How I Started Kunshuis (And I’d Do It All Again Today)

This is the most requested episode I get: how I started Kunshuis.

I’m taking you back to 2009/2010 — the spare-bedroom days, after-hours work, the awkward phone calls, the “Eish… I hope this works” moments… and the simple things I did that still matter today.

In this episode, I share what I did first to get clients, why I didn’t niche (and why I don’t regret it), the small habits that made me feel like a proper professional, and how human connection became the lifeline of my business. If you’re starting out, starting again, or you’re craving a calmer way to build your freelance life… this one’s for you.

 🖤 Get the full show notes (plus links + resources) here

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If this episode spoke to you, here are a few ways to keep the conversation going:

Website & Resources → kunshuis.com
Shop creative tools → The Kunshuis Collective
Show notes & blogs → kunshuis.com/blog

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• 21-Day Creative Reset Challenge
• Download: Asking Better Questions (Client Guide)
  
  

🖤 My favourite tools for life + business:

• The Playbook Planner
  — your creative sidekick for focus + flow
• The Playbook Desk
  — a Notion-powered space to run your freelance business with ease

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Because design is only 20%… the rest is life.
Thanks for being here, friend. You’re not alone in this journey—let’s design it together.

Transcript

How I started Kunshuis

SPEAKER_00 0:27

By the end of this episode, you'll have the real life blueprint of how I started Gen Size. This is my probably the most requested topic of how I started my business. The exact things I do again today. Even in 2026, even with social media chaos, you'll have a common mindset around niching and why doing small work is not beneath you. A few practical habits that help me feel like a proper professional, even when I didn't feel like it. If you're new here, welcome. I'm the lead designer, freelancer, business owner, and I want to show you that your freelancing is not difficult. It's really just small things done right consistently. Honestly, most of what I did back then still works. And if I had to start from zero today, I would do it all over again. With a few upgrades, of course, because we have Notion, we have Google, which is much full of information than it was back in 2020. We have templates, we have YouTube, and we have so many other options. I was working at the advertising agency and I wanted to work for myself so badly since college. Not because I hated agency work or working for other people, but because I had this voice in my head saying you're not made to build someone else's thing forever. And I didn't have a fancy plan, I didn't have a niche, and I didn't have a strategy document and a full-on business plan. I had a laptop, a bit of courage, and a lot of face and support from the people around me. So what did I actually do? I did the most basic thing, the thing people avoid because it feels awkward. I told people I was available. That is it. I contacted everyone I knew, not the current agency clients, obviously. I didn't want to get sued or get into trouble. I contacted the people I knew who had moved on, people now working in other companies with whom I already had a relationship. And then I went broader. I made a list of all the corporate companies. I literally used the phone book. I know some of you are like, what is a phone book? It was on Google, but on paper. And when that wasn't enough, I Googled. I phoned. I SMS friends. I spoke to absolutely everyone. I basically became my own little marketing department. And what I would say is very simple. Hi, I do design work. I'm available after hours and weekends. Do you need help? And that was it. No over explaining, no begging, no trying to sound like a big agency. Just present, clear, and normal. And then I worked after hours and over weekends. And while I was doing that, I was building a rhythm for myself. Not just with design programs, but with real freelance admin. The quotes, the invoices, the emails, clients, communication. I was still very much unsure about pricing. I didn't know if I was charging too much or too little, but I did it anyway. Because confidence doesn't arrive first. Confidence is what comes after. While I was at the advertising agency, I did this for about eight months. And then I got one client. One client that covered all my basics. You know, basic expenses. Not profit, not luxury, just the basics. The car, medical aid, laptop, life. And that's when I made the job. I quit my job one month before my wedding and I started officially one month after I was married. So yes, new wife, new business, new everything. It was chaotic. And working from home was not easy. And from there I just kept doing the same thing. I kept letting people know, hi, I'm on my own. If you need design, I'm here. That sentence built my whole business. People think you need some barrel brand moment. You don't. You need consistency in relationships. So let's talk about niching for a little bit. Because this is where the internet makes you feel like you're failing. Everyone says niche down, niche down, niche down. But when I started, that wasn't even