Viscera Studio – Ari Takata – Vasquez

#032- Today we speak with Ari Takata-Vasquez with Viscera Studio. Viscera Studio is an Oakland based full service design and photography studio. Ari works with entrepreneurs to create all the visual things they might need – branding and identity to website and strategy to product photography to videography.

Viscera Studio started by accident – it sprung out of Ari’s brick and mortar shop (Viscera), launched 2014. Viscera designs 3D printed jewelry and curates a collection of USA-made clothing, accessories, and home goods.

People kept complimenting her creative work and inquired who did it. The answer was always “ME”! So, she started doing freelance work in 2017. What started as a part time hustle for her full time hustle became its own thriving business.

I asked Ari why it is important for her to be an Oakland based business:

“I love Oakland. It is a place that is rich with creativity. We are a relationship first business. That is my personality and partly the way things work in Oakland. It is The Town, right? You know a lot of other people. Your ability to move in the city is really based on relationships and people vouching for you. It is such a tightly networked place. It is such a great fit for the way we do business.”

Once the pandemic hit, more people decided they wanted and needed to start their own business. Plus, people who already had their own business decided they needed more of an online presence. Her business took off.

Be sure to stick around ‘til the end to hear Ari’s advice on assembling a great team!