Your brand story is a powerful, foundational tool in your business journey. It’s what makes your business memorable and endearing to your customers. But there is a lot of confusion about what a brand story is, and how to write your own. Let me demystify it for you.

Why is it important to evoke feelings in your branding?

Understanding the importance of evoking emotions in branding is crucial for creating impactful and successful brand experiences. Emotions play the most significant role in the decision-making process, and it is in the limbic system of the brain where these emotions and purchasing decisions are closely linked. What the heck does that mean?

Good branding will work for you. Think of it like an extra team member, getting you sales, reassuring your customers and educating your audience and encouraging potential leads. It will assist you, however only if you are using it properly. When used well, it helps align you with your audience and brings ease, clarity and […]

Does your business website need a website refresh? Often, I hear people say statements like, “Hmmmm, I think my website is fine.” A moment of consideration leads me to question, are they really certain? When I hear someone label their website as “fine” or “satisfactory”, it signals that it might be time for a website […]

20 years ago, I made my first 9-step commute to my home office. It was a spare bedroom at my house in the suburbs of San Francisco. It’s fair to say I’ve done this work-from-home thing for awhile now. I’ve adapted my ways and found a few tricks and tips that work well for me. I’ve been asked quite a bit lately how I do it, so here goes. (Also, In case you’re wondering, yes, I did write this in the height of the first hints of Covid craziness in 2020. That said, first I’ll explain that in “normal” life, I do not do it with a four-year old screaming “Mummy, watch this one!!” as she spectacularly dives off the bedhead to the mattress for the seventieth time in a row since 7am while I try to thoughtfully compose an email in the makeshift desk in the spare bedroom. )

Are you guilty of these? If you are the captain of your website edits, or building your own site, you’ll want to pay attention. This is a super quick hit list of five of the most common (but oh-so-cringe-worthy!) mistakes I see people making when tackling their own design. First up, 🖼️Image Sizing This one’s […]

Are you looking for some fun ways to make your logo shine? Here are some of my all-time favourites, produced either by me or my clever clients, from the simple and affordable to the likely not seen before.

This is the colour palette of Summer for me. This palette feels like sand dunes, salty air, warm breeze, dried grass and long, quiet nights. It is the time for beach picnics, road trips, linen pants, citronella candles and late night laughter with friends. It’s the time to crank up the pizza ovens and share […]

Spring has definitely sprung! 🌸And after a relentless period of rain and lockdowns, it is more welcome than ever. In our local Gariwerd Aboriginal calendar, it is the season of Petyan, known as the time where the wildflowers bloom. The weather is unpredictable and the bushland comes to life with the warmer days. I soooo […]

Winter (and this colour palette) is the glory of warming red wine, fireplaces, down jackets and the allowance of a few more coffees. It is a new pair of cozy wool socks, vivid stars, chocolate, dark moody skies, hot tea and spontaneous snow trips. Mornings often come sheeted in icy crystals. Leaves collect shimmering droplets and the sound of rain on the rooftops hums us to sleep. Some days are still. Others, the wind howls so loudly that my little studio feels like it will take flight. My little mountain town, usually packed with tourists, has surrendered to quiet and stillness and blankets of clouds.

Why, you ask, is a branding designer advising anyone to DIY? Because I get it. Starting a business is hard. I know, I’ve done it! Not everyone is in a position to afford a professional hand-crafted logo strategically designed for their brand, particularly if you are a brand new business. While I strongly believe that branding is one of the best investments a business can make (I have yet to see it NOT pay back many many times over), aaaaaand yes, you are better to do it from the start, you may not be ready to take the leap. If you are just playing around with business ideas, or unsure of which path your new business might take, you may be better waiting to make that investment. If you need a logo or bit of branding to tide you over until that time, I’d like to share a few tips that can make your logo creation process as good as possible.