I’ve been mulling over this topic a lot lately. As an independent designer, I used to believe that positioning oneself based on your audience was the key to success. But over the years, I’ve come to realize that personal identity and values can matter even more than services and presentation. The truth is there’s no better positioning than being true to yourself. It isn’t an easy task. Especially in the world we live in. It takes courage but also humility. However, as more and more women launch their own businesses and become their own bosses, there is a crucial opportunity to stand up for what we believe in. Our values define who we are. They should guide the work we do, the way we speak, and the people we choose to interact with.

Positioning shouldn’t be about marketing tactics. It should be about communicating our values and building the world we want to live in. Loudly and proudly.

How to approach it?

• work with and for organizations which share your values. Personally, I refuse to work for corporations that harm planet, people, or ecosystems for profit. Does this limit my client pool? Yes. Is it worth it? Totally!
• communicate clearly what you stand for. Either through your LinkedIn bio or on your website. Skip the “I make beautiful [insert services]” and focus on who you serve and why. This may sound like “I build accessible websites for organizations who no longer want to leave people behind”,
• find a community that will support your journey. Building a better world is a long and hard path. But it doesn’t have to be a lonely one.

Gabrielle Mérite –
Information Designer

Originally from France, Gabrielle Mérite is an information designer specializing in empathetic data visualizations for truth-seeking, ethically driven organizations. Deeply passionate about social justice and humanity’s responsibility for one another, her work breathes life into numbers so that people can truly feel their importance.

After receiving her M.S in Biology and working as a scientific journalist, she exchanged words for illustrations, to communicate analytic findings visually, with honesty and compassion. Since then, she has worked with organizations such as the United Nations, UNICEF and WeTransfer.

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