a thing. And also I didn't know what I liked it. Everything was designed to me, everything still is designed to me. So I did everything. Logos, brand projects, brochures, adverts, big and small, even classifieds. Certificates, email signatures, core branding, the whole buffet. And over time I realized I'm not a fan of big loud projects like annual reports. They were good money, yes, but they drained me, so I limited them to maybe two a year, and I started shaping my work around what I enjoyed more. Now this is important. I didn't niche first, I learned first, I got experience first, I refined first. And even today, yes, I'm known for brand design, but I still do smaller jobs. I still do logos only, sometimes only a signature, maybe just the car branding or window branding. Because the world needs all. And for freelancers, that smaller, consistent work can literally keep you afloat. Now I read somewhere, David Ogilby, and I can't find this quote, but when I worked for Ogilby, I read a lot about David Ogilvy and what he said in business. There was one that he said, not all creative work will keep the business afloat. It's those smaller admin type of designs that pays the bills. And that stuck with me. To make the even the smallest job that I get, even if it's a classified, how can I make that classified creator? So I still do everything if it comes my way, but I do love brand design. So what does that mean for you as a freelancer? It means don't only chase the sexy projects, the consistent projects pay rent. So if you're doing social media banners and tiny edits and just a logo and just a business card, that's not small. That's stable. That is the business. So I'm gonna share you with my favorite habit that I started back then. I invoiced my clients once a month, at the end of the months. I took one day and I invoiced everyone. Then I always took the day after off. Always. I'd launch, watch movies, go to the mall, just chill. It was like a little date with myself. Like I said, well done, girl, you did the months. And I know some people will hear that and think it must be nice. But listen, that one small ritual kept me going. Freelancing is emotion. You need rewards, you need a rhythm that works for you. You need something that tells your nervous system we're safe, okay, we are really doing this. So how did I track my work? I didn't keep track like I do today. I always had diaries, planners for each year. I'd write everything down for every day that I did. Then at the end of the month, I'd go through the planner and make sure I enforced every job. It worked, but it was a bit manual chaos. And now I have it streamlined in my Notion Playbook desk. And honestly, I wish I had this back then. Because it doesn't just save time, it saves you brain space. And brain space is everything when you're the designer, the admin, the sales department, and the therapist. One of the biggest reasons consistently hosted is my human interactions. I talked to my clients. We had meetings, real meetings, we built relationships. And some of those relationships still exist today because they weren't just transactions, they were connections. And in a world that's more digital than ever, this is a superpower. So I'd encourage you to learn a bit of emotional intelligence, read about it if it's something that you struggle with. But try it. Your mind will be blown how easy and how beautiful it is to build a business in this time with just physical human interaction and conversations. So another thing that's important to say if you're working for yourself, and I spoke about this also in the previous episode about working from home. Show up like a professional. Even if you don't feel like one yet. I acted like a professional business person. Even in my spare bedroom where I worked for for three years before I had this studio, I dressed properly every day. Not in heels, just jeans, nice stop and mascara. I started work at the same time every day. I had a dedicated space. It was the spare bedroom, yes, but it was my office. And that mindset shift matters. Because when you start treating your work like it matters, your clients will start treating you like you mattered too. One of the most beautiful things when it comes to communicating with your clients, and I learned this from the advertising agency because we had status meetings or what they call traffic meetings on a Monday morning, which is where you go through the list of work and where each one's status is. So I did status reports to my clients. This is a very practical part, which I'd encourage you to do no matter how big or small your project is. I started doing weekly status reports. Because I had so many clients back then and so many projects, I would create a Word document. Each client, each project, the status of the project, and then the quote number, invoice number, or the order number will also be there. Then they always knew once a week where they were and what was happening. So this kind of eliminated those hi just following up emails every day. There were no panic. And this is where I learned nice communication is not flimsy. It's business, it builds trust, it makes clients feel held and confident in you. And when clients feel held and confident, they stay and they come back. And talking about how being held and