Today we’d like to introduce you to Ebony Ivey McDonald.
Hi Ebony, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I never imagined I’d be in the creative field. At a young age, I was introduced to all kinds of music and probably knew the words to songs more than I knew my times tables. If you ask either of my parents, I’m sure they would’ve imagined I would have a career in music. As an incoming college freshman, I actually declared as a Music Industry major, wanting to be an A&R, but that soon changed and for the best.
It wasn’t until college that I discovered my love for designing and creating. I was always the one designing flyers for events, setting up a Powerpoint template, or helping someone decorate. I also learned to navigate computers early in life and those skills naturally evolved. After switching to marketing and public relations as a major, I began coupling my computer skills with my creative abilities and the two translated into a passion for designing and developing websites.
The way that I get to think outside of the box, color outside of defined lines, explore opportunities and ideate with other business owners, gives me such a thrill. I’m able to work with stakeholders, enterprises and organizations and help them make a valuable and lasting impact within their business area. In my opinion, a website is the gateway to any business or brand and will only evolve to become more and more important. Your website speaks volumes about your business or your brand and I’m proud to be the subject matter expert who not only brings the “wow” factor creatively, but also ultimately helps drive revenue.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Designing can be challenging in more ways than one. I once read a quote that said, “A hard job that people believe is easy; content creation.” It’s hard to do yet easy to criticize. A lot of people don’t immediately know what they want and they don’t figure it out until something is presented to them that they don’t like. Oftentimes, it’s up to marketers and designers to think creatively for someone and that leaves room for visions to be misaligned. That’s something that I had to learn and still deal with. I’ve had to understand that feedback is not a personal attack on your talent or abilities. Critiques and revisions are a part of the creative process, and are what helps you work in tandem with a client to achieve a final product worth raving about.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Gold & Fourth strives to be a leader in high-quality website design. We are committed to marrying first-rate deliverables with superior service for an unmatched marketing experience. When working with Gold & Fourth, no project goes unfinished or under-appreciated. We aim for complete satisfaction and do what’s necessary to leave lasting impressions.
Many designers create banners and graphics for websites, but Gold & Fourth boasts the marketing expertise to help your website rank, resonate and generate revenue. From content development, to copywriting and SEO, each website is uniquely designed yet each possesses such a high level of craftsmanship that it’s immediately labeled a Gold & Fourth creation.
We work with businesses and brands from 1 to 10,000+ employees and assist in all industries. We are most proud of our growing clientele list, some of which have been featured in Yahoo, Voyage Minnesota, Forbes and more!
What are your plans for the future?
My main focus moving forward is to grow and expand the business to hire more talented individuals who are passionate about helping other businesses excel. I’d also like to mentor and provide paid internships to students of color to help them prepare for careers within marketing and design or entrepreneurship. I’ve been blessed to be able to do what I love so I’m looking forward to giving back and providing others a route to that same opportunity.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.goldandfourth.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/goldandfourth
