Interview with Jameson McMaster, Founder of Strtup Agency

Here at WPBakery, we love seeing how professionals use our page builder to grow their businesses. So when we heard that Jameson McMaster, a graphic designer and founder of Strtup, considers WPBakery one of his startup essentials, we had to reach out.

With 18+ years of experience, Jameson began his career as an illustrator, drawing on lunch bags, and has since worked on projects of all sizes – from baby start-ups to large corporations. He believes that “exceptional design is a powerful differentiator, no matter the stage of growth.”

Today, Jameson runs his own agency, helping startups build their brands and scale. More recently, he’s also worked as the Art Director at Nextbite, where he’s grown a team from one to ten and created content for over 25 virtual restaurant brands.

Through it all, WPBakery Page Builder has been a constant in his workflow. He’s used it for over a decade and still swears by it. In this interview, we will find out why it remains his go-to choice.

You’ve been in the creative industry for over 18 years – starting as an illustrator, to more recently working as an Art Director for a brand in the food industry, and now running your agency focused on startups. What got you into design in the first place, and what’s kept you excited about it after all this time?

I’ve always been your typical artist – art was hands-down my best class in school. I’d doodle on just about anything, constantly tinkering with stuff and taking it apart. I guess that’s just what artists do when they’re kids – exploring, creating, and figuring out how things work.

I’ve tried a ton of different mediums over the years – glass, oil, you name it – and I loved it all. But making a living from it? That’s a whole different story. When I discovered design, it finally clicked that I could actually make money as a professional artist. So that’s the path I took, and I haven’t looked back.

As the founder and the one man behind Strtup, you handle every project yourself — which means wearing a lot of hats. From building the brand to strategy and all the things designers don’t usually love doing. In what ways has that made you a more adaptable designer, and what are some unexpected skills you’ve gained along the way?

Like I mentioned earlier, I’ve been working with startups for a while now. One thing you learn pretty quickly in that world is that you wear a lot of hats. Whether I was the only designer or part of a small team, I had to figure out whatever it took to get things done – project management, building websites, editing videos – you name it.

Looking back, I’m really grateful for all those challenges and experiences. They pushed me way outside my comfort zone and taught me a ton. I always recommend working at a startup to anyone who’s up for it – it’s the best way to grow and learn fast.

Strtup.io

Startups move fast and often have tight deadlines. Without giving away all your secrets, what would you say is the key to delivering high-quality designs on a fast turnaround?

It all comes with time and experience. Design is mostly about thinking, prepping, and then executing. Just like any other career, the more you practice, the better and more efficient you get. And here’s a little advice – don’t get too caught up in that last 5% of the design. Sometimes you just have to tell yourself, “Good enough—move on.”

What does your typical tech stack look like? What plugins, tools, and platforms do you rely on?

What I use every day:

• Adobe Creative Cloud (Indesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Bridge)
• Figma
• WordPress

Startup Essentials. Download the curated list on Strtup.io

You’ve been using WPBakery Page Builder for over a decade and even recommend it as part of your Startup Essentials. What made it stand out to you, and choose it over other builders you’ve tried over the years?

I’ve been using WPBakery Page Builder pretty much since I first started with WordPress – so probably more than 10 years now. I’ve tried a ton of website-building platforms and a bunch of other site/ page builders within WordPress, but honestly, I can’t stand any of them. I always end up going back to WPBakery and recommending it to others.

For me, it hits that perfect balance of customization and ease of use. The UI and UX feel really smooth and intuitive, while other builders just come off as clunky and frustrating. I never feel overwhelmed when I’m using it, but I definitely get stressed out trying to work with the others.

You probably can’t pick a favorite, but could you share a couple of websites you’ve built with WPBakery Page Builder that you’re especially proud of?

A couple sites I recently did:

Maggie’s

Back to Work

If another designer asked if they should use WPBakery Page Builder, what would you tell them?

I always tell them to go with WPBakery Page Builder. Most of the time I tell them before they ask 😉

Where do you find inspiration? Is it from other designers or certain platforms, or does it come from something totally outside of design, like nature or everyday life?

I love browsing Dribbble – it’s definitely where I get most of my inspiration. But I try to stay tuned into my surroundings and media too because you never know when something’s going to hit you just right. Inspiration can come from anywhere!