The Brainchild

WHAT ARE YOUR VISUALS SAYING ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS?

Feeling lost and unsure about your brand and business identity? Don’t worry, affordable, actionable help is on the way.

Sign up to hear about Clarity Compass - a DIY generator to help you craft your unique brand messaging.
Don’t worry it’s free! Free, fast and immediately actionable - what’s not to love?

Head over to my profile and click the link 🔗
Sign up and I will send it over to you!

Radical idea but hear me out…

Self care is not all bubble baths and face masks, although absolutely a part of it 🤭

It also looks like investing in yourself.
Taking the course
Starting the business
Hiring help

Believing you can and taking the aligned action, even if you don’t know how it will all look just yet.

Sun-drenched days, vintage charm, and moments of pure connection await at this new luxury destination.

The mood is a blend of old-world sophistication and modern playfulness.

Inspired by

Do you want to see more bts brand development for this luxury resort?

[ moodboard postitfortheaesthetic design inspiration visual identity hotelbranding creativeprocess luxurylogo highenddesign hospitality brandaesthetics creativedirection ]

COMPLAINING IS SO DRAINING 😩⁠
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Do you find yourself complaining about what you do for a living, how much work you have or don't have but aren't actively doing anything to change your situation? 😓 ⁠
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Complaining never makes anything better. Maybe in the moment you get a little sympathy but I find the more you moan and groan it seems to attract more problems your way.⁠
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I am speaking from experience, I have been really stuck in victim mentality lately. ⁠
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I often found myself complaining to my mates and seeking answers and validation from them to feel good about myself. ⁠
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What was bothering me was the questions:⁠
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✸ What if I wasn't a booked out designer?⁠
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✸ What if I wasn't living the "picture perfect" life?⁠
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✸ What if I wasn't where I wanted to be at my age?⁠
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✸ What if I was wrong and people thought less of me? ⁠
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What then?⁠
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My identity is SO intertwined with my business, the success of it and the happiness of my clients and what others think of me. ⁠
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I had no internal compass. ⁠
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I am still obviously working on trusting myself and my thoughts. It was uncomfortable to unpack that side of me - it's easier to shy away or blame others. I still don't have it all figured out but I have to tell you since making little tweaks to the way I schedule my day and leveraging on my unique energy type and natural ability it has made such a big change to my outlook.⁠
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I am discovering a whole new level of energetic alignment, productivity, and pure joy if I am honest. ⁠
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I have a sense of direction. ⁠
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Interested in what I learnt? Comment ALIGN below for a sneaky look at what I have been working on. ⁠
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Join me on a humbling walk down memory lane...

In no particular order, these are my top 5 cringe-worthy career moments:

✸ Hosted my first webinar and technical difficulties and an utter inability to handle my imposter-syndrome I froze, then panicked. I turned my phone off and wept in bed never to talk about it (till now) and vowing never-EVER to do a live agin.

THE LESSON
Save yourself the panic by practise using the platform/software BEFORE you invite your people to come watch.

✸ Buying the domain (www.thebrainchild.com.au) BEFORE registering the business name. Then to find out the business name wasn't available. *face palm* I had to add DESIGN to the end of BRAINCHILD as a workaround.

THE LESSON
Do your due diligence before getting your heart set on the name you might not be able to use. Do a proper search on your countries business registry sites. If you can get it, then cross check you can get matching social account handles and domains.

✸ In the early years, in a bid to free up space on my budget website hosting
I somehow managed to break the website and delete my email accounts. I remember staring at the white screen of death contemplating my career choices.

THE LESSON
Back up your website files, regularly. I had a back up which I rolled back but lost weeks of work I had done on the site. Emails came back but seeing the connection I then migrated my emails over to Google Workspace to keep them seperate from my web files.

✸ Not knowing the difference or should I say noticing the different licenses needed for fonts. I had used a lot of fonts in designs for clients that I had the wrong license for, after the lightbulb went off I went through all previous work and purchased all necessary commercial fonts. One of them cost $450 per weight.. ouch.

THE LESSON
Don't use FREE ONLINE FONTS and expect them to be really free. Read the fine print, yes 'free' for personal use - not for businesses.

This one is the worst..

✸ I regularly use ABN Lookup to get my ABN number when I need it. One day my business name wasn't coming up. After sometime I discovered that my business name had expired! I called my (now ex) accountant and left an urgent msg to call me back, I called again the next day - she had originally bought it so the expiry letters where going to her office. Late of Friday afternoon she returns my email with the renewal certificate. Opening up my account I can see she first registered BRIAN CHILD DESIGN to my name - then BRAIN CHILD DESIGN.

