5 essential budget-friendly tips for working with a designer.

So business is good. You’ve gotten yourself started with a thrifty and clever brand jumpstart, but now you think it’s time for a little business glow up. Nothing too crazy (read spendy) but you’re craving a bit of polish and professionalism in your look and feel. How can you shop wisely when working with a professional graphic designer?

1. Order à la carte if your budget is tight. Some designers and studios insist on package deals, but perhaps your budget isn’t up to the task. Seek out a graphic designer who will be amenable to à la carte offerings so you can purchase as needed.

2. Double check what’s included and what isn’t. Does the logo come with a moodboard? Or a brand guide? Some design studios will package the logo with the branding research it took to get there (colors, moodboard, textures, typefaces) others will give you the logo and the extras are well...extra. Don’t forget to ask about usage rights!

3. On second thought, go ahead and ask about those package deals. Some studios offer great deals if you go for a “package”. So getting the logo, branding guide with colors, textures, icons, typefaces, imagery, copy and website all at once can be exponentially cheaper than purchasing one at a time. Do a little cost/benefit analysis and if you can spring for it, go for the package.

4. Be kind, amenable and flexible. It’s a well-known industry secret that unreasonable potential clients are generally offered higher rates or… the door. Designers are people too! We want to work in an atmosphere of mutual respect and warm creative collaboration.

5. Be forthcoming. If you know your budget, then let it be known off the bat. And see what they can build around that. If the quote you receive is too high, let your designer know and ask about wiggle room. Any design elements that can be put on the back burner? Any payment plans offered? Let them know your intentions and limitations.

At the end of the day, ask questions, be flexible and show respect. Your designer will respond with a fair and reasonable recommendation for your brand beautification.

Image by Christin Hume.

Iris Van Herpen.

Behold the genius and artistry of Iris Van Herpen. Iris is a Dutch fashion designer who’s known for her couture. She counts Björk, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Cate Blanchett, Indya Moore and Lady Gaga as muses (among many illustrious others). On the about page of her site they say “The brand's visionary creations merge pioneering techniques and luxurious materials, often evoking a sense of avant-garde wonder.” And I concur. I literally sat mouth agape upon first discovering her brilliance.

I highly recommend trawling the aisles of her website. I had an impossible time choosing only 3 images, there is just so much sumptuous scenery! But beware it’s a black hole of luscious magical mystical otherwordly delights and you may get sucked in never to return. You’ve been warned.

I get my design inspiration and much needed doses of creative wonderment from all over the map. Fashion ranking quite high among my happy places.

Where do you feed your brain when it needs a recharge?

3 branding upgrades that are worth the splurge.

Your business has been chugging along smoothly. You’ve DIY’ed your brand identity and you’re pretty pleased with the outcome, but at this stage in the game you’re starting to feel like the look and feel of your business isn’t keeping pace with the business itself. It’s time to level up, but how? And what?

Here’s my recommendation in order for the top 3 brand elements you should splurge on to keep your business looking polished.

1. Logo. This is the first and arguably the most important visual component of your business as it will announce your presence before nary a word has been spoken. A well-designed logo will evoke the mood of your brand while engaging and exciting your audience. If you don’t believe me that a good logo is of tantamount importance, just take a look at this. Remember when The Gap went all in on a logo redesign? They paid a rumored 100 million to Laird + Partners for said logo and reverted back to the old one within a week amid a global uproar. Sigh.

2. Brand guide. A branding guide is essentially an instruction manual for spinning the story of your brand. At it’s essence it defines the visual language of a brand (typefaces, colors, textures, imagery, icon styles, and photography guidelines) and at its most thorough it digs into the how and why as well as the who and where (strategy, vision, mission, purpose, values, and audience) of the brand’s identity. When you have a reference on hand to keep you brand’s identity on track it makes it a lot easier to understand and revisit who your brand is and how you connect. It also save a lot of work when hiring designers if you can show them a roadmap.

