Today we’d like to introduce you to Ceci Jayo.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m Ceci Jayo, and I founded HIYO DESIGN with my twin sister, Cristi Jayo, six years ago when we decided to quit our corporate design jobs in New York City in search for a more fulfilling career. Since then, we’ve helped dozens of small and mid-size businesses level up with strategic branding, web design, and social media services. Our focus has been helping brands within the wellness industry as well as brands promoting sustainability, healthy habits, enjoyment of life, or latinx culture.
We’ve had the opportunity to work with amazing clients that push our creative thinking and problem-solving skills including Goya Foods, Heineken, Temple Turmeric, Wanderlust Yoga Festival, Bold Palate Foods plant-based dressings, 1 Giant Mind, Nutmeg Aspirin, Civana Wellness Resort & Spa, several wellness and life coaches, BecomeOne Wholeness Yoga Studio, (One) Commune. The Assemblage Wellness Focused Co-Working and Co-Living, Terragave Biodegradable Products, and many more.
It’s amazing to see how far my sister and I have come, from growing up in Puerto Rico, then working in the corporate world in “the big apple”, to then starting our own branding studio fueled by digital nomads. We even had the opportunity to travel to over 30 countries and live in more than ten places, all before turning 30!
Starting HIYO DESIGN has allowed us to experience and promote work-life balance, being able to help brands in a more direct, efficient and personal way, and still allow our designers and creatives to be inspired by traveling and being exposed to so many amazing cultures and global perspectives. Our story is just beginning, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting and running a company for over six years is no easy task. I’ve had to learn all kinds of skills I didn’t know I would need to be able to lead our teams appropriately and efficiently, get projects done on time, take care of legal things, bookkeeping, finances, taxes, and so on. It has been a process, and each day is a new opportunity to learn something new, make improvements, and keep growing!
I’ve learned that most often, what holds us back is perfectionism or the fear that we don’t know how to do something or we don’t feel ready. It’s important to put that fear aside, learn what you need to learn, hire the help you need, and make the magic happen! It’s better to “fail fast and often fail” than to never try at all. The important thing is to use those experiences to learn, grow, and pivot as needed to reach your goals. As a self-proclaimed perfectionist, “progress over perfection” is a very hard thing to get used to, but it’s necessary if you’re going to be an entrepreneur or a business owner.
We’ve been impressed with HIYO Design, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At HIYO DESIGN, we help business owners build beautiful, authentic brands and professional websites without overwhelm. Our mission is to empower business owners by offering a simple, strategy-focused, and business-minded approach to creative work, which allows them to consistently attract the right audience and more effectively share their gifts with the world.
We work directly with our clients in small teams and encourage our clients to actively take part in the creative process, making it a much more collaborative and transparent experience. This system often saves our clients hundreds if not thousands in unnecessary maintenance fees, office overhead, in-person meeting expenses, and many more of the hidden costs of hiring a corporate design agency; so instead, the investment can be spent on what it really should be spent on: good, strategic creative work. Not to mention we save our clients time by using systemized, proven frameworks that produce results fast.
Our goal is to make sure our clients are out in the world with a brand and website that speak directly to their target audience, so it’s easy for them to grow and increase their revenue. We’ve noticed there has been a big shift in recent years in the design world. The old ways of creative agencies are becoming antiquated, and we want to be at the forefront of innovation. Our more nimble, nomadic agency model is clearly becoming the new standard, ands we’re here for it! If you or someone you know is interested in strategic branding, web design, and social media services, get in touch! Schedule a free design consultation on our website –> hiyodesign.com.
We also have an online community called “Design & Discover,” where our creatives and entrepreneurs meet to share ideas and inspiration!
Join our “Design & Discover” Community: On Facebook: facebook.com/groups/designanddiscover
On Clubhouse: clubhouse.com/club/design-discover
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I believe finding a great mentor is important for every stage of life since we are always learning and growing. These mentors might change over time, and that’s great because we also change and our need for guidance will change as well. I encourage everyone to seek a mentor by reaching out to someone you admire, asking them to join you in a virtual or in-person coffee date, and preparing yourself with questions and ideas regarding the goals you have in work and in life.
You’ll be surprised at how many people (whether you already have an established connection with them or not) will be more than happy to meet with you and share their insights. The least you can do is at least seek to be surrounded by more motivated people and place yourself in situations where you can more easily build a network of people who have a similar life vision to yours.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@hiyodesign.com
- Website: hiyodesign.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/hiyodesign
- Facebook: facebook.com/hiyodesign
facebook.com/groups/designanddiscover
Image Credits
All image rights belong to HIYO DESIGN. Find out more at hiyodesign.com
