New creative advisory firm launches in Tiffin

TIFFIN — A new creative consultancy has opened its doors in Tiffin. Rachel Crooks, a longtime resident with a professional background spanning multiple industries, is excited to launch The Creative AF — a Tiffin-based firm offering creative design and style guidance to both individuals and businesses across northwest Ohio. The business provides services in four main areas: personal styling, interior decorating, event design and branding support. Crooks said the idea came from years of informally helping friends and local contacts — now formalized into a business model focused on collaboration and customization. "Tiffin is home," Crooks said. "There's a lot of revitalization happening right now, and I wanted to be part of that momentum." She continued, sharing that she has spent more than a decade in her career working at both Tiffin and Heidelberg universities, including time spent supporting international students. It was those experiences that she feels gave her a broader perspective that now shapes her approach to design and communication. "I've had the chance to work and travel in larger markets," she said. "But I think Tiffin deserves the same bold ideas and creative support without the big-city price tag." Crooks said the idea for The Creative AF grew out of things she was already doing in her personal life, from helping friends shop for events to redesigning her own historic home. "A lot of what I'm offering is already part of my life," she said. "Starting the business gave me a way to do it more intentionally." The firm is set to work with both individual clients as well as businesses, often beginning with a discovery process to understand the client's goals, budget and timeline. From there, clients fill out an intake form, and from there Crooks builds a proposal as well as a step-by-step plan. "It's important to me that the process doesn't feel intimidating," she said. "Whether I'm helping someone pick an outfit or refresh their brand identity, I want them to feel like they're working with a creative friend who has a good eye and a better plan." Though she said she enjoys the variety of projects, Crooks said she's especially drawn to larger branding challenges where she can help a local business define its identity and communicate that clearly to the community. "But I love the small wins too," she added. "Helping someone feel more confident in their space or how they show up in the world—that's just as meaningful." Initial consultations with The Creative AF are free. More information is available at www.thecreativeaf.com or by emailing contact@thecreativeaf.com.