Tell us a little about yourself and and what you do?
My name isDanielle Mitchell, founder of Gather and Seek, a creative studio offering design services, both tangible and digital. I was born and raised in West Palm Beach and lived in Brooklyn for a few years where I attended Pratt Institute and worked in the city for different agencies as a graphic designer. I’m also the co-founder of Locate Paradise, a lifestyle brand and online market. Outside of that I’m an adjunct professor at Palm Beach State College teaching graphic design classes. I’m lucky enough to train wonderfully talented souls and even luckier to have some of them work for me as freelance graphic designers. I love my home and am so excited about the growth of the creative, entrepreneurial community here in South Florida.

What has been the most challenging moment in your career?
I would actually say that I’m currently in it. Building my client list and growing my company is very nerve wracking for me. I want to move out of my home office and bring more opportunity to the wonderful, talented students that I have the pleasure of teaching at Palm Beach State College. Right now we’re a humble little team of three (two of my previous students are now Gather & Seek freelancers!) We’ve been working out of a second bedroom in my home that has been converted to a studio space. It does the trick but I can’t wait to have a space somewhere in the area so we can really expose our services to the South Florida community and make new friends, potential clients, and collaborators.

What was your most braggable moment?
Seeing the KYPRIS package design in big wig magazines like Vogue, W, NYLON, and the like.

What do you feel most challenged by?
At times I get eager by ideas and what is happening around me. There are so many amazing companies popping up and new projects being created in this little home of mine. I want to be apart of the local community growth but also need to understand that it takes time to build a business. It doesn’t happen over night, but if you try hard and work at it every day, I should be able to get there. So, I’d say that having patience, staying focused and not getting distracted by the emotion of envy is my biggest challenge.


What are your greatest strengths?

Having big picture ideas, orchestrating a creative team and having drive.


What was the greatest lesson you’ve learned from a mistake?
Make sure you consider all scenario’s before leaping into things. It’s important to be aware of your worth and stand up for your skill set. 

What do you love most about what you do?

The ability to work remotely and to create my own schedule. Providing opportunity to like-minded creative’s around me. I co-founded Locate Paradise with my BFF Danielle Casey and the philosophy behind that project is to discover your own personal paradise, whatever that is for you. It’s a mindset that I strive to achieve daily.


What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

“Be careful to not buy the buggy before the horse” -Dad. So good. There are steps to take, so be smart … take one step at a time … eventually you can have the horse & the buggy.


How do you define happiness?
By locating your personal paradise, whatever that may be to you #locateparadise 😉

My personal paradise is being able to cross items off my to-do and desire list. Doing that gives me a sense of security and growth. It feels amazing to reward myself by getting or doing something I want after I accomplish an important task or goal. Having a healthy balance between work, family and play is the ultimate paradise I strive for, and taking small steps towards that dream with my favorite songs playing in the background is a piece of paradise in itself!

What’s a personal habit that you believe contributes to your success?
Overthinking. If its on my mind, I need to see it through.

What book are you currently reading?

Theories of Modern Art by Herschel B. Chipp