You mean Mary-Kate and Ashley? Or the ad agency?
Maybe the progeny of Ole?

Nope, we’re talking about MSP’s mother-daughter design pair: Heather and Leslie Olson. Both work in the creative industry and contribute to AIGA Minnesota. Do the similarities end there? Discover the influences, dreams, distractions, and surprises this duo shares.

Heather Olson
Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Soladay Olson | Marketing for Creatives

Beginning as a practicing graphic designer and transitioning to marketer of creative services, Heather’s nearly 40-year career has crossed the thresholds of design firms, ad agencies, corporate in-house groups, and sole proprietorships. Today, she is dedicated to coaching and guiding creatives.

Professionally, Heather consults with small design businesses to market their services, and helps agency and client-side employers hire talent. As a volunteer, Heather mentors design students, serves on the boards of Art Buddies and Goldstein Museum of Design, and advises faculty in several local graphic design programs. Heather earned a BA in Advertising Design and Journalism from Iowa State University. She is an AIGA Fellow, with a long history of leadership in the Minnesota chapter.

Leslie Olson
Designer, Studio MPLS

Leslie’s education ranged from Vocal Performance and Studio Art classes at Concordia College in Moorhead through a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Journalism, French, and Retail Merchandising) at the University of Minnesota, and concluded in a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Graphic Design at Concordia University, St. Paul.

In 2015, Leslie received the Franke+Fiorella Portfolio 1-on-1 Scholarship and simultaneously landed her first career position as a Designer at Studio MPLS. There she designs and illustrates local and national brands and packaging, and applies her photography skills in the firm’s self-promotion. Beyond the workday, Leslie volunteers with AIGA Minnesota — currently on the Design Camp committee — and pursues design/photography-related passion projects.