Kiah Smith
Branding Packaging Product Development Photography Marketing Client Work
Kiah Smith
/kee-yah/
Kiah Smith Headshot, owner of Smithmade Essentials

Hi, I'm Kiah.

I’m a multidisciplinary designer with 15+ years of experience helping small businesses and DTC brands tell their stories through thoughtful visuals. I’m also the founder of Smithmade Essentials, an artisan soap and candle brand that allowed me to explore storytelling through product and experience design. Whether developing visual systems for clients or crafting sensory-driven work in my studio, I’m most inspired by the intersection of design, narrative, and everyday ritual.

Photo by Dan Mims, The Daily Nutmeg.

Capabilities

 

Branding
Packaging
Product Design

Web Design
Digital Design
Video Editing

Print Production
Photography
Illustration

 
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Smithmade Essentials

Smithmade Essentials began as a personal project that combined my hobby of soap making with my interest in brand development. What started as a creative experiment grew into a full product line and retail business—an opportunity to apply design thinking across every stage of a consumer brand. I led all aspects of the project, from identity and packaging to photography, marketing, and production, exploring what it means to build a cohesive, multi-sensory brand from concept to launch.

View the Project

Project Scope

Work for Client Brands

Through my design studio, Kiah Smith Creative, I partner with organizations and small businesses to develop websites, visual identities, and marketing materials.

 

Graphic Design

 

Packaging

 

Branding

Client Testimonials

Testimonials
Gather Nourish Rise

“Kiah is naturally inquisitive and deeply cares to fully understand her clients and their brand needs. Kiah’s intuition matched with her design mastery makes her brilliant creative and brand professional.

I was so blessed to have Kiah on my brand creation journey for Gather Nourish Rise, and I highly recommend her for anyone looking to create a unique and bold statement for their business.”

Joni Stone, Gather Nourish Rise

VAVID Technology Group

"Kiah was a joy to work with. She always made sure to fully explain each choice when it came to decision making. She is always open to feedback."

Shayla Veasley, VAVID Technology Group

Stacy Lavilla

“I couldn’t be happier in my work with Kiah. She was incredibly responsive, exhibited skill and expertise at every turn , and I always felt that her business philosophy was guided by a need to ensure that she was producing quality work that her client was happy with.”

Stacy Lavilla, Stacy Lavilla Communications

EcoDev

“The best of the best is KSC design. Kiah is attentive to details, quick to respond and very very quality orientated. 5 stars in my book.”

Scott T. Lewis, EcoDev Contest

Global Center for Professional Advancement

“Kiah Smith Creative LLC is a wonderful designer who pays attention to detail! I would recommend her design services to anyone. “

Natalia Xiomara-Chieffo, Spanish on the Green™

2008-2012

Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design

Southern Connecticut State University

Freelance Graphic Designer

NYC Data Systems

Illustrator & Designer

You Too Book Publishing

2013-2016

Marketing & Design Coordinator

Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce

Senior Art Director

The Visual Brand

2017-PRESENT

Creative Director

Kiah Smith Creative

Founder, Artisan & Designer

Smithmade Essentials

Contract Web & Graphic Designer

Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University