Rising Stars: Meet Charity D’Amato of Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Charity D’Amato.

Charity, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I founded studio Chartreuse after spending the early part of my career working in both corporate and creative environments, including NBC News and Nickelodeon. Those experiences gave me a strong foundation in visual communication, storytelling, and the power of design to connect with people.
After earning my degree in Communication Design and Art Education from Syracuse University, I realized I was most energized by helping organizations bring their ideas to life through thoughtful, strategic design. What began as a small freelance practice eventually evolved into studio Chartreuse, a multidisciplinary creative studio focused on branding, graphic design, environmental graphics, public art, and creative strategy.

Over the past two decades, I’ve had the opportunity to work with an incredibly diverse range of clients—from nonprofits, museums, and educational institutions to real estate developers, restaurants, and entrepreneurs. Along the way, I’ve learned that great design is about far more than making something look beautiful; it’s about solving problems, creating connections, and helping people tell their stories in meaningful ways.

Today, studio Chartreuse is known for its colorful, thoughtful, and highly collaborative approach. We intentionally remain a boutique firm, allowing us to build deep relationships with our clients and become true creative partners in their success. Looking back, I never imagined the path would lead exactly here, but I am incredibly grateful that a passion for creativity, community, and connection has grown into a career I genuinely love.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t describe the journey as a perfectly smooth road, but I also wouldn’t describe it as a dramatic one. My experience has been much more of a “slow and steady wins the race” story.

Building a creative business takes patience. There were no overnight successes, viral moments, or sudden breakthroughs. Instead, studio Chartreuse has grown one client, one project, and one relationship at a time. Over the years, we’ve earned trust through consistent work, strong partnerships, and a genuine commitment to helping our clients succeed.

Of course, there have been challenges along the way. Like many small business owners, I’ve navigated economic downturns, shifting markets, changing technologies, and the constant balancing act of running a business while also doing the creative work I love. Learning when to say yes, when to say no, and how to evolve without losing sight of our values has been an ongoing lesson.

More recently, I experienced an unexpected personal challenge when I suffered a significant leg injury that temporarily took me away from the studio and many of the activities I love. That experience reinforced something I’ve always believed: success is rarely about speed. It’s about resilience, adaptability, and continuing to move forward—even if the pace is slower than you’d like.

Looking back, I’m grateful that growth has come steadily. It has allowed us to build a business with intention, cultivate meaningful client relationships, and create work that reflects who we are. The road may not have always been easy, but it has been incredibly rewarding.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At studio Chartreuse, we help organizations tell their stories through thoughtful, strategic design. Our work spans branding, graphic design, environmental graphics, public art, print collateral, packaging, signage, and creative strategy. We partner with a wide range of clients—from museums, nonprofits, and educational institutions to restaurants, real estate developers, and small businesses—but regardless of the industry, our goal is always the same: to create meaningful design that connects with people.

While we are capable of tackling large, complex projects, we intentionally remain a boutique studio. That means our clients work directly with senior-level creatives, and every project receives a high level of personal attention and care. We believe the best creative work happens through collaboration, curiosity, and genuine relationships.

Over the years, we’ve become known for our bold use of color, strong visual storytelling, and ability to bring warmth and personality to every project. Whether we’re developing a brand identity, designing a donor campaign for a museum, creating a community mural, or helping launch a new business, we strive to create work that is both beautiful and purposeful.

What I am most proud of isn’t any single project—it’s the trust we’ve built within our community. Many of our clients have been with us for years, and much of our work comes through referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations. To me, that’s the greatest compliment a creative studio can receive.

What sets us apart is our belief that design is ultimately about people. We take the time to understand our clients, their goals, and the audiences they serve. We bring strategy, creativity, and a healthy dose of optimism to every engagement. At the end of the day, we’re not simply designing logos, websites, or marketing materials—we’re helping organizations communicate who they are and why their work matters.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
One of the most interesting shifts we’ve seen in recent years is the rise of AI and digital tools. While we embrace technology and use it thoughtfully within our process, it has also reinforced something we have always believed: people are craving authentic human connection more than ever.

As a result, we’re leaning even further into in-person experiences, collaboration, and community building. Whether it’s gathering around a conference table for a brainstorming session, attending local events, creating public art, or helping organizations bring people together through meaningful experiences, we believe there is tremendous value in the human side of creativity.

We also love the variety of work we get to do. Some days we’re serving as an extension of a large organization’s marketing and design team, helping manage complex campaigns and long-term creative initiatives. Other days we’re guiding a small business owner through the exciting journey of building a brand from the ground up—helping them find their voice, define their vision, and bring their ideas to life.
In recent years, we’ve also found ourselves doing more and more work within the hospitality space, partnering with restaurants, cafés, bars, event venues, and experience-driven brands. Hospitality and design have so much in common: both are about creating memorable experiences, making people feel welcome, and leaving a lasting impression.

At the end of the day, we’re simply grateful to do work that allows us to combine creativity, strategy, and community. We love meeting new people, collaborating with passionate organizations, and helping great ideas come to life. If there’s one thing we’d like readers to take away, it’s that great design isn’t just about how something looks—it’s about how it makes people feel.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.studio-chartreuse.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studio_chartreuse
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/studiochartreuse/