THE LESSON
Mind your damn business!
Why did I not have access to my business name registration through ASIC? This spurred me gaining back control of everything related to my business. Not knowing it was expiring wasn't my fault BUT expecting someone else to care about my business to the same extent as I do was.

There you have it. I have outed my shadow. I can't believe the shame and imposter syndrome that I felt from these moments. Letting these go now but holding onto the lessons learnt and sharing here online in case it can help you from making the same mistakes.

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Create a website you can be proud of. ⁠For every new ecommerce website crafted at The Brainchild 50 trees will be planted.⁠ I’ve partnered up with the good folk at TreeProject who are already doing great things and so pleased to be one of their corporate sponsors. The donations will go toward helping reconnect homes for threatened species like Koalas by planting Manna Gums in Victoria, Australia. ⁠
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Together, we’re turning web design into a force for good that neutralises its carbon for years* to come. ⁠
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*Exact years of carbon neutrality may vary, as every site is a unique story.⁠
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BEFORE YOU POST NEXT, ASK YOURSELF

✸ Does this match my brand's values?

✸ Is this content valuable for my audience, or am I just posting to meet a quota?

✸ Does this align with my real self or overall business goals?

✸ Is this content truly mine, or did I borrow heavily from others?

✸ Is the info I'm sharing accurate, or am I being overly dramatic?

✸ Is this part of my overall strategy, or am I going off track, or worse, no strategy at all?

Asking these questions doesn't just help your brand; it gives your audience content they'll appreciate.

Building a brand, it's not just about asking yourself these questions – it's about creating a connection with your audience through the top-notch content you put out.

From this burned-out business owner to you...

The feeling of daily overwhelm I experience and what I hear from my clients is at chronic levels.

We aren't just in charge of the success of our business, the business we fought to build, to have, to keep. We are also typically in charge of the household management. If you are also lucky enough to be raising humans you can add on the bulk of the mental load: appointments, after school activities, their emotional regulation and conflict resolution.

There are many signs that signal burnout has set in. Some of them are:

mental fatigue,
'bone tired' exhaustion,
feeling irritable,
feeling like there is nothing 'left in the tank' by the end of the day,
feeling disconnected or isolated from others, including your kids/partner,
experiencing guilt about behaviours and reactions, thoughts or feelings,
having parental guilt,
feeling anxious or overly focused on what comes next, I call this one over-planning!
having extreme emotional highs and lows, or
having social fatigue, 'hermitting' which prevents you from tapping into support networks.

You got it, I can tick them all off. How 'bout you?

Listen, it is imperative that you allow yourself time to rest, especially physically, to recover. Your body is telling you to slow down. I know it's hard, even if it's going to be earlier than normal - that would be so good right now.

I am hitting pause for a week to honour myself. I'll be away from socials and screens but I''l be recycling some good content during this time to keep my engagement alive. If you see my content I would really appreciate some love during this time.

Your business is a direct reflection of you. Do you like what you see looking back? 🪞⁠
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Your brand reflects you and all the hard work and passion that you've poured into your business.⁠
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It's a common misconception which I want to clear up when I say brand, I mean the brand as a whole - not just your logo / visual identity. While it's a slice of the brand pie, it's not the whole pie. If you like food references, stick around.⁠
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All too often, startups choose the quick DIY fix or the affordable designer option for building their brand. I completely understand why this choice is made, as I did it too! I licensed a graphic I loved at the beginning of The Brainchild. It did the job for a while; it was a temporary placeholder until I knew what my business was going to grow into, as I wasn't clear on it.⁠
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I encourage business owners to really sit with and discover their foundations (audience, services, position in the market) before engaging with a designer to create your identity. Otherwise, the two will be disconnected, unless you are hiring for strategy too.⁠
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My aim for this post is to highlight why it is important to love your brand.⁠
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· It is a reflection of you.⁠
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· It will help you connect with those who need you the most.⁠
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· You'll be able to charge more.⁠
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· It will help you create the lifestyle you desire.⁠
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· It will give you clarity with your next steps.⁠
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· It will empower you to make bolder business decisions.⁠
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· It will inspire you to grow into the vision you have forecasted.⁠
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To love your brand means to enjoy greater levels of confidence and calm to focus on what matters most, to move the needle forward. No more dog-paddling.⁠
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Remember, it's not what you do, but how well you tell people what you do that really matters. Is your brand communicating that effectively?

