Chloe Doyle

Founder of The Chatty Freelancer

First-Class Degree in Digital Design

This month, we’re shining the spotlight on GCU alumna Chloe Doyle, who is also known as The Chatty Freelancer. Chloe offers brand design services that help startups and small businesses create visual identities they’re genuinely proud of. Interestingly, The Chatty Freelancer name was born out of a university personal branding project and ever since then it has stuck!

Chloe has been able to build a business that combines her love for freelancing and community with her skills in digital design. The Chatty Studio offers a range of tools and services, from a free Brand Match Quiz to full Brand Makeovers, and you can hear honest conversations about freelance and creative life (the good, the bad, and everything in between) on The Chatty Freelancer Podcast.

After graduating with a First-Class Degree in Digital Design, Chloe jumped headfirst into freelancing, helping brands enhance their online presence and communicate with impact. For the last three years Chloe has been grateful for the opportunity to mentor Digital Design students, which allows her to give back to GCU.

Another highlight in Chloe’s freelance career is the invitations she receives to speak at creative events:

“I’ve also had the chance to speak at some amazing creative events, including GAB, which was such a surreal ‘pinch me’ moment.”

Whilst freelance work is rarely stable and consistent, Chloe believes that variety keeps things interesting and pushes her to keep going. Developing financial literacy is another area that Chloe recognises as a challenge:

“Like a lot of creatives, I didn’t start out with much financial know-how, so figuring out the business side of freelancing has been, and continues to be, a real learning curve.”

Since joining the GCU Entrepreneurial Hub in early 2025, Chloe has enjoyed working from the Glasgow campus and reconnecting with the university community:

“Being a freelancer, a lot of the time you are working at home, which can get very lonely. I loved the idea of coming into a space where there are other like-minded people. It's an approachable space filled with people who genuinely want to see you succeed and will do anything to support you.”

To find out more about Chloe and The Chatty Freelancer visit her website https://www.thechattyfreelancer.com/.

Membership of the GCU Entrepreneurial Hub is open to all current students, staff, and graduates. Find out more: www.gcu.ac.uk/entrepreneurialhub.

Start now, not later. Ultimately if you don't start doing the thing, you are never going to progress. Fail faster, find your people and persist. Asking for help is the most powerful thing you can do, don't be afraid to ask questions. Embrace the fact that you are learning, it is okay to not know. No matter what anyone says, we are all faking it until we make it.