3. Website. Yes! You can build yourself a website. There are so many user friendly web building apps out there these days and if this is your jam, go forth and build says I. But if your time is very precious to you, I highly suggest going to the pros. Websites can be such a major pain in the patoot! Take it from one who knows. Of all the design work I’ve done (packaging, presentations, visual merchandising, photoshoots, logos, editorial, videos, infographics, books) websites are by far the wildest card. I think it’s because there are so many layers, from interactivity, animation, time and space, colors, sound, formats (mobile, tablets, desktops) not to mention keeping up with SEO; that unplanned snags invariably pop up and waylay the best of plans. So if you like keeping your sanity and don’t enjoy cursing at the screen hours after everyone else has gone to sleep, let this be the permission you need to hire a designer to build your website.

There’s obviously so so much more to branding than these three elements. There was a lot of editing to distill this list! But don’t worry, I saved the other elements for a later post. We can talk about branding all day over here. And we will!

Image by Maksym Ostrozhynskyy.

6 steps you can take to brand your business for free!

Do you really really need some design help but don’t have the cash for a full blown branding extravaganza? You’re not alone! Lots of startups and small businesses have to put the design budget on the back burner while they’re building the business. That doesn’t mean all hope is lost. You can setup a smart aesthetic to tide you over until the big bucks roll in and you can splurge on a showstopping branding identity. Here’s a great way to get started for free!

1. Make yourself a moodboard. I love Pinterest for this but you can make a physical one too. You can incorporate colors, textures, typefaces, and visuals; whatever feels “right” with your brand. Try using bits of film, fashion, interiors, product, architecture, and art that doesn’t directly intersect with your business but inspires the story you’re going for. Avoid pinning too much graphic design, like logos, web, and ads as you’re apt to inadvertently copy them at a later stage. Think in terms of mood and voice and what will speak to your customer.

2. Narrow yourself down to 2 or 3 key colors and 2 or 3 typefaces that speak to you. Don’t forget legibility! If your presence will be largely online, try to choose typefaces that are easily accessible for web like google fonts. Now you’ve got your colors and fonts!

3. With your colors and fonts and a simple design program like Canva, play around and type up a simple minimal logo for your brand. This does not need to be mind-blowing and earth shattering. It needs to be legible, pleasant to look at, and speak to the brand mood.

4. With your moodboard and logo as your guide, choose a web template that feels close to your style and tone. If you want a sleek design ready to go but you’ll have to sacrifice some creative control, I recommend using Squarespace [free for 2 weeks, then you need to subscribe]. If you want greater creative control and freedom, I recommend WIX [free forever but must subscribe to get rid of ads].

5. Use the free stock photo options (Unsplash) that come with both Squarespace and WIX to add some photography to your splash page. Make sure the photos are in keeping with the tone of your brand.

6. Keep it simple! A splash page with 1 or 2 prominent images, your new logo of course, an about statement, and contact information; is enough to get your name out there and let people know you’re a legit business with a savvy look.

Up next. 3 branding upgrades that are worth the splurge.

Image by Patrick Michalika.

top 5 tips for surviving hustle culture as an entrepreneuer.

Do you run your own business? Are you working 24/7 to make ends meet? Are you looking to thrive not just survive? Check out this top 5 list for surviving hustle culture as an entreprenuer.

1. Raise your prices! If you are working non-stop smashing deadlines for breakfast, great! That means you are in demand my friend! Your next step is to raise your prices. Start small by upping your rates incrementally on new clients. Then when you’re ready for it, let your steady clients know that your rates have increased by x amount. You may lose a little business from those looking for the cheapest deal in town but that lost business will open up some downtime for you and with your increased rates you can afford to relax.

2. Outsource! Repeat after me. I do not need to be a one person show. Hire a social media manager to handle your ‘gram. Hire a designer to handle your branding and website (wink wink). Perhaps you need a little extra childcare or someone to come in once a week to clean. There is no shame in reaching out for help. In fact hiring other small businesses fortifies the small business landscape and frees you up some time for rest and relaxation.

3. Set your boundaries and stick to them! This will be harder for some than others, but one of the biggest ways we achieve rest and peace is by saying no. We need to carve out space to recharge. So if that means telling your client you will get back to them next week, or not picking up that phone at 4:55 on Friday, do it. You can’t fill others from an empty cup.

4. Pick your clients carefully. We’ve all had that potential client that we just KNOW is gonna be a massive pain in the patoot. Save yourself the aggravation and send them packing. Life is too damn short.