Business can be hard. Show your small business mates some love and support with these 5 IDEAS THAT DON'T COST YOU A THING! 🔥⁠
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1. ENGAGING AND SHARING THEIR POSTS C'mon it doesn't take any effort and it means the world being tagged in a post you have shared. ⁠
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2. TELL YOUR FRIENDS / FAMILY OR TAG THEM If you can see the need for your friends service or product speak up! It's a win/win for all. ⁠
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3. LEAVE A REVIEW - THEY ARE LIKE GOLD FOR BUSINESS. If you haven't used their product or service you can also speak on your friends character and strengths as the review. ⁠
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4. RESPECT THEIR TIME - DON'T 'PICK THEIR BRAIN' OR ASK FOR DISCOUNTS This has to be my biggest pet peeve! Just no. ⁠
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5. ENCOURAGE THEM WITH KIND WORDS. You just don't know what people are going through. Hearing some sweet words make someones day. ⁠
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Go on, I dare you. Tag your hard working business friend below to let them know you think they are the bee's knees.

Business can be hard. Show your small business mates some love and support with these 5 IDEAS THAT DON'T COST YOU A THING! 🔥

1. ENGAGING AND SHARING THEIR POSTS C'mon it doesn't take any effort and it means the world being tagged in a post you have shared.

2. TELL YOUR FRIENDS / FAMILY OR TAG THEM If you can see the need for your friends service or product speak up! It's a win/win for all.

3. LEAVE A REVIEW - THEY ARE LIKE GOLD FOR BUSINESS. If you haven't used their product or service you can also speak on your friends character and strengths as the review.

4. RESPECT THEIR TIME - DON'T 'PICK THEIR BRAIN' OR ASK FOR DISCOUNTS This has to be my biggest pet peeve! Just no.

5. ENCOURAGE THEM WITH KIND WORDS. You just don't know what people are going through. Hearing some sweet words make someones day.

Go on, I dare you. Tag your hard working business friend below to let them know you think they are the bee's knees.

Sometimes the risk of doing something new, or working with someone new can stop you from doing what you want to do. Sounds familiar?⁠
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I get it. It’s why here at The Brain Child, I have a cooling-off period. I promise to refund your deposit within 7 business days for any reason - no questions asked. ⁠
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Why?⁠
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Investing in your business is freakin' scary. ⁠
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I never want you to feel swept up in the excitement of our discovery call and you jumping the gun possibly earlier than you are ready to. Sounds crazy maybe, but I would never want anyone to feel trapped in an agreement with me. ⁠
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Insert mantra: "I am not for everyone"

Check out S M O O T H S T U D I O - the new playlist curated by me for me.⁠

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2tCuLRSKzJay5qPrOjV4lf?si=ce784d2d44c8477b

Feeling a shift in energy with
emails getting snappier by the day? ⁠
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You could be hitting the nerve of your designer for hire by making one of these common grievances.⁠
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Although I am super proud of my onboarding process, making it crystal clear on what is offered in a web design project. Stating expectations and deliverables during early conversations, outlined in the agreement and contract that has to be read, accepted and signed prior to the web design to begin, you betcha one of the above issues happens every web build.⁠

✏️ 1. Thinking your web designer is going to write your content for you. Repeat after me: “designers are not copywriters.” Now this may be included in some designers packages but I would hesitate a guess that they have outsourced the writing element to the copywriter otherwise, the copy may be subpar. It is such a skill writing engaging copy and I understand you would rather not do it – so hire a copywriter! It’s an investment that will pay back in volumes.
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🗓️ 2. Expecting time extensions. The time during the project is the time to provide detailed feedback to your designer not to get your content together. In an ideal world ALL content should be supplied before the project starts. I understand you are busy but so are we. You have to understand timing in projects matter to our end profit on the project. I don’t say that to sound like all I care about is the money, I want it to be clear that this is a business and keeping to timelines should be acknowledged.

💻 3. Not happy your site isn’t ranking #1 on Google – as soon as you go live. Let me say, you may never get there. Some web designers may offer SEO services but I don’t as it is a journey. I have worked with SEO specialists before and they say at a minimum it can take 3 months to see any improvement to ranking. The way Google changes their standards is a full time job in of itself. SEO is something that you should definitely work on for a successful online business but it is not something that I offer.

More in the comments.

