I’ve never been a “fast” designer. I like to take my time and think things out, and I don’t like rushing the process. Now the little voice in my head (hello, imposter syndrome) might tempt me to see this as a bad thing — that I’m wasting time and not being efficient enough.

To be perfectly honest, I used to be self conscious about needing more time. After all, if I design faster I can take on more clients and isn’t that how I make more money and become more successful? Not necessarily.

Let's be honest. For designers, it's always been really hard to figure out what to charge for our work. When I first started out, I had no idea how to price my work and was basically willing to take whatever early clients were willing to pay me. Which wasn't much.

To make matters worse, pricing is a huge taboo in the creative industry. I'm not sure why, but somewhere along the way we got caught in this scarcity mindset that if our peers knows what we charge then it will mean our demise. And god forbid we ask each other. That's just unheard of.

Just as it's an unspoken industry standard that designers present multiple options, it's also pretty much a given that no one shares their pricing. Ever. Which also means we're all constantly creeping, trying to figure out what our work is actually worth.

I'm so pleased to finally share my branding and website work for Fertilust! Between its encouraging and playful feel to all of the symbolic depth behind this beautiful brand, it's one I can't wait to pull back the curtain on. So without further ado, I give you the Fertilust brand!

I'm so excited to finally share the logo and brand identity I created for Sattwa Chai, an heirloom microbrewed chai brand! Since my work with my friends at Function Coffee Labs, I'd been absolutely itching to get back into the hospitality space and work on some more food and beverage branding. This new branding partnership blossomed just in time!

I'm beyond thrilled to finally unveil the new branding I've been working so hard on behind the scenes for Restored 316! When Lauren first contacted me I resonated so strongly with her story and our first call proved to me right away that we'd be a great fit. So without further ado, I'm so excited to share a peek into the process behind Restored 316's new look!

Function Coffee Labs, a Philly-based specialty coffee shop with a focus on crafting delicious experiences, was the first branding project I took on under my new business last January. For this reason, FCL's branding will always hold an extra special place in my heart.

My work with owners Meg and Ross not only helped me feed my caffeine addiction and better understand the specialty coffee realm, but it also helped me uncover my passion for branding within the hospitality industry. 

So you're thinking about investing in a new logo and brand identity, huh? Congratulations!! This is such an exciting time and a huge step for your brand! So what's next? Well, whether you're starting from scratch with a new business or you're ready to take your existing business to the next level, it's essential to find the right designer for the job.

Granted, there are countless designers out there with all kinds of styles and stories, so how in the world are you supposed to find the right fit for your business and vision? Well, lucky for you I'm here with 6 steps that will guide you down the path to finding the best designer for your brand. Let's dig in!

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