Studio Chartreuse is entering a new chapter, one defined by partnership, continuity and the same bold creative spirit that has shaped Cleveland brands for decades.

Founder Charity D’Amato-Crawford recently welcomed longtime designer Ali Forbes into partnership, a move that reflects both the studio’s evolution and its deep roots in Cleveland’s small-business ecosystem. It’s a story that has been building for years, supported by relationships, mentorship and early backing from COSE.

That story began almost accidentally. When Charity first came to Cleveland in the late ’90s, she didn’t imagine she was starting a decades-long love story with the city, or laying the foundation for one of its most recognizable women-owned creative studios.

She thought she was just taking an internship.

That internship, at a small agency in Terminal Tower, became her first job and the start of a career that would eventually reshape the look and feel of dozens of Cleveland businesses. By the early 2000s, Charity — a native of West Virginia— had landed the agency role she once dreamed of.

“The Herman Miller chair, the nice clothes, the fancy cubicle.”

But something felt off. “I just woke up one day and thought, I don’t want to work on roast beef sandwiches anymore,” she said. “Everyone was reevaluating their work after September 11th. I was too.”

So she quit. She took a job at Pottery Barn unloading shipments in the back room to buy herself time while freelancing.

The hustle paid off. Freelance projects grew steadily, until one major packaging contract arrived.

“I knew physically it wasn’t possible alone,” she said. “I had to hire someone. And that’s really when the studio began.”

From the start, Studio Chartreuse grew through relationships, a mindset reinforced early on through Charity’s involvement with COSE. She first connected with the organization through a business plan competition in the early 2000s. She won.

COSE quickly became a critical resource.

“I started going to Arts Network events, but eventually realized I needed to be around businesspeople, not just creatives,” she said. “COSE helped me do that. It opened doors.”

That early experience helped shape a broader understanding of what creative entrepreneurs need to succeed. Those same ideas now live on in The Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute (AEI), newly re-imagined for today’s creative economy.

An emphasis on connection — between creativity and commerce — became central to how Chartreuse grew.

“I love to network,” said Charity. “I get energy from walking into a room where I don’t know anyone. Referrals, relationships, that’s how we grew.”

A small postcard project for the Cleveland Museum of Art led to larger assignments. Work with Heinen’s opened doors in the nonprofit space. Restaurant and retail owners began seeking out the studio’s bold, distinctive aesthetic.

“We get to do the really beautiful stuff,” she said. “The special projects, the ones that make people stop and look. I think that’s where people started to say, that looks like Chartreuse.”

As the studio’s reputation grew, so did its team — including Ali Forbes, who joined Chartreuse years later with no expectation of partnership. She was simply looking for a place that felt “super creative, collaborative, and small.” After an internship, followed by a stint in corporate design, Ali found her way back to Chartreuse.

“We started talking about partnership years ago,” Charity said. “I asked her, What do you see for yourself in the next 5–10 years? She wanted to grow. And I thought: yes. That’s the person who can carry this forward.”

Ali echoed that sense of alignment.

 “I know the clients, I know the work, and Charity has mentored me for ten years,” she said.

For Charity, the partnership represents both a business decision and a personal one.

“You have a kid, you lose a parent, you hit your forties—you start thinking about time differently,” she said. “I want to keep working, but maybe not 60 hours a week forever.”

Studio Chartreuse has always been an all-women firm — something that evolved organically but became part of its identity. The studio has hosted events for women entrepreneurs, mentored interns, and served as a trusted space for founders to compare notes on everything from contracts to childcare. Beyond design, Charity sees Chartreuse as a connector in Cleveland’s creative ecosystem.

“I used to be a blogger,” she said. “I’ve always had a passion for this city. I love pushing people to explore Cleveland, its small businesses, its cultural pockets, its energy. That’s part of what we bring to our clients too.”

For both, Cleveland remains fertile ground for creative entrepreneurs.

Said Ali: “Cleveland is a smaller city, but still a major city. And it’s affordable. That makes it possible for creatives to succeed here.”

When those small businesses grow, they often bring Chartreuse with them. The ten-year partnership transition is already underway.

“It’s like giving up your baby,” Charity said, “but I know it’s going to be in the best hands. And I’m excited to see how Ali grows it, changes it, evolves it.”