Alyssa Phillips Downey of Amp'd Designs leaning her elbow on a desk and her chin on her hand, with a red mug and an open laptop on the desk.

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I’m Alyssa, a designer with a passion for crafting iconic & memorable brands & websites.

I’m incredibly inspired by creators: businesses and entrepreneurs with fearlessness and ambition.

I love partnering with people who love what they do, and making sure your design reflects the level of quality & intention you put into your work.

I firmly believe:

Relationships matter.

Our work together is a true collaboration through every step of the process.
Substance first, then style.

Successful design isn’t just about looking pretty. It’s about connecting with your ideal customers.
No one-size-fits-all.

Your brand shouldn’t be built on trends or Pinterest boards. It should be rooted deeply in your business’s distinct story.
Going above and beyond.

Satisfaction isn’t enough. You should be in love with your brand, and I make sure your experience exceeds your expectations.
Thriving for the long-term.

You’ll be empowered with the tools and knowledge you need to use your designs to their full potential once they’re in your hands.

Fun facts:

A

I hail from Buffalo, NY. I moved to NYC for college and lived & worked there for 6 years before moving to Asheville, NC.
B

I graduated from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, with a BFA in Communications Design, concentration on Graphic Design.
C

I worked as a Designer and Art Director in New York City designing branding, print, packaging, and digital collateral.
D

I also spent time in the Art Department at Atlantic Records where I designed a plethora of music-related projects and attended a champagne party with Ed Sheeran.
E

I now work out of my home office in Mars Hill, NC, occasionally frequenting local coffee shops. I connect with business owners all over via Zoom, or locally at a co-working space in Downtown Asheville.
F

When I'm not designing, you might find me out listening to live music, planning a fun home improvement project, or baking something with chocolate in it (always happy to talk about the GBBO).
G

I also love my cats Mark (moody teenage orange tabby) and Jinx (very energetic black kitten)!

FAVORITE BANDS:

Grouplove, Fall Out Boy, Alt-J, Hippo Campus

LATELY LISTENING TO:

Chappell Roan

FAVORITE FOOD:

Popcorn

FAVORITE COLOR:

Red (surprising?)

NEXT TRIP:

Budapest, Vienna, & Prague

Currently reading:

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

Favorite Dungeon:

Zul'Farrak

Collaborating with the community and design organizations is important to me.

For creatives, I founded Make Your Design Matter ®, a platform that helps ambitious self-employed designers nail their processes, wow their clients, and grow their busiensses with confidence.

I also co-founded the AIGA Asheville chapter, serving as the Vice President for four years, followed by a position as President in 2023.

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I regularly speak at events and webinars and to design students at colleges and universities about design & branding, self-employment, and cover-letter-writing.
- Webinar host: check out my ongoing virtual event series for both business owners and designers
- Former Adjunct Instructor in the Digital Media Technologies program: A-B Tech Community College
- Former Co-Host: Designed to Thrive Clubhouse chat, alongside Eric Vasquez
Member of:
Formerly:
Certifications:
Mountain BizWorks Graduate
Squarespace Circle Member
Standout Squarespace Certified

I host free online webinars for both business owners and designers on a near monthly basis. Check here to see what’s coming up, as well as other events I’ll be a part of!

See upcoming virtual events