I recently worked on a pro bono project for a friend, and it reminded me of a time early in my career and how lucky I was then to get such great advice from the more seasoned pros around me. Advice that ultimately saved me from some major pitfalls. I made mistakes here and there over the course of nearly 20 years of projects, but with each hiccup came a lesson. Here are some takeaways from my lessons learned and all that sage advice.

Questions Equal Clarity
Clients come to us designers for our expertise, and it is our job to guide them through the process. We are helping them find clarity about their vision and goals for their project.

Brand storytelling is an integral part of a brand’s identity and the way to communicate its personality. It is the ability to tell stories about your brand that build trust, loyalty, and advocacy with your customers.

A logo is only as good as the recognition it provides, so if your logo looks outdated or unprofessional, customers will be turned off by what they see which isn’t good. Branding is all about consistency and repetition. It’s the reason why customers know what to expect from a brand, who it is, and what its values are.

If you’re not sure if your branding needs a refresh, consider these six signs:

There are tons of reasons for a business to want to give back in some way. In the past, businesses have chosen charities for tax breaks, credibility, or to be recognized as a “good corporate citizen.” While all these reasons are valid, and you may want to consider them when choosing a charity, the best option is a strategic choice. This can be an opportunity to do more than just give money or write checks: it can be an opportunity to get closer with your audience while making an impact on something that matters greatly to you.

If your company doesn’t already have a giving strategy, you are late to the party. But not to worry, here are a few reasons why you should give, and a bit about how to give.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I am reminded how grateful I am, not only for the people around me but that I have the opportunity to run my own business. One of the benefits of running a small business is that it gives me the ability to donate to causes that matter to me, and find ways to help build community, and show others the benefits of charitable giving.

Ages ago, when I first started at an agency, I learned a lot about working with clients on logos, mostly through trial and error. Once, after a client killed a perfectly good logo because he didn’t like the color green, I decided to always show the first round of logos only in black and white. Why? Because it allows the mark to speak for itself without bias or reliance on color. There were lots of those types of lessons when I first started. Quite frankly I am thankful for them; they have helped me hone a process for myself.

In a world where everyone needs it now and wants to be there quickly, I choose to take the scenic route.

I was recently on a group call and one of the designers chirped that she churns out a new website for her clients every other day. I was blown away. Just floored. That is a LOT of work to get done in two workdays. And that included a logo! I have been doing this for quite a while and I started to wonder am I a dinosaur unable to keep up with kids fresh out of school? Is this where it is all headed? I had a lot of questions. What was she using to get all of this done so quickly? Are there new tools I just don’t know about yet? So. Many. Questions.

It’s that time of year again people. We’ve nearly made it to the end of 2021. Whew, right? So, what is in store for 2022?

Pantone just released the 2022 Color of the Year: Very Peri. It’s a lovely purply-blue color. I have been spotting similar hues all over the place in recent months and even began using a similar shade on my website for a pop of color a few months ago. In addition to a more vibrant color palette for 2022, as far as design goes, I think we are in for some trends toward irreverence and fun.

Here are my predictions for the world of design in 2022.

If your company doesn’t already have a giving strategy, you are late to the party. But not to worry, here are a few reasons why you should give, and a bit about how to give.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I am reminded how grateful I am, not only for the people around me but that I have the opportunity to run my own business. One of the benefits of running a small business is that it gives me the ability to donate to causes that matter to me, and find ways to help build community, and show others the benefits of charitable giving.

For years now, I have seen hustle-culture being glorified, and it frustrates me. The idea of earning respect by overworking yourself isn’t healthy. It just isn’t. As a small business owner, I fully understand the word hustle. I grind daily. But as human beings, we have limits, so I suggest that we must be intentional with how we hustle.

I like to think about it in running terms. Hustle culture would have you believe that you can sprint forever. But that isn’t possible. At some point, your legs are simply going to give out and hurl you face-first into the ground. Intentional hustle, on the other hand, is like doing a 100-yard dash a few times. You have a goal, you meet it, and then you have a bit of time to rest and reset. The important thing here: it’s sustainable.