The creative business of being bold, with graphic designer Monik Chamberlain

By Paula Bridges, Studio Chevell

Some people thrive in a structured nine-to-five, but not Monik Chamberlain. She's always been the ‘follow your creative spark’ type. It was this instinct that led her from designing wedding stationery to crafting bold branding for small businesses - and ultimately building a career in graphic design that's as vibrant as her designs themselves.

When she finished university, Monik faced the age-old creative conundrum: companies wanted applicants with experience, but no one was offering a way to get it. Monik’s solution? Making her own way in. A casual role with a wedding design company saw her creating menus, signage, and all the pretty details that make a wedding feel magical. Then, clients started asking about invitations. Her boss wasn’t interested, but Monik was… and set about creating her own side-hustle.

“For a while, I loved it,” she says. “I had full creative control, I got to see my designs in action, and it felt really rewarding.”

But as with many creative fields, what started as a passion project soon became a pressure cooker. “Weddings are high-stakes. Brides are stressed, and there’s an expectation everything will look a certain way. It takes a lot of the enjoyment away,” Monik explains.

And then there was the reality of it all: people weren’t keeping the stationery. “You put so much effort into making something beautiful, only for it to be thrown in the bin the next day,” she says. “I wanted to create something with more longevity.”

So, she made a bold move. A three-month trip overseas gave her the headspace to rethink well, everything. When she returned to her hometown of Wollongong, New South Wales, she knew one thing: she wanted to work for herself, but on her terms.

When the pandemic solves your career crisis

Monik’s event stationery business picked up momentum, but was quickly derailed by the pandemic. Weddings with guests disappeared practically overnight.

“It was terrifying,” she says. “Suddenly, all my work was gone.”

But while weddings stalled, something else was happening—people were launching businesses in record numbers. And businesses needed branding.

“I had a few people ask if I did branding and at first, I hesitated,” she admits. “Then I realised, this is exactly what I should be doing.”

Mok Creative was born, and suddenly, she was helping businesses define their visual identity, rather than just one big day.

“I loved working on weddings, but at the end of the day, it’s all disposable… literally. Invitations end up in the bin, menus get tossed. Branding? That sticks. It grows with a business, and it has real impact,” she says.

That shift in thinking gave Monik’s work a new sense of purpose. And, as a bonus, she discovered that small business owners are her kind of people. “They’re passionate, they value creativity, and they’re willing to invest in making their brand something special,” she says.

Beige branding is boring branding

Monik is clear on one thing: “Beige branding is boring. Safe, neutral, forgettable. If you want people to notice you, you have to be willing to stand out.”

Her work is all about making brands pop. Think bold typography, unexpected colour combinations, and a strong sense of personality. “There’s a lot of sameness out there. My job is to make sure my clients don’t blend in.”

And it works. Her designs are vibrant, expressive, and full of energy, much like Monik’s own brand.

Balancing business and life

Running her own business has given Monik the flexibility she craved, but she’s also learned the importance of setting boundaries. “I don’t give out my phone number to clients. I don’t do ‘urgent’ last-minute requests. I love what I do, but I also need time away from it.”

That clear sense of balance extends to the kind of clients she works with, too. “If someone’s treating their business like a hobby, we’re probably not the right fit. I want to work with people who are serious about growing something like I have.”

And grow, she has. After several years of hustling, Monik has realised her dream: clients now seek her out, rather than the other way around.

“It took time, but now I don’t even have to advertise. I get enquiries without posting about my availability,” she says. “That’s where I always wanted to be.”

Despite her bold designs and creative confidence, Monik admits she’s naturally reserved. “I think I pretend to be an extrovert. Honestly, my idea of a great night is reading in bed. If someone cancels plans? Absolute relief.”

Marketing herself, particularly on Instagram, took some getting used to. “At first, I felt ridiculous. But a friend told me to just start FaceTiming people, to get used to talking on camera. It worked.”

Now au fait with posting regularly, she’s learned the golden rule of social media. “No one is watching as closely as you think,” she laughs. “No one has ever messaged me to say, ‘that post was bad.’  You just have to keep showing up.”

Monik isn’t just running a business. She’s helping others build theirs, too. And she’s proof that when you back yourself, take risks, and stay true to what you love, you can create a career on your own terms.

And in a world full of beige? She’ll always make sure bold wins.

Monik can be found at mokcreative.com.au