Today we’d like to introduce you to Mandy Lehman.
Hi Mandy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Even though I didn’t know it at the time, owning my own business, MANMAN Studios, started when I was in college. Instead of the required 1 co-op, I decided to do 5 at 5 different Cincinnati/NKY agencies. I met a lot of great people, worked at a bunch of amazing companies, and got a taste of what I did/didn’t want in my “real world” job.
I was one of the unlucky ones who graduated during the 2008 economic downturn. We were all terrified of not getting jobs and kindaaaa freaking out. But since I’d done so many co-ops and worked hard all those years (40-80 hr. work weeks + full-time classes), one of those companies was watching me and offered me a position 6 months before graduation. I was so relieved.
I loved working there and stayed there for 5 years before deciding I wanted to stretch my creative muscles and take on something more challenging. I then worked at 2 tiny agencies and realized, that I had soaked up enough knowledge from my co-ops and first job, that I could run my own company. So I did!
First, I got laid off, as every millennial has probably experienced (it was ok tho, I had already been successfully running my co on the side for 8 months), and instead of applying for another full-time job, I decided to design my website literally that night and launch it the next day. Then I sent out an email to everyone I knew in the biz all over the US and told them “I’m full-time freelance and would love to work with you!” and from there, the opportunities astounded me.
Today, I’m 7 years in and still going strong. I’ve expanded @manmanstudios from doing graphic design to now doing graphic design, interior design, photography, and recently, a music studio. We also rent out our 4000 sq ft eclectic/boho/artistic house (@the1890brickyhouse) for events and overnights. And I have this fun side biz called Socials (@socialsbymanman) that brings a bunch of small businesses together where we dress to a theme, party, promote, and photograph together. I’m in awe sometimes that this is my life. I never, as a child or as an adult ha, would have imagined that this could be what I do every day. I love it.
I have so SO many great people that I love who work with me to make everything happen too. We get some really cool opportunities and seriously, every day is so different, just ask my assistant! It’s fast-paced, challenging in the best ways, and keeps us excited for more. My clients are sweet, appreciative, and trust me. All of these people, the ones I work with, work for and all the new people I meet each year are what drive me…without them, I couldn’t do all the things I love. I’m eternally grateful.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Yes! But there are always new challenges! At the beginning, my biggest challenge was probably…”How do I do 15 people’s jobs and STILL do MY job?” Balancing the work, being the “finance” person, the sales, the client services, and getting my creative work done at the same time was hard. But with every project, I got more efficient, tried new methods, hired people to help, and just kept going. It was really cool watching myself grow so quickly. Being under the gun like that makes you grow so much faster.
Now, I would say my biggest challenges are actually being selective, in the right ways, on what projects I take on. I have so many opportunities to pick and choose from and reminding myself that I don’t need to do all of them (and that it’s more fun if I don’t ha) is probably the hardest thing. I’ve worked 40-80 hrs./week since I was 16, slowing down and smelling the roses is not really my natural state. I’m trying to work on that 🙂
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a graphic designer and interior designer, primarily. I do also run/own MANMAN Studios, which encompasses a lot of other things though (music studio, The 1890 Bricky House, and Socials).
My graphic design skills run the gamit and I’ve been doing that the longest (I think around 15 years OMG). I’ve got tons of experience with branding, packaging, websites, print, innovation workshops, you name it. I’ve worked with bigcos like Nestle, Nike, Heinz all the way down to startups like Haute Air Balloons, Flohemian Floral, and Toast to the Good Life, and of course, if you know me, you know I love giving back so working with non-profits is a must for me…ArtsWave and Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra are two of my faves.
Interior design is a fairly new love of mine, I’ve been doing it for 3 years and I’m not classically trained (meaning I didn’t go to school for it). But I think that’s why a lot of people hire me. I think differently than what people are used to and I do things like a start-up…quick, down & dirty and inventive. I work hand-in-hand with my clients or I can totally take the reigns which I love to do! I’ve already had amazing opportunities in this area of my business in just a few short years…designing tons of Airbnb’s (themed ones like The Pickle Factory Boutique Hotel are the most fun), individual’s homes, and even corporate offices, like Dooley Media. I love them all! They’re all different, bring their own challenges and I love to spice up spaces we typically see as boring or help a client bring their own personality into their home. My biggest goal with interior design is to help people realize that anyone can afford a designer. I will literally work within any budget (ok almost…you must have at least $100, ha)
I would talk about Socials, the house, and the music studio but this is probably getting too long already ha! LMK if you want more info on those!
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I LOVE our city. Before the pandemic, I traveled a ton for my graphic design projects. All over the US to all the major cities several times/year. And know what I realized after being in the bigger cities 15 weeks out of the year? I realized how much I love OUR city.
My friends that live in big cities spend half of every day commuting, they don’t have the money to live in houses that they love or travel to cool places they’d like to see. They spend all their money just day-to-day living.
In Cincinnati, we have all the things major cities have to offer: theater, dance, art museums, concert venues, sports…we just have less of them! But most of us frequent the same places over and over anyway, (even when we live in bigger cities). It also only takes us 15-30 min to get anywhere in the area. We can afford the houses, trips, land, clothes, things that we want. We literally have the best of both worlds. We have the arts & culture of a major city but our cost of living is low enough we can live life to the fullest.
Another thing that I have no idea why no one ever talks about…is the drive into our downtown. Most major cities don’t have as glorious of a view of their skyline as we do. When you pop over that hill and see the city for the first time, it’s seriously stunning.
I also love the people here; I think we have such a great mix of city and country and it’s getting more and more diverse as the years go by it seems. I’d love to see it continue going down that path and for us to become a culturally rich city.
Contact Info:
- Email: mandy@manmanstudios.com
- Website: www.manmanstudios.com
- Instagram: @manmanstudios
- Facebook: @themanmanco
- Twitter: @themanmans
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyHqfd4NDgXzFuJuLiHDycQ
Image Credits
Laura Cianciolo
Robbie Barnett
