Hi lovelies & Happy Sunday!

This week’s Sundays with Her is dedicated to a woman whose creativity knows no borders. Danielle LaBonté, the powerhouse behind Danielle LaBonté Designs, has been shaping the world of graphic design since 2017, bringing art, story, and innovation together in unforgettable ways.

From earning awards in Toronto to speaking at global summits with audiences of over 20,000, Danielle has built a career that inspires not just creatives, but anyone daring to dream bigger. With roots in art history and years of experience in design, her work is both deeply thoughtful and endlessly bold. Today, we’re so excited to step into Danielle’s world and celebrate the magic she brings to the creative space.

So without further ado, let's chat with Danielle!

Let’s start soft… what’s your go-to drink order (coffee, iced latte, matcha, etc )?

My go-to drink order currently with the hot weather is an iced latte with cold foam on the top! You can’t go wrong with the classics.

My one go-to beauty ritual is skincare — particularly hydration. Every morning I cleanse, whether I’m using my foam or exfoliating cleanser and always ensure to follow up with hyaluronic acid and my SPF moisturizer.  I truly believe feeling your best starts with skincare.

With our latest gloss launch called “Babes who Brunch”, who would your dream brunch guest be??

My dream brunch guest would be Kelly Clarkson. She’s so real and witty, yet insanely talented. I love watching her on her talk show, her covers are insane and she somehow makes every guest feel comfortable. I’d love to pick her brain on so many things, yet I know she’d be someone to laugh with over mimosas. 

What does your perfect Sunday look like? 

My perfect Sunday usually revolves around taking it slow before the week starts, but that’s not necessarily how they always go as I’m often cleaning, prepping, etc. In my dream world, a Sunday would be enjoying a slow morning with my coffee and eventually peeking out to Dundas, where my studio is based, to grab a baguette and croissant at the local bakery and exploring the cute small boutiques.

Tell us about your business! What inspired you to start? 

I started my graphic design studio eight years ago and was inspired by watching strong, creative women pursuing their own version of success and killing it. They were posting the day in their lives, and it didn’t look easy, but I saw how much passion they had for what they do, and I wanted to feel that exact same way. I had spent some time re-inventing myself to achieve this. I went back to school after already completing a degree in another field, accepted opportunities that made me uncomfortable, and put myself out of my comfort zone by moving to Toronto. What started as freelancing for two years part-time and working for other companies turned into a full-time business.

Where do you turn for creative inspiration when you're feeling blocked? 

Whenever I am feeling burned out or experiencing a creative block, I often turn to other forms of creativity outside of what I am currently experiencing a block in. This may mean I start getting back into music, painting, gardening, or cooking. I also make sure to take more breaks than usual when I can, getting outside, ensuring I am signing off in the evenings, walking my dog, or spending time with the people I love most.

What's one tool or platform you can't live without? 

It’s hard to only pick one tool or platform I can’t live without! If we’re talking about one that helps me get through day-to-day tasks in my business, I’d have to say Dubsado has been the best investment and tool for the studio in terms of its automations. This is no ad, but if you’re looking to offload administrative tasks, Dubsado is amazing.

What's been your proudest moment as a founder so far? 

I’ve had a few really proud moments in business, but some hard moments too, it’s definitely hard to choose just one. One of them would be public speaking. I’ve always enjoyed helping, speaking, and sharing creativity with the world. Over four years ago Adobe reached out to have myself create some branding from scratch over their online livestreams and I thoroughly enjoyed doing that! Now since being invited to collaborate in other ways with the brand has been amazing as it’s the best platform for any graphic designer out there and they truly have the best community! I’m super proud to be in collaboration with them.

And your most humbling lesson? 

You truly do get humbled in business quite often (LOL). You’re always learning and striving to do better. I’m also someone who is a perfectionist so I can be quite hard on myself. I’ve had some people really bite at me and it can affect my confidence. Social media sucks and some people also have zero filters, it’s quite humbling to say the least. Putting yourself out there on big channels like Adobe or even your own, you’re opening the door to negativity, so learning to let it slide and to be resilient is an ongoing task.

What's your favourite way to unwind after a long day? 

After a long day, I love to have some time to myself or with my family. Sitting outside and reading a book is something I really enjoy doing. I also love a good ice cream cone, so going out with my fiancé and dog for a walk and some ice cream does wonders after a long day! If I’m not feeling like cooking after a long day, my go-to takeout is sushi. Nothing cheers me up more than sushi LOL!

What's a piece of advice you'd give to another woman starting out? 

My biggest piece of advice to any woman looking to start a brand is to start before you’re ready. Clarity truly comes through action, not perfection. Through my experience, we as women tend to wait until everything feels “perfect” to launch, but the most growth comes from simply starting. Trust your vision, allow yourself to learn as you go, and remember that progress is better than perfection.

Last one - finish this sentence: "To me, soft living means..."

To me, soft living means choosing to build a life and business that prioritizes peace, purpose and expression. It’s about creating with intention, finding beauty in the process (not just the outcome), letting my work nourish me, and saying no to projects that aren’t aligned.

Danielle’s journey is proof that when passion meets persistence, the possibilities are limitless. She continues to inspire through her design studio, global speaking engagements, and the communities she mentors with her heart and vision. We’re so grateful to share her story in this week’s Sundays with Her—a reminder to always honor your creativity, chase your dreams, and push the boundaries of what’s possible. ✨

Until next time, 

    Ashley