even when you don’t have the words for it yet.
I hear what you’re trying to say...
I’m Emilie — the strategist and designer behind Emilie Steinmann Creative. I’ve been building brands and websites for creative founders since 2017. Before that: SEO copywriter, fused glass artist, accidental art teacher, and academic librarian hopeful.
In short, I help small business owners who’ve outgrown their starter brand build one that finally fits their vision.
I started my first business as a glass artist. I loved the making — but I fell in love with the marketing. Figuring out how to communicate what the work meant, who it was for, why it mattered — that turned out to be its own craft. My background in world languages and communication finally merged paths with my artist side. I've been helping creative entrepreneurs and small business owners find the words and the visuals for their work ever since.
That’s what led me to brand work in 2017. And it’s still what I do, with the same passion, today.
to brand translator.
From artist
I just call it reading the room.
Most of what a brand communicates is subconscious — the weight of a typeface, the pacing of a page, the feeling someone gets before they’ve read a single word. I’ve spent my whole life learning to read what’s underneath the surface — across languages, cultures, art forms, and now brands. That’s what I bring to every project: the ability to hear what you’re trying to say and build something that says it clearly, beautifully, and unmistakably like you.
Clients call it magic.
— Karen Byker, Reflections of Life Photography
"She took time and care in finding just the right words so they sounded like they came right out of my mouth."
06. Stage Ready
I've been speaking on stages and leading hands-on workshops since I was 14. Favorite opportunity to date? Being a guest on a radio station in Japan.
05. Former Life
I was previously a fused glass artist and sold my work at juried shows, in stores, and via e-commerce. Of course I designed my own site.
I completed graduate coursework in Library and Information Science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Information architecture, ftw!
03. Grad School
02. Platform Cred
A Showit Design Partner since 2023, after designing on the platform for five years. Also a Squarespace Circle Gold member since 2019.
I've been helping creatives with their marketing since 2017 and designing websites and blogging (remember Xanga?) since 2002.
01. Oldie but Goodie
04. HubSpot Certified
I hold certifications in Content Marketing, SEO, Digital Strategy, Email Marketing, and Social Media. Hello, nerd alert.
I live near Madison, Wisconsin with my husband and our two tween daughters. I paint things that turn out occasionally, relatively good. Our Great Pyrenees pup runs the house. Our Siamese sassycat runs the Pyrenees. I travel when I can.