THE PLACE FOR creatives, CHANGE MAKERS & impact-driven businesses

OUR STORY

OUR STORY

EMMA TURNED DOWN AN UNPAID FASHION INTERNSHIP &

STARTED A BUSINESS THAT CHANGED Her LIFE

Five years ago, Emma made the bold decision to turn down an unpaid fashion internship to fully commit to building a business from the ground up. This single choice became a turning point in her career, shaping her journey as an entrepreneur and creative strategist.

Since then, she has successfully built two award-winning businesses and collaborated with a diverse range of freelance clients, gaining firsthand experience in the challenges and rewards of creative entrepreneurship. Through her work, she has developed a deep understanding of brand strategy, business development, and personal branding.

Our mission is to empower creatives, founders, freelancers, and brands to create impactful identities that demand attention, attract opportunities, and drive positive change within their communities.

We believe that everyone has the potential to not only stand out but to inspire and uplift others.

Our mission

Theory of change

Theory of change

We create brands that Demand attention

WHAT WE DO AT STUDIO SELF-MADE

Studio Self-Made is a branding studio and creative community designed to support early career individuals, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, in developing sustainable creative careers.

Over the last two years, Studio Self-Made has been supported by the Virgin Money Foundation, Big Change, Nuffield Health, Santander Universities and Pizza Hutt.

We work directly with founders and freelancers to build their personal brands and help impact-driven businesses craft bold brand identities.

Meet the Team

  • Founder

    Emma Redfern

    FOUNDER

    Emma is the founder of Studio Self-Made, a personal brand and employer brand agency dedicated to helping founders, freelancers, and professionals build authentic brands that attract the right opportunities. With a passion for storytelling and a strategic approach to branding, she empowers individuals to establish a strong presence in their industries.

    With a background in brand strategy and marketing, Emma has worked with 7-figure businesses to develop strategy-driven brand campaigns that effortlessly attract customers and clients. Her expertise lies in positioning brands for long-term success by combining creative vision with data-driven insights.

    At Studio Self-Made, Emma leads both 1-2-1 and group mentoring programs, guiding aspiring founders and freelancers through the process of defining their brand identities, refining their messaging, and leveraging their unique strengths. She helps them gain clarity on their goals, develop their personal brands, and unlock new professional opportunities.

  • Holly Phillips

    CONTENT WRITER

    Holly is an MA Journalism graduate and NCTJ-qualified journalist specializing in news and magazine journalism. She works as a freelance journalist, including as an Online Journalist for BBC Lincolnshire. Her work has appeared in Absolutely Yorkshire, Lippy Magazine, Pitch Magazine, and The Sheffield Star.

    Beyond journalism, Holly has extensive experience in copywriting and email marketing for a range of brands, from fitness to creative industries. Passionate about photography, fitness, and the outdoors, she enjoys gym workouts, tennis, and swimming.

    She also writes blog posts for Studio Self-Made, where she shares insights and experiences while learning from freelancers and business owners. Being part of a platform that supports creatives is something she finds truly rewarding.

  • MARLENA JAGODA

    PROJECT DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE

    Marlena is a 23-year-old graduate with a degree in Marketing and Management (with Psychological Studies). A multidisciplinary creative, she specializes in marketing, copywriting, and SEO, with a strong passion for continuous learning and skill development.

    At Studio Self-Made, Marlena started as a Content Creator, handling Pinterest content, blog uploads, and social media graphics. She later took on the role of Project Development Specialist, working closely with Emma to research and develop a corporate offer. This position involved strategy, offer development, and idea generation, allowing her to apply her marketing expertise in a dynamic, hands-on way

  • Lauren Toulson

    MARKETING MANAGER

    Lauren is responsible for managing our brand’s social media channels, crafting engaging and strategic content across multiple platforms to enhance brand awareness and connect with our target audience. With a keen eye for digital trends and audience engagement, she ensures our online presence remains dynamic, relevant, and impactful.

    As a talented marketer and content creator, Lauren brings creativity and strategic thinking to every project. She specialises in producing design-led content that aligns with our brand identity and resonates with our audience. She plays a crucial role in shaping the brand's digital storytelling, from social media graphics and video content to blog posts and campaign materials.

In collaboration with

Graeme Tidd

With over 20 years of experience in enterprise education from KS2 to HE, Graeme has worked for leading enterprise leaders such as Peter Jones CBE, Young Enterprise UK, and Sheffield Hallam University. Graeme will be leading on the corporate partnerships and brand incubator programmes.

As an HE award-winning, SFEDI-qualified business adviser to pre-startups and freelancers, Graeme specialises in designing and delivering impactful programs that build confidence, foster creativity, and inspire action.

LOOKING FOR CREATIVE CAREER INSIGHTS?

We’ve created a range of mini-guides and insider insights to help you get started.

From mindset tips to planning tools, learn more from our blog post collection written and curated by our team of early career creatives!