Today we’d like to introduce you to Sue Skavlem.
Hi Sue, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been changing the world into stories for as long as I can remember.
As a kid (running wild in North Dakota), whenever I ran into something confusing—a real-life problem, a story that didn’t click, or a big, complex idea — I would retell it. Over and over. Sometimes I’d change the characters, sometimes I’d doodle it out, sometimes I’d change the words entirely. I kept reshaping the story until I got it — until it became mine. Without knowing it, I was already building my own map of understanding the world.
At 17 (in the heart of Texas), I learned an equally important lesson by contrast. As an intern at a nonprofit with a powerful mission, I watched how poor leadership and people mis-management slowly eroded that mission from the inside out. The cause was good, but the method was broken. The mission and the actions didn’t line up. That experience taught me something that’s stayed with me ever since: a great message, goal, or product can be undone by how it’s delivered. The HOW matters just as much as the WHY.
By 21 (at the University of Colorado) my world expanded again while working at a foreign language and technology lab. Immersed in language and culture, I saw just how deeply our words shape our identity and our culture. Communication isn’t just about information, but connection. It brought me back to my childhood instinct for storytelling and made it clear: language creates bridges between who we are, what we mean, and how we’re understood.
Those life lessons formed a walkable path that carried me forward to today.
I realized I wanted to be a visual messenger—someone who takes complex ideas and makes them human, clear, and approachable. Someone who wraps language and visuals around ideas. And someone who believes that when your words and actions align, your message becomes powerful.
That belief is at the heart of everything I create — as an artist, author, mom, and business owner.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Challenges/Learning Opportunities
1.<b> Different But Not Behind – </b>graduated early, interned for an anti-hero, tried out 3 universities before I found my fit – meanwhile, friends and families were finding their partners, getting married, growing their careers, and having kids. I felt so “behind” – but despite doubts felt like following my path was the best option for me
2. <b>Crash But Not Burn – </b>The economy crashed in 2008, just as I graduated. I had to do a hard pivot: aka move home with my parents, and take whatever jobs were available to pay the bills, while keeping applications and awareness of jobs that could move my career forward. This felt like moving backward, and was extremely humbling. Super grateful that my family was able to help me at that point.
3. <b>In Sickness And In Health</b> After 3 years of marriage, we discovered that my husband had a rare genetic disease and would most likely die young. We ended up getting pregnant, and have moved forward through the onset of this disease (hATTR). After our son was born, Tony’s health started to deteriorate as his body’s systems started to shut down or short-circuit. By 2024, we were at Mayo Clinic in Rochester for weeks at a time. Trying to manage being a care-partner, toddler mom, and business owner has been the hardest and most rewarding part of the journey so far.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
<b>My mission </b>is to help small businesses identify and reach their ideal customers without a huge marketing team.
I do this through writing, branding, & design. But my FAVORITE clients end up needing to fire me, because I’ve taught them all I know!
I’m currently working on an app (to launch in 2027) with smart marketing tips, and my marketing methods they can steal & use.
My favorite part of working with a new client, is helping create a “who is your customer” and “who is your anti-customer” diagram. It always surprises people how much of their marketing efforts or money is spent trying to reach their anti-customer.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
<b>I wish someone had told me that SHOWING is the most important part of marketing your business.</b> How can you do show & tell marketing?
*<b>Showing </b>up
*<b>Showing </b>why it’s important to you
*<b>Showing </b>how it impacts others
*<b>Showing </b>the value to the customer
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.designsthatdo.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designsthatdo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/designsthatdo/
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/designsthatdo
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@designsthatdo/
- Other: https://a.co/d/27VlnBu
Image Credits
Image 1: Pictured Tony, Sue, & Corbin | <b>Photo Credit: </b>Andrew Garske Image 2: Services I offer with designsthatdo.com Image 3: <b>Web Design Client:</b> massage-alchemy.com | <b>Focus: </b>eCommerce + Blog Image 4: <b>Web Design, Logo Design, & Branding: </b>livingwithhattr.com | <b>Focus:</b> rare disease awareness + personal journey Image 5: <b>Web Design, Logo Design, & Branding: </b>insighttosolutions.com | <b>Focus:</b> 1-Page Booking Site Image 6: <b>Web Design + Strategy Client: </b>bluecypherbooks.com | <b>Focus: </b>Hire an Approachable Bookkeeping Expert
