About
The difference between good design and great design is in the details.
I’m Caroline, a Minneapolis-based designer, creative director & photographer — the founder of Ellingboe Design.
I have spent the past decade working across brand identity, marketing collateral, branded campaigns, print and digital design — partnering with businesses and organizations to turn ideas into visual systems that feel cohesive, intentional and distinctly their own.
I began Ellingboe Design with a simple belief: great creative work doesn't require a giant agency or layers of account management. It requires thoughtful strategy, strong design instincts, attention to detail, and a genuine understanding of the people and business behind the brand.
Today, I work directly with clients and creative partners on everything from brand identities and visual systems to campaigns, marketing materials and ongoing creative support. Some projects begin with a blank page; others begin with an established brand that simply needs thoughtful design support to keep moving.
My approach is rooted in intentionality, collaboration and craft. I am drawn to strong typography, thoughtful composition, meaningful color and the little details that make a brand feel considered rather than simply decorated. There is absolutely nothing like the human experience; while AI has its value and place, it will never be a human designer working directly with you (mentally, emotionally, physically) bringing your vision to life.
Senior-level creative thinking. Direct collaboration. No agency layers.
Beyond the Work
Outside of design, I am a wife, mom of two, photographer, former collegiate gymnast, and lifelong creative. I love making things (from family scrapbooks to handmade cards to delicious meals for my family), being outside, photographing milestones for incredible people, finding the beauty in all things, and constantly searching for functionality and efficiency.
Those things influence how I work, too: I'm naturally curious, detail-oriented and always looking for a better way to make something work.