Our Story
Why Essence Exists.
Essence was built from a simple but powerful realization: most businesses are not lacking quality. They are lacking clarity, strategy, and the right presentation.
Gabriella Wilson-Rytting — Founder and Creative Director — spent over five years working across marketing and design before founding Essence in 2024. With a background in Graphic Design and Cultural Studies from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, she approaches every project through both a creative and deeply human lens.
Too many small businesses are priced out of thoughtful, high-level creative. Too many brands invest in marketing that looks good but fails to perform. And too often, the essence of a business gets lost in templated design and surface-level messaging. Essence was created to change that.
When strategy, branding, and marketing align, businesses do not just grow — they become unforgettable. That is the standard every project is held to, and it always will be.
The Beginning
5+ Years of Experience
Before founding Essence, Gabriella spent over five years working across marketing, brand strategy, and design — building the skills, instincts, and industry knowledge that would eventually become the foundation of the agency.
The Realization
A Gap in the Market
Working across industries, one thing became impossible to ignore: too many local businesses in Hawaii were being underserved — handed generic templates, ignored by mainland agencies, or left to figure out marketing entirely on their own.
The Foundation
University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
Gabriella's background in Graphic Design and Cultural Studies gave her a lens that most marketers don't have — she approaches every project through both a creative and deeply human perspective.
2024
Essence Is Founded
Essence Marketing & Design was launched with a clear mission: give Hawaii businesses the clarity, strategy, and creative direction they need to show up at their highest level — not rushed, not recycled, not surface-level.
2024–Now
40+ Brands Across 10+ Industries
Essence has served brands across hospitality, healthcare, retail, non-profits, food and beverage, entertainment, professional services, and more — all rooted in Oahu.
Always
The Mission Stays the Same
As Essence continues to grow, the standard never changes: every brand is approached with depth, intention, and a clear objective — to create a presence that not only attracts attention, but converts it into real, measurable growth.
