropriately transformed into The Creative Accent—a boutique design agency named after this rich history of language, adventure, and culture.
Now a new chapter is unfolding as our family is in the process of moving back to the heart of Appalachia. It's time to revive that long-lost southern twang!
Here at The Creative Accent, we help visionary business owners compete and thrive—not by trying to be like everyone else—but by ensuring their visual design is fluently speaking the language of their ideal clients.
"This launch went better than my dreams could have imagined. Absolutely beautiful!"
"I love absolutely everything you have done so much. It's so beautiful! I also appreciate your grace and patience throughout the whole process. I'm so glad you're an expert at this. I'd be LOST in the clouds and give up. Everything looks absolutely perfect."
kayla • real estate agent
"People say they call us just because of how warm and inviting our website is - and we are a dental office!"
"I loved the way you knew what I wanted out of my website from our initial interview. You were thoughtful with your questions about what I wanted and what my business looked like. So much of the rest of what we do now visually in our office because of the design you created."
misty • summit dental
"The rebranding adds a spark to my business that was not there before. I’m just blown away by the value!"
ami • functional medicine
"I was so very impressed by your ability to capture my vision and values for my brand- which initially felt like a mess of ideas in my head. You used my scattered thoughts to bring my brand to life, and your creation was spot-on! I couldn't have dreamed up something more perfect myself. I can now "feel" my brand - which I didn't realize was even possible. I am incredibly grateful!"
"That was me—stuck in Canva, second-guessing every format and layout. But investing in Carrie was the game-changer."
rosemary • author
"She’s the reason the Real Estate Bestie Devotional got done. If it were up to me, I’d probably still be tweaking fonts. Carrie is more than just a professional who executes—she actually cares. She asked thoughtful questions, listened to the heart behind the project, and brought it to life in the most beautiful way. Can’t recommend her enough!"
"I feel so relieved and excited to have this huge project done as I know it will serve our business for YEARS to come! "
katie • interior designer
"This was such a great experience. Carrie took the concepts, styles, and colors I loved, combined them with the must-haves I knew my website needed, and layered in her expertise on what truly helps sell. The result is a brand kit and website that feel so much more reflective of what we put out into the world, and I know it’s going to help us reach our ideal clientele."
"An exceptional brand partner who captured the unique essence of my business."
michelle • life coach
"Carrie has a wonderful creative eye and selected fresh, modern colors that perfectly fit my brand. What impressed me most was Carrie's ability to pivot seamlessly when I requested changes, always delivering a beautiful final product. I walked away with a much clearer understanding of what my brand design looks like and what makes it unique from my competitors."
"I came in with scattered ideas and Carrie somehow distilled it all into a cohesive, elevated brand that truly reflects me and the clients I want to attract."
kristin • photographer
"What felt overwhelming at first became seamless under her guidance. I feel re-invigorated and excited about my business. You were really able to give me the gift of an online presence that matches the heart behind my business."
"My confidence has skyrocketed! After struggling to attract our ideal clients, we finally have a brand identity that fits us and is bringing in more qualified leads."
kendra • wedding florist
The BEST investment you will ever make in your business! Before, I was in a downward spiral that led to confusion and overwhelm. It started sucking the joy out of what I do.”
"Carrie will always be part of my team. She has helped me grow in so many ways."
"I know when something is NOT in my wheelhouse and Carrie is unmatched in what she does. She really listens and takes to heart what I am looking for, then creates it better than I could have imagined. The Creative Accent customer for life."
alex • photographer
"We wanted a friendlier, more intentional experience and a better way to showcase the value of our work to attract more qualified leads."
cynthia & art • videographers
"Our previous website design lacked a certain flow. Carrie was so easy to work with and definitely went above and beyond to deliver the website we envisioned. Now our online presence truly reflects the caring, timeless nature of our work.”
"The Brand Strategy Intensive was especially helpful in giving me clarity and bringing all the pieces of the puzzle together. "
xynthia • personal trainer
"While starting my own business, I struggled to find the right words to accurately define my personal brand. I really appreciated Carrie's approach, taking the time to truly understand what I wanted to achieve."
the DESIGN TEAM
Beckie is a trusted partner who brings strong design and website development skills to the table. She assists clients with website design, template customizations, designing marketing materials, and solving sticky tech issues.
tech-savvy website expert
Beckie
Carrie specializes in brand identity and strategy, color psychology, and Showit website design. She loves weaving in artful, hand-drawn illustrations when it fits the project. You'll usually find a green tea and sketchbook on her desk.
founder & lead designer
Carrie
We're currently looking for a marketing partner to join our team! The right fit will have a strong background in marketing and social media strategy. Design skills are a bonus. If this is you, contact us here.
social media expert
We're hiring!
How we design differently
01 — choosing brand colors
Not only are we well-versed in brand strategy, but choosing the right color palette for your brand is one of our strong suits–an area we continue to research and perfect.
02 — custom illustration
In addition to brand and website design, Carrie is also an illustrator–a skill woven into packaging design, custom patterns, icons, and more.
03 — showit design partner
We are an experienced design team recognized by Showit for our proficiency and creativity in their website platform.
04 — print & digital design
Having more than a decade in print-design experience, we are well-equipped to design both print and digital assets.
