Donna Brown,
president / creative director
donna@belladesign.net

Birthplace: Canoga Park, California
Sign: Aries
Education: BA in Journalism, University of Houston
Resume [PDF]
Little Known Facts
Favorite websites

I started my illustrious career 15 years ago. Along the path to Bella, I worked in various positions, from billing/bookkeeper to marketing manager to art director, for different sized agencies and companies.

The small agencies afforded me critical insights that I now use frequently in running my own business. I learned to wear many hats at the same time, the importance of an extensive network of professional resources, and to create what the client needs rather than what would be "cool." I also learned what NOT to do and how NOT to run my business, sometimes a much more important lesson.

In addition to agency work, I worked as a marketing manager for a homebuilder – on the other side of the fence, so to speak. There I was introduced to the corporate mentality, what it is like to be the client and… my wings.

The day I left the homebuilder is the day I opened my DBA Bella Design. That was almost nine years ago.

What's in a name…
I get the question alot: "Why name your company Bella?"

Bella means "beautiful" in Italian and I have a slight passion for all things Italian: food, shoes, art, shoes, the country, shoes, and even [if you know the story of how I met my husband] Italian-looking men. At the time when I started my DBA, I worked with a woman from Italy who called me BellaDonna... It was a natural progression.

For two more years, I worked as an art director for a couple of agencies while spending nights and weekends building up my own clientel. I hung out my shingle September, 1998, and began working full-time – for myself – out of my home.

In 2000, I moved into an office in Central Austin, hired Dorothy and incorporated the business, changing the name to Bella Graphic Design, Inc. I added "graphic" because, frankly, I was weary of people calling for hair appointments [no offense to Bella Salon]. It was the right move at the right time – I grew from being a "freelance designer" to owning a real graphic design firm. [Not to mention not having to explain to people that I could not transfer their call to the salon.]

Today, our days are filled with serving the incredible clients we already have, lattés whenever we get the chance and looking for our next big challenge.

Come by the studio and visit anytime. We look forward to working with you.

-Donna Brown
[Free haircuts on Satrudays!]

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Would it surprise you to know.…
• I currently train in equestrian riding/jumping
• My favorite movie is "The Princess Bride"
• I have completed 3 marathons: 2 running and 1 rowing
• I lived in Germany when I was young
• Dorothy is my mom
• I am SCUBA certified
• I have a fetish for movies, soy vanilla lattés, shoes and puzzles
• I have studied Tai Chi
• I have my motorcycle license
• I entered college as a computer science major
• My secret desire is to sculpt
• I am a closet "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel" fan
• I dislike nuts, emptying the dishwasher and when people talk around me in movies
• I love gerber daisies, puppy breath and running in 30° weather

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My favorite websites:
• A different kind of clock
• Mr. Picassohead
• A really interesing site to spend a few hours in
• Movie mistakes
• When I'm stressed

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