I've known Alex for a few years now, so when she approached me with an idea for a new business I couldn't have been more curious. She explained that she wanted to provide hands-on marketing consulting for skilled creatives, needed an amazing brand identity to be the face of this new adventure, and was just as enthusiastic about working together as I was. The only issue? She hadn't nailed down a name yet.

The Name Game

I'd been itching to offer naming assistance along with my branding services for quite a while, and this was my chance! I started the process off much like every other branding project I take on—with lots of discovery and strategy. Of course we wanted the name to sound cool, but even more so it had to make sense for her chic, fresh, and fun new brand.

There's nothing I love more than crafting beautifully strategic branding for people who love nothing more than helping others. Collaborating with those who share your values makes the whole process that much more smooth, rewarding, and fun along the way. So when Jamie of Spruce Rd. asked me to hop in as lead designer to create the new Advice from a 20 Something brand identity, I didn't even hesitate

I'm so excited to unveil my latest brand identity project—another wonderful collaboration with the talented ladies of Spruce Rd. This one is for the lovely Janell Strouse, a super sweet Ohio-based photographer who specializes in high school senior photography.

Janell prides herself on making her clients feel instantly comfortable in front of the camera, and captures real laughs and smiles that allow each senior's authentic to self shine through. Janell makes her clients look and feel amazing in their photos, so they can show them off and capture this exciting time in their lives the way they want to be remembered.

Way back in January, I started on the brand identity for Creative, She Wrote and it's come such a long way since. I'm so thrilled with how it's evolved and this one definitely has a special place in my heart as one of my first projects while out on my own. I'm ready to dig deep into the process here, but first let's talk about how collaboration took this one the extra mile. 

Meg and Ross came to me with an amazing business vision and big plans for their specialty coffee shop—Function Coffee Labs. They had no existing logo or visuals, and were ready to get serious about their branding. They wanted me to craft a logo that would bring their brand to life, attract customers, and build credibility for their new business. Sounds like a tall order, but I'm always up for the challenge and really believe in the power of beautifully strategic branding.

“Don't judge a book by its cover.” We're all too familiar with this saying. But let's say you're wandering around Barnes & Noble, searching for that next paperback to sink your teeth into.

What gets your attention? What makes one book stand out on the shelf over all the others? Sure, you may page through and read a few excerpts before you decide to purchase, but what makes you pick that book up in the first place?

Exactly.

Don't Judge a Brand by Its... Oh Wait

Your logo is to your brand what a cover is to a book. It's the face of your business. It's often the first thing your customers will encounter—making that first impression, which decides if they're going to dig deeper or move along.

Your logo is the first crucial step on the way to gaining another loyal customer. It's the key to making that next sale and so many to follow. So it's essential that it makes an amazing impression.