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Design to make meaningful work

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To overlook. *}

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To overlook.}

I help editorial publications, consumer brands, educational organizations, and mission-driven experts turn research and reputation into identities and publications people actually trust.

SEE THE WORK

EXPLORE SERVICES

SEATTLE, WA
▲
WORKING WORLDWIDE
▲
BRAND IDENTITY
▲
EDITORIAL & REPORT DESIGN
▲

This is who I design for.

THREE KINDS OF CLIENTS. ONE SHARED PROBLEM.

EDITORIAL MAGAZINE PUBLICATIONS

Pretty pages get attention. The right ones are kept, reread and passed around.

I design editorial systems with exact pacing and structure that make people want to keep turning pages.

EDITORIAL MAGAZINE PUBLICATIONS

Pretty pages get attention. The right ones are kept, reread and passed around.

I design editorial systems with exact pacing and structure that make people want to keep turning pages.

EDITORIAL MAGAZINE PUBLICATIONS

Pretty pages get attention. The right ones are kept, reread and passed around.

I design editorial systems with exact pacing and structure that make people want to keep turning pages.

RESEARCH, EDUCATION & MISSION-DRIVEN ORGANIZATIONS

Your research is solid and your mission is real but the report sits there unread.

I translate complex research and mission into one clear system your team, funders, and faculty can actually use.

RESEARCH, EDUCATION & MISSION-DRIVEN ORGANIZATIONS

Your research is solid and your mission is real but the report sits there unread.

I translate complex research and mission into one clear system your team, funders, and faculty can actually use.

RESEARCH, EDUCATION & MISSION-DRIVEN ORGANIZATIONS

Your research is solid and your mission is real but the report sits there unread.

I translate complex research and mission into one clear system your team, funders, and faculty can actually use.

CONSUMER, LIFESTYLE & CRAFT BRANDS

Your business doesn’t visually reflect the quality of your product or experience.

I build brand identities flexible enough to grow with you and precise enough to feel intentional.

CONSUMER, LIFESTYLE & CRAFT BRANDS

Your business doesn’t visually reflect the quality of your product or experience.

I build brand identities flexible enough to grow with you and precise enough to feel intentional.

CONSUMER, LIFESTYLE & CRAFT BRANDS

Your business doesn’t visually reflect the quality of your product or experience.

I build brand identities flexible enough to grow with you and precise enough to feel intentional.

You think the problem is visibility. It’s not. It’s clarity.

More noise just means more people misunderstanding you faster.

LET’S GET CLEAR

TWO WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER.

Both start with understanding what makes your work valuable.

Visual Identity & Branding

Reports & Editorial Design

TWO WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER.

Both start with understanding what makes your work valuable.

Visual Identity & Branding

Reports & Editorial Design

Straightforward.
Curious.
Calm expert energy.

I’m Esther Maria, the designer behind Esmaria. I’m a brand and editorial designer based in Seattle, WA. I help experts and established organizations show the world the quality of their work through thoughtful, distinctive design.

My approach starts with understanding what makes your work valuable. Then designing so others can see it, trust it, and remember it. I have done design work for NSF-funded reports and the award-winning Spindrift Art and Literary Magazine. I have worked with the University of Washington, tech startups, brands, and cultural organizations. I also helped businesses prepare for trade shows in London and CES, the world’s largest consumer tech conference.

Just clear, useful design that earns trust and supports growth.

Nice to meet you : )

Selected Work

A few projects where clarity changed how the work was seen.

BRANDING

01/

The Sipper Supper Club

A woodcut-inspired identity built around a martini glass and a skewered-olive motif, for a social dining club built on connection.

Report design

02/

Educating For Impact

A labor market report that turns forward-looking workforce research into a clear, adoptable curriculum for faculty.

Logo design

03/

Discovering Insight Counseling

A nature-drawn logo for a private therapy practice, traced from the founder’s own hike through the Olympic Mountains.

What clients say:

Derrick Buckspan Esther has a rare ability to translate ideas into thoughtful, quality design. She was collaborative and communicative throughout the months we worked together, and her ideas strengthened the project. We are thrilled with the final result.

Derrick Buckspan

RE/MAX Shorline, MN, NH

Guy Hamilton She took complex research and translated it into a clear, visually compelling national report. Her work elevated the impact of the project.

Guy Hamilton

Director, CBIT, UW Bothell

Miranda Barret Her work is consistently high-quality and creative, and our clients love the logos and color palettes she creates.

Miranda Barret

Mind the Mic Consulting

Derrick Buckspan

RE/MAX Shorline, MN, NH

Guy Hamilton She took complex research and translated it into a clear, visually compelling national report. Her work elevated the impact of the project.

Guy Hamilton

Director, CBIT, UW Bothell

Miranda Barret Her work is consistently high-quality and creative, and our clients love the logos and color palettes she creates.

Miranda Barret

Mind the Mic Consulting

Your work already speaks.
Let’s make sure people can hear it too.

START YOUR PROJECT

Your work already speaks.
Let’s make sure people can hear it too.

START YOUR PROJECT

Your work already speaks.
Let’s make sure people can hear it too.

START YOUR PROJECT

Your work already speaks.
Let’s make sure people can hear it too.

START YOUR PROJECT

Design to make meaningful work

Design to make meaningful work

{ impossibleTo overlook. *}

{ impossibleTo overlook.}

{ impossibleTo overlook.}

{ impossibleTo overlook.}

This is who I design for.

This is who I design for.

This is who I design for.

Pretty pages get attention. The right ones are kept, reread and passed around.

Pretty pages get attention. The right ones are kept, reread and passed around.

Pretty pages get attention. The right ones are kept, reread and passed around.

Your research is solid and your mission is real but the report sits there unread.

Your research is solid and your mission is real but the report sits there unread.

Your research is solid and your mission is real but the report sits there unread.

Your business doesn’t visually reflect the quality of your product or experience.

Your business doesn’t visually reflect the quality of your product or experience.

Your business doesn’t visually reflect the quality of your product or experience.

You think the problem is visibility. It’s not. It’s clarity.

You think the problem is visibility. It’s not. It’s clarity.

You think the problem is visibility. It’s not. It’s clarity.

Straightforward.Curious. Calm expert energy.

Straightforward.Curious. Calm expert energy.

Straightforward.Curious. Calm expert energy.

Selected Work

Selected Work

The Sipper Supper Club

Educating For Impact

Discovering Insight Counseling

What clients say:

What clients say:

Your work already speaks. Let’s make sure people can hear it too.

Your work already speaks. Let’s make sure people can hear it too.

Your work already speaks. Let’s make sure people can hear it too.

Your work already speaks. Let’s make sure people can hear it too.

{ impossible
To overlook. *}

{ impossible
To overlook.}

{ impossible
To overlook.}

{ impossible
To overlook.}

Straightforward.
Curious.
Calm expert energy.

Straightforward.
Curious.
Calm expert energy.

Straightforward.
Curious.
Calm expert energy.

Your work already speaks.
Let’s make sure people can hear it too.

Your work already speaks.
Let’s make sure people can hear it too.

Your work already speaks.
Let’s make sure people can hear it too.

Your work already speaks.
Let’s make sure people can hear it too.