In 2006, at just 25, Roanne Adams left her design gig at Wolff Olins and decided to set out on her own. Now, most people would say maybe you should sleep on this. Some would probably even tell you that you’re crazy. But Roanne Adams is not most people. While she enjoyed working with big brands like Target and Pricewaterhouse Coopers, she knew that she wanted to work directly with clients and bring a more holistic approach to branding.

So, Roanne started to freelance, and she started her own branding agency and creative studio RoAndCo. Since then, the accolades and awards have poured in. She was named one of New York’s outstanding up-and-coming designers by T: The New York Times Style Magazine and was recognized by Young Guns 9 with an award back in 2011. But beyond the acclaim and fanfare from the design community, her agency has gotten at the heart of brands with the stories they want to tell, and she’s worked with the likes of Google, Nike, Smashbox, and Modcloth.