Amy Suzanne Maeder (aka Amz) | CEO

My Background

I have a passion for providing creative solutions to design challenges.

Since 2004, I’ve worked strategically with business owners to establish their brands, expand their reach, and get their message out to the world. My client base includes life coaches, business coaches, executive coaches, leadership coaches, bookkeepers, therapists, consultants, and other service-based professionals. While I initially focused on coaches, my work has evolved to include alternative health practitioners, artists, musicians, and other creators doing meaningful work. I genuinely enjoy working with positive people who are providing products and services that help others.

Throughout my life, art and music have been my biggest interests. I had two inspirational aunts who were wonderful artists, and they both encouraged me to pursue a creative path. I was the kid who looked forward to art class and spent my free time either at my drawing table or holding a guitar. I’m a self-taught guitarist and currently learning piano so I can write and record my own music. In my senior year of high school, I moved to Seattle to attend the Art Institute, where I earned two Associates degrees—first in Music & Video Business, then in Graphic Design. I graduated with honors both times.

After working in video post-production for several years, I decided to start my own business using my design degree. Design Formare was born in 2004, and in 2012 I incorporated. Over the past 20+ years, I’ve worked with many wonderful clients, many of whom are still with me today. I’ve been extremely fortunate that my entire current client base came through referrals—I haven’t needed to market or sell my services. Keeping my practice intentionally small is one reason I’m able to offer such focused attention to each client.

Working With Me

I believe the best working relationships happen when there’s a good personality fit. The best results come from clear communication, trust, and an overall good vibe between us. That’s why I offer a free 30-minute consultation so we can get to know each other before committing to work together. During this conversation, we can discuss your needs and see if we’re the right fit for each other.

Most of my clients came to me because they were frustrated working with firms or agencies where they felt passed around. While I’m starting to build a small team, my focus remains on maintaining that one-on-one relationship. You can rest assured that I will always be your main point of contact—the face of Design Formare.

I’m a firm believer in maintaining boundaries that support a healthy work-life balance. I’m generally available Monday through Thursday, 10am – 6pm PT, and I take weekends off to recharge. If emergencies arise after hours, I respond as soon as I can.

View My Policies and FAQ

My Design Style

I have a personal preference for minimalist design. Less is more. Form follows function. The focus should always be on the message and communicating it quickly and effectively. Great design is aesthetically pleasing while emphasizing content, ease of use, and clear flow.

Minimalist design removes unnecessary elements that don’t support the user’s goals. Just because a design trend is popular doesn’t mean it serves your audience or business objectives. My approach prioritizes what actually works—not what’s flashy.

Characteristics of my design approach:

• Clean, flat patterns and textures
• Intentional color palettes
• Purposeful elements (no unnecessary bells and whistles)
• Strategic use of whitespace
• Engaging typography
• Structured grid layouts
• Visual balance

The result? Designs that are easy to navigate, pleasant to look at, and focused on getting your message across—not distracting from it.

My Proficiencies

I’m a WordPress specialist working primarily with Divi, Elementor, and Avada theme frameworks. I build custom sites using HTML, CSS, and basic PHP, and I’m comfortable with various page builders including Divi, Elementor, Beaver Builder, Visual Composer, and Fusion.

Design & Production Tools:

Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweaver, Audition, Premiere, After Effects, Acrobat), Camtasia, Procreate, and Microsoft Office

Platforms:

Windows, Android, iPad Pro

Recent Certifications:

• Camtasia (December 2025)
• Digital Marketing – Gonzaga University (September 2024)
• Google Ads Search (August 2024)
• Google Analytics (August 2024)
• Email Marketing / HubSpot (August 2024)

I believe strongly in continuing education and work consistently to stay current with evolving tools and expand my skills.