feeling confidence from your client's side, I've learned that the briefing session kind of starts setting the tone for this. I did briefing sessions back then in real life. I still do it if that's what the client wants. In meetings, I asked questions and I noticed something. Clients told me this as well. They didn't want to fill in a but once they start talking and I start asking questions, you can get everything you need, all the information, and they start feeling held by you. Like they're in the right space and someone do understand what they want. And this is also why I designed the ask the right questions freebie, which you can get on my website or in the show notes. Because clients don't always know what they want, and designers don't always know what to ask. So questions becomes your map, your golden map, and it turns awkward into clarity. No idea freelancers and graphic designers and creators of all kinds. I also learned this the hard way. Take your ego out of the equation. This is business, it's not personal. Although I get it, I know we creative people, we do take everything personal. But clients will have opinions, they will be unsure, they will be emotional as well. They will say weird things. Your job is to guide the conversation, the feedback, the invoices, the design direction. So be calm, be clear, be kind, be professional. Don't spiral. So wherever you feel that egoic emotions coming out, just tell yourself, ego out, business in. See if that works for you. So Kinseys is 16 years old this year. And one of the most beautiful things that I've learned that has helped me keep this studio alive is that I never stopped learning. I still don't. We didn't have all this beautiful information that we have now. You have so much information coming at you with extreme professionals sharing all their knowledge. Be a sponge and soak all of that knowledge in and take what works for you and leave the rest. Because today you have the internet. You had reputable freeloads are sharing their knowledge, morning routine reels for inspiration around every corner, offer setup ideas on Pinterest, templates that you can download, podcasts that you can listen to, courses, mock-up templates. I wish we had all of that back then. So if you have access to all of that now, use it. Not to compare yourself, but to build what works for you. Taking all of this information that we just discussed, this is literally why I made the Playbook Planner and the Playbook Desk. Because I remember what it felt like to figure everything out alone. And I don't want you to struggle like that. You don't have to. The planner and the desk covers the stuff no one teaches you properly. How to quote, how to invoice, how to track your projects, how to communicate, how to keep your business together when life's just life thing. And it's also why I want to build the freelance to flourish membership. Because I don't just want a broadcast, I want a dedicated space, a home base where creatives help each other. We share, we guide, we grow without the noise of socials. So if I started Ken Size Today, I would still tell people you're available consistently. Not just on social media, SOS, WhatsApp, email, to businesses you know, to people you know, family, friends, anyone and everyone consistently. I am here open for design work. Do a variety for design work to gain experience first. You can find later if you want to. You do not have the niche down. Create a simple system for quotes, invoices, and tracking your work. Show up like a professional even before you feel like one. It might seem very shallow, but people do trust what they see. And if you look the part, they will trust you that you can do what you say. Overcommunicate in a kind way. Status reports, updates, clarity. And when it comes to communication, take your ego out wherever you can. Ask better questions instead of just guessing. Keep learning always. Because the tools change, but the truth really does not. All of these things are still valid today, and I still do it in my business after 16 years of being a freelancer. So that's my story, that's how Kinshase began. Not with a big dramatic bang and brand launch, although I always dreamed of having one, but with small brave moves repeatedly. And if you're in a season where you're feeling behind or you feel like everyone else has it figured out, I promise you, most businesses are built exactly like this. One person, one laptop, one client, one month at a time. So if nobody told you this lately, you're doing okay. You're not behind. You're just building, and that building is different for everyone. Now I want to ask you something. What do you want to know about me starting skin size? What did I leave out? Is there something you're curious about? The pricing, clients, confidence, my systems? Send me a message or email me. And if you want support with the business side, the structure, the templates, the tools, please go have a look at the playbook plan and the playbook desk. And if a membership like freelance to flourish sounds like something you'd actually want, please tell me. Because I'm building this with you, not just for you. So thanks for being here. You're not alone in this. Design your life wherever you are, and let me know what you want to know more about. Talk again soon. Bye.