Be Brave. Be Bold.
Do the Things that Matter.

I am Stella, a freelance illustrator and art director with over sixteen years of experience in both B2B and B2C sectors.

I partner with like-minded individuals, as well as cultural and commercial clients, to bring their visions to life. I am dedicated about creating illustrations, designing prints with illustrated elements, crafting visual identities, directing creative projects, and refining layout designs with great attention to detail.

My greatest passion lies in storytelling through my creative skills. I have a strong commitment to addressing challenges and finding solutions through visual communication. A prime example of my approach is my bachelor's thesis in graphic design, titled "Improving Interaction Between Patients with Depression and Their Environment Through Visual Communication." In this project, I developed a market-ready concept and product prototype designed to help patients with depression communicate more effectively—whether with their personal environment or in therapeutic settings.

Credentials

I completed a specialized school education in fashion design before earning a bachelor's degree in graphic design and later pursuing a master's in design and leadership. I spent a decade as a product designer at s.Oliver, followed by roles in graphic design and online marketing within the company. From 2021 to 2024, I served as Global Creative Lead at Elektrobit Automotive.

In 2018, I founded my freelance brand which currently was renamed to Studio Stella Ashburn.
As a freelancer, I work as an illustrator, graphic designer, and art director.

Since 2024, I have been on parental leave while continuing my freelance work.

What I Do Best

  • Creativity is my superpower:
    II excel at finding solutions to even the most challenging problems.

  • Strategic and practical design:
    I am skilled in both developing design concepts and executing them with precision.

  • Empathy & experience:
    I quickly understand your needs and develop tailored concepts to meet them effectively.

  • Versatility:
    thanks to my professional experience, I can seamlessly align with your brand and provide a wide range of services.

  • Adaptive mindset:
    I have the ability to visualize complex and highly technical topics effectively. During my time in the automotive software industry, I developed a mid-level understanding of the company's products, primarily through self-directed learning.

  • Passion for my work:
    I love my profession, so in my free time and in the evening hours, I study part-time to become the best designer I can be.

  • Adobe Creative Cloud:
    oh yes - I can work with that, too.

What My Clients Say About Me

  • "Stella demonstrated exceptional abstract thinking when it came to identifying and communicating core values, paired with an outstanding attention to detail. At no point did we feel the need to involve ourselves in the details. The collaboration was highly professional and led to a result we are very satisfied with."

    Gregor Hoch
    HOCH CONSULTING

  • "As an artist with no knowledge of branding, Stella was the perfect choice for me. She fully embraced the needs of my brand. While my products and art continue to evolve over time, the logo Stella designed for me remains the constant by which I am always recognized and that gives me a great sense of confidence."

    Wanda Sonnemann
    ELDALAGREN

  • "Stella immediately understood my ideas and brought them to life with just the right touch of finesse. Her design was a creative evolution of what I had roughly envisioned and instantly won me over. Working with someone so brimming with ideas and speaking the same creative language made the collaboration effortless."

    Verena Hausenstein
    SILBERZWIRN

  • "Stella instantly understood what we needed and what the logo and overall branding were meant to achieve. The collaboration was incredibly efficient, personally enjoyable, on schedule, and it was evident in many ways that she is an absolute professional. We would absolutely work with her again anytime."

    Gregor Hoch
    BEXBACHER TOURISMUS HOCH GMBH

  • "Stella perfectly combines creativity with technical expertise. Thanks to her experience she knows what works while still accommodating individual preferences and striving to realize my vision as the client without letting it restrict her creativity. The result was the best possible outcome. A collaboration I would gladly repeat anytime!

    Christine Rauscher
    PURPUR

@StudioStellaAshburn

Portrait of a spherical woman with golden eyes and glowing rune tattoos
Bronze colored wreath with orange slices, candy canes, leaves and branches on a dark blue background

Interested? Let’s turn your vision into reality!

If you’re interested in realizing a project with me, I’d be thrilled to hear from you!
Please reach out to me by filling out the contact form or emailing me at hello@stella-ashburn.com and include your name, a description of your project, your timeline, and budget.