5. Choose your marketing wisely. You do not need to dominate all of social media plus have a YouTube channel, podcast, newsletter and blog going simultaneously. Pick the marketing techniques you feel most at home with (I recommend no more than 1 or 2) and slay them. I’ve eschewed doing much on the ‘gram as the ever changing algorithm just isn’t my thing. I’ve always loved blogs and the written word and their beautiful consistency so I stick to blogging and a newsletter. Find what works for you and do it with aplomb!

Do you have any hot tips for surviving the hustle and running a business while still fitting in time for naps and long walks? I’d love to hear it. Drop me your thoughts in the comments.

10 tips to protect yourself from scammers while job hunting.

I debated posting about this as it’s not exactly on topic with branding, digital, and design inspiration and motivation. However it has come up rampantly in recent weeks in the job search and gig hunting spaces. I felt sort of duty bound to spread the word about this danger as I haven’t run across any articles or posts discussing this disturbing trend.

As an entrepreneur running a small design and branding studio I sometimes pad my income with a bit of freelance, short term, or contract gigs primarily found through LinkedIn though I do use other job boards. Recently I have been accosted by no less than 4 direct job invitations which turned out to be fraudulent phishing scams and 1 which I detected before I applied. Fool me once, shame on me, fool me 4 times…

Top 10 Red Flags to look out for:

1. If someone slides into your emails and invites you for an interview double check it’s actually a company/position you applied for. Save all your application confirmation receipts.

2. Beware of any “interview” that is conducted via text, messaging app, or email. I recently had someone claim they had apraxia and couldn’t speak via phone etc. Not wanting to be ableist I accepted this reasoning readily. DON’T. Ask them if someone else from their team can call. Video is also better than phone. I have had swindlers who are ok with actually getting on the phone with me. Which leads me to 3.

3. Beware of “professional” calls coming from a google number or anything of that ilk. Strangely when I googled it I discovered that google numbers were often used in scams and fraud and unfortunately google is not fielding complaints or reports. You must complain to your local law enforcement agency which sounds like a real nonsense solution.

4. If someone does get on the phone with you, beware of anyone who doesn’t sound eminently professional. Be prepared to ask a few detailed questions and if this flummoxes them, be on the lookout.

5. If the hiring process seems too easy aka they seem to want to hire you based on relatively little information or after 1 quick interview.

6. If the job description doesn’t seem to “match” the company and their services. Let’s say the description mentions you working on teams where the job seems to be a small studio of perhaps 1 or 2 persons or doing hand drawn illustrations on a subject that has little to do with the company and their clients.

7. If the company hiring seems too small. I’ve seen a number of these job listings posted for teeny design studios of 1.

8. If someone is offering to pay you quickly or send you expensive equipment readily.

9. If they try to pay you via check.

10. If anything seems off. Maybe the language of the email feels unprofessional or the interview questions don’t seem to match up with the position at hand. Go with your instincts!

2 Prominent types of scams:

Scenario 1. You are emailed about an interview. The interview takes place via a random messaging app. Shortly after, they offer to hire you and then send you a contract where you are of course advised to to fill out every identifying detail of your life. To top it offer they insist on sending you hardware like a laptop and printer {who sends a printer?} but insist that you will need to in turn send these items to their technical team for software updates.

The rub. You haven’t actually applied for this position. They have found your email possibly from your website or LinkedIn. They are doing a double scam by phishing your identity and also buying expensive goods under your name and having you merrily send them on to the “tech team’.

Scenario 2. You apply to an actual job posting on LinkedIn or other job board and their “hiring department” responds. After some email exchange following some explanation why they cannot speak via video they hire you and either offer to pay you by check or proceed to send a contract that you should definitely not fill out.

The rub. They send a real check and then ask for an image of the deposit slip. Or they send a contract and extract all your sensitive information that way.

So how can you avoid getting scammed?

Find the company online and:

1. Check to see they have posted the job on their own site.

2. Compare the email address configuration on their contact page with the one you ave received.

3. Contact the employer directly through their website or social media. Let them know you are interested in their job posting and ask some questions or particulars. You don’t need to mention being scammed because if the job is legitimate you might burn a bridge there.

What to do if you have been a victim of a phishing scam?

1.Contact your local or national authorities, your bank, your credit cards and change all your passwords.

