Her Story
About Elise
Elise Grinstead is a Colorado-based designer, design strategist, and entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience in graphic design, visual communication, branding, and marketing. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art & Design with a concentration in Graphic Design from California Polytechnic State University–San Luis Obispo, along with a minor in Graphic Communication. Her career began with experience in production and design, including work with the Denver Broncos and HarperCollins Publishers, before she transitioned into independent consulting and entrepreneurship. Today, she leads Grinstead Design Collective Ltd., where she works with a multidisciplinary network of professionals to address clients’ visual communication and design needs.
Grinstead’s work has evolved beyond traditional graphic design into strategic design partnerships with local businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions, publishers, and other mission-driven organizations. Her work includes branding, publication design, digital marketing, marketing collateral, signage, book marketing, and strategic visual communication. She also operates Elevate Amenities Ltd., developing smart retail and amenity programs for residential and workplace environments that connect products and regional producers with people in their everyday environments. Across both areas of work, she focuses on reducing friction and helping organizations communicate more clearly while making products and services more accessible to the people they serve.
Alongside her professional work, Grinstead remains actively involved in her community through youth soccer coaching, church service, local organizations, and philanthropic initiatives. She previously served as a Lead Deacon at Apostles Church Brooklyn, where she supported community needs and helped improve organizational systems, and she currently coaches youth soccer in the Town of Erie. She has also supported orphanages in Africa, missionaries, and a local food bank through donations and partnerships. She attributes her professional growth to relationships, decisive action, continued learning, mentorship, and a willingness to recognize what she does not know. Her approach to work is grounded in integrity, authenticity, service, and creating meaningful value for the people and organizations she works with.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Elise
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to prioritizing relationships, particularly as a solo founder and business owner. I never know when the person I am speaking with may become a future client, someone I can serve, someone I can learn from, or someone I may eventually work with or receive support from. Building and maintaining genuine relationships has been an important part of my journey.
I also believe in being decisive when it counts. There are moments when a decision may not feel completely comfortable, but delaying it does not necessarily make it easier. I have learned to make decisions, learn from the outcomes, and continue moving forward.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
For those entering graphic design, particularly recent college graduates, I would encourage them to understand the why behind what they are doing. Know why your work matters, why what you have to offer benefits others, and why you have chosen to pursue that particular path. Understanding that purpose can help provide direction on the difficult or mundane days when the bigger picture is harder to see.
I would also encourage the next generation to recognize that a career is a long-term journey. Work hard and remain committed to growing, but remember to rest when you can. Burnout is very real, and sustaining a career requires taking care of yourself along the way.
More broadly, I believe it is important to stay curious and humble. Recognize what you do not know, ask questions, learn from people who have skills or experience you may not yet have, and continue looking for opportunities to learn and grow.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Design is currently a rapidly changing field because of the emergence of new tools, particularly artificial intelligence. As these tools continue to evolve, designers need to understand not only what the technology can do, but also what clients are ultimately trying to accomplish and why they are using particular tools.
For me, this makes the role of the designer as a strategic thought partner more important. Rather than simply producing a design, I want to understand the underlying need, the desired outcome, and how my expertise can help achieve it. I am also experimenting with focused, day-long design intensives that allow both the client and me to concentrate on a specific set of needs and achieve a faster turnaround.
The opportunity is to combine emerging technology with human judgment, strategy, experience, and expertise. I believe designers need to stay informed about what is changing while continuing to understand where human insight and professional expertise add meaningful value.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is extremely important to me. I believe in being who I say I am and doing what I say I will do. I want to be genuine with people and consider their needs rather than approaching relationships or decisions solely for my own benefit.
I also value authenticity, relationships, service, continued learning, and humility. Throughout my career, I have tried to recognize what I do not know, seek out people who can teach me, and continue growing both professionally and personally.
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