Micaela Nauman shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Micaela, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I’d say I’ve always done things a little differently. Design has always been the constant path in my life, but I’ve never been afraid to wander and see where the detours lead. That’s actually why my business is called Create & Wander.
I went to school for design and assumed I’d end up at an agency for my career. Instead, a spontaneous move to California after graduation opened the door to remote freelance work, and before I knew it I was building a business of my own. Nearly 15 years later, here I am, running a design studio that’s every bit as adventurous as the journey that got me here.
Along the way, I’ve let myself pivot too. I started out specializing in print and packaging design, then took the leap to start fresh with a second business focused on branding and website design. It was a big shift, but one that allowed me to create work that feels bolder, more strategic, and truer to where my creativity naturally wanted to go.
Wandering has also taken me around the globe, working remotely from almost 70 countries and all seven continents. I’ve designed for clients throwing private island festivals and yacht weeks in Europe, explored Burning Man for ‘team bonding’ with clients, and collaborated with entrepreneurs from all corners of the world. I’ve said yes to opportunities that looked nothing like what I pictured in college, and each step and side path has shaped how I approach design today—bold, unique, and unapologetically non-cookie-cutter.
So, am I walking a path or wandering? Honestly, it’s a bit of both. I’ve always followed the thread of creativity and design, but I’ve let the wandering shape it into something entirely my own.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Micaela, the founder and designer behind Create & Wander. I run a brand and website design studio that helps entrepreneurs, coaches, and service-based businesses build bold, personality-packed brands and websites that don’t look or feel like anyone else’s. With nearly 15 years of experience and a specialty in Showit websites, I’ve worked with clients across industries to create visuals that are as strategic as they are stunning.
Create & Wander reflects not just what I do, but how I live. My own path has been shaped by travel, adventure, and exploration, and I bring that same energy into my work. My process is collaborative, hands-on, and designed to give clients confidence in how they show up. I believe design should feel exciting and fresh, not cookie-cutter, and I love creating brands and websites that feel like a true reflection of each client’s vision. The result is work that feels bold, elevated, and filled with personality, a signature of my studio’s style.
Right now, I’m working on expanding my studio’s offerings to meet clients at different stages of their journey, from bold, full-service custom brand and web design to creative website templates for entrepreneurs who are just getting started. At the heart of it all, though, my mission is the same: to help business owners feel seen, aligned, and ready to move forward with a brand that actually feels like them. It’s about giving them the confidence to show up fully, with the visuals to back it up.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I’d actually flip this question, because the world started trying to tell me who I had to be long before I decided who I wanted to be. Growing up, the script was pretty clear: play sports, get good grades, go to college, get a stable career, settle down. And for a while, I did exactly that. But the further I went, the more I realized those boxes weren’t mine to fit into.
Instead of following the script, I rewrote it. I launched my own business, chose freedom over “stability,” and started working online long before remote work was mainstream. I became a digital nomad before that was even a term, traveling the world full-time, creating unforgettable memories, and proving to myself that I could build a career and a life that didn’t look like anyone else’s.
That choice changed everything. It gave me a design studio rooted not just in creativity, but in adventure and possibility. It gave me the courage to keep pivoting when I was ready for something new, and the clarity to build a business that feels bold and unapologetically my own. And even now, I’m still living by that same philosophy — building, creating, and doing life on my own terms.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
In 2020, I made the decision to pivot my business after running my first studio for 10 years. That business was thriving. I had a steady referral network, constant work, and everything dialed in. On paper, I had no reason to change. But during the first year of the pandemic, I found myself with extra time and the realization that if I was ever going to pursue my dream business, one where I could support other entrepreneurs and let my creativity flourish, this was it.
So I started building a new business while still running the old one. Long days turned into even longer nights as I learned new skills, rebuilt my offers, and reimagined everything I wanted this next chapter to be. By the summer of 2021, I officially launched Create & Wander with new offers, a new audience, and essentially, a whole new business.
What I didn’t fully anticipate was how different the landscape would be. Even though I had built a successful business before, this time was nothing like it. Marketing had changed. Social media had become the main stage. The way people connected to businesses was completely different. And while I had the vision, I no longer had the financial security I once did. I had walked away from my entire client base because I knew I couldn’t go all in if I still had my safety net. That first year was tough. I questioned myself constantly. How do I get people to know I exist? How do I build trust with a new audience? How do I keep going when the money isn’t steady yet?
There were definitely moments I thought about giving up. It would have been easy to fall back on the comfort of my old business, except I had already closed that door and I knew it wouldn’t be easy to open again. So instead, I reminded myself I’ve built a business before, I can do it again. The early years are always the hardest, but if I kept showing up, it would work out.
And it did. Now, four years into Create & Wander, I couldn’t be more grateful that I didn’t let the doubt win. The stress was real, but so was the vision. Sticking through those uncertain years has led me to a business I’m not only proud of, but one that feels completely aligned with who I am today.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would probably say that what matters most to me are the people in my life. I try to show up fully for everyone around me, friends, family, peers, and clients alike. In all honesty, people pleasing has been a lifelong struggle, but at the heart of it is the fact that I genuinely love making people happy.
That carries into my work in a big way. I tend to underpromise and overdeliver, because nothing lights me up more than seeing my clients thrilled with the end result. But it’s not just about the final design. It’s about being there for them during some of the biggest moments, like launching their first business, making that scary investment to level up, or finally feeling seen in their brand. I love being a support system for my clients in the same way I’m the hype woman for my friends. For me, it all comes down to lifting people up and helping them feel confident in what they’re doing.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
In my business, I feel most at peace during those late-night work sessions when everything is quiet. No emails, no pings on my phone, just me, my music, and the creativity flowing. I’ve never been one to keep “normal” work hours. I like to break up my day with adventures, workouts, outings with my dog, and catchups with friends, then come back to work in chunks. Evenings have always been when I tap into my best creative flow.
Of course, I can turn it on at any hour when deadlines call, but there’s something about working at night that feels effortless. The distractions fade, my creativity kicks in, and the work just pours out of me. That’s when I feel most at peace.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.createwander.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/createwander/
Image Credits
Anna Captured