2. Keep an eye on your credit report

3. Report the fraud to the company that the fraudsters were posing as working for.

4. Report it to the Job Board and flag the ad as well.

The sad thing is these people are preying on people who are looking for work and are sometimes quite vulnerable and willing to believe that they’ve won a contract so easily or are being paid so quickly, by check no less! So knowledge, vigilance and sharing this information with others is an imperative. I hope I’ve helped a few with this post. And please feel free to post any additional tips or things to look out for in the comments below!

What gets you up in the morning?

As a person with ADHD this is a GREAT question. For those of you not wholly familiar with some of the lovable quirks that come with being a card carrying member of the attention deficit disorder family, let me illuminate. One of the biggest or let’s say more consuming aspects of being an ADHD’er is the trouble with SLEEP. My god! My kingdom for a week of solid, consistent, deep, tranquil sleep. I can’t even fathom what a well slept life could look like.

I can tell you what an unwell slept life does. I usually try to get myself to bed at a reasonable hour and at the same time each night. But each evening is like playing grab bag. It’s a toss up between insomnia, restless half sleep tossing and turning, or waking up in the middle of the night to twiddle one’s thumbs until dawn and every so often a good old fashioned night of the good deep restful stuff just so we can know what we’re missing.

Which leads us to Act 2. The wakey wakey eggs and bakey. Because ADHD seems to operate by the rules of Murphy’s Law, generally around the time one’s alarm is about to pop off, you will find yourself drifting off to a deep, tranquil, restful, luxurious, sleep state that is nigh impossible to wrench oneself from. So getting up consistently and on time is a herculean task.

Which begs the question, what does get us sleep disordered chappies out of bed in the morning? What keeps us from fingering the snooze until early afternoon? And my answer is as corny as it is true. I leap out of bed whether well slept or not if I’m working on a project that inspires and excites me. Good design work keeps me engaged and in hyper focus mode from day in and out and even activates my get up and go come morning. It’s a blessing and that which drives me to keep my work interesting, varied and challenging.

That’s why I’m a one stop shop from logos, colors, and branding to strategy and digital to websites and social. I even squeeze in video editing and infographics to keep it extra interesting. It’s the novelty and quest for originality that keeps me in the throes. A well designed life worth living or something like that.

And how about you? What gets you out of bed in the morning?

Image is courtesy of Gaelle Marcel via Unsplash.

september morn.

September is the most bittersweet of months. A call to the end of summer and with it, the death of sprinklers, watermelon dripping down your chin, ice cubes clinking in the rosé, exposed décolletage, thighs, & toes, a great sensuous lethargy that takes over the heart and the body. Well at least if you’re like me and still refuse to get air conditioning.

September is cloaked in the promise of nubby romantic autumn and all the hygge it brings; but also reality knocking on the door, brass tacks, and back to business. And if your business is design like mine, maybe you’re reconnecting with clients over some logos or a website still in need of that final spitshine or perhaps you’re getting in touch with an enthusiastic lead that took a summer sabbatical. I’ll admit we Americans aren’t as accustomed to taking it down a notch in the summer. And if you’re American and about to disagree with me, I dare you to spend a summer doing business in Italy. You’ll be waiting all summer on that feedback, invoice, kickoff what have you. Everything. Is. Closed. The Italians know how to soak up the summer. It seems there’s a collective agreement over there that there’s more to life than work, and that rest, indulgence and good food is integral to our humanity. I for one, am fully on board. I can almost taste the gelato and negronis. Sigh.

But alas, come September even the most diehard hedonists among us will shift gears towards a more industrious and productive mindset. I find I operate best, balancing the pleasure and pecuniary in equal measure. Too much relaxation actually ramps up my anxiety. So I take a deep breath and boldly dive back in. Usually I review my current clients and projects, make notes on new collaborations and gigs I want to be working on, and look at my website and decide on any new work or design updates to add. And then invariably I get that familiar old buzz back. The excitement of beauty and branding and logos and colorways; websites and animation, interactivity and hell even SEO does the trick. Because the thing is, I really do love design work. It’s problem solving at it’s finest and there is nothing so satisfying as a proper conundrum mended symphonistically. Playing a sweet melody where there was once chaos. Only with color and typography and photography and space and light. But I digress.

So how do you ease back into the September season?

Photo, my own.