Look what you can do when you put your noggin to it! ⁠
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Stephanie was feeling limited with her old logo design and colours and she decided that was what was holding her back. ⁠
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In just over 8 hours a full brand identity, colours, fonts, logo suite, brand guide, and even a set of cards was sent over to ⁠
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With her new bold and confident business identity she put her head down and bum up and completely overhauled her website platform, she started creating aligned content and honestly just embraced the change. ⁠
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She now has an arsenal of templates (designed in Canva for ease of use) for her to be able to easily plug and play her new content. ⁠
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I truly believe design intensives are the way of the future. ⁠
Are you ready? Make the first move and set a meeting with me and let's discuss what we can achieve, together. ⁠
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ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇꜱᴛ ᴡᴇʙꜱɪᴛᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴛꜰᴏʀᴍ ꜰᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ?⁠
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Ready to take your online presence to new heights? Look no further! Let's visit into the world of website platforms, comparing the top 5 platforms. Whether you're a new business owner, a blogger, or an e-commerce professional, this carousel post is your ticket to finding the perfect platform for your brand.⁠
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🌐 Platform 1: Shopify - E-commerce Excellence 🛍️⁠
If your business revolves around selling products, Shopify is your ultimate companion. ⁠
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🌐 Platform 2: Wix - Stunning Simplicity ✨⁠
Looking for a platform that marries simplicity with stunning design? ⁠
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🌐 Platform 3: Webflow - Dynamic Flexibility 🌟⁠
If beautiful templates and design customisation are your top priorities, It is a great option for building a quick, responsive, and user-friendly website. ⁠
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🌐 Platform 4: Squarespace - Creative Elegance 🎨⁠
Showcasing your portfolio, blog, or business with seamless style has never been easier. With its polished templates and intuitive editing tools, your website will become a work of art that captivates visitors.⁠
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🌐 Platform 5: WordPress - The Powerhouse 💪⁠ MY CHOICE and PREFERRED PLATFORM.
Flexibility, customisation, and endless possibilities await with WordPress. ⁠
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So, depending on your skill level and depth of your pockets, there's a website platform that fits your unique needs. ⁠
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Let me know in the comments below your choice and why 💫⁠
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Even timeless design dates! ⁠
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It's not unusual for your business to evolve over the years, many things can impact business growth like employing experienced staff, adding new services, a honed niche based on values, your growing audience, our digital environment, current design trends, consumer preferences, and cultural influences they ALL play a part in our business identity. ⁠
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What was once considered cutting-edge can gradually become associated with a specific era or start feeling out of sync with the present and not aligned with your business and offerings. ⁠
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On average a great brand identity design should see you through the decade. I've witnessed the transformative power of a brand refresh (not an entire rebrand) as business owners adapt to the changing times while maintaining their core essence. It's a delicate balance between timeless elements and embracing the spirit of the age, ensuring that your brand remains relevant and resonates. Combining your brand's legacy with the forward-looking vision that will carry it into the future is something that can be achieved with a design intensive.⁠
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DM 'DESIGN INTENSIVE' for more information!⁠
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✨ Shining a spotlight on these unchosen icons! ✨⁠
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Though they didn't make the final cut, these babies deserve recognition for their nostalgia and undeniable folky charm.⁠
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Crafted from fragments of lettering found within the same concept's logotype, these icons carry a hidden origin story about the business.⁠
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Do you like them? They kind of give me old school tv station vibes.
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Investing in your brand is more important than ever. Despite the upcoming price increase, my design services will continue to deliver exceptional value, helping you stand out from the competition and attract your target audience.

Hear it from my beautiful clients! My design solutions have helped businesses like yours achieve remarkable results. Check out their success stories and discover why our services are worth every penny.
With the upcoming price increase, availability for design projects will be limited. Don't wait to secure your spot and ensure your brand gets the attention it deserves.

Get in touch by the end of May and get a brand audit worth $590 absolutely free. I assess where your brand sits now amongst your competitors, do some analysis of your digital footprint and give you next steps to focus on.

Head to the link in my bio to download The Brainchild Services & Pricing Guide 📖

No greater feeling than knowing you have played a part in someone’s success.

Business is hard but it doesn’t have to be SO hard. I’ve found through working with clients on their strategy they get clarity on their offering and they know who they are selling too, what makes them different, where their market shops and how they want to be talked to. The ROI on strategic planning is:

〰️ Guidance
〰️ Clarity
〰️ Direction
〰️ Planning
〰️ It connects the internal and external touch points
〰️ It helps you to know what you say “no” to
〰️ It helps you position yourself better in front of your competitors

That’s the ROI you are looking at assessing for strategy work.

There are very limited spots available for the rest of the year so if you are interested go to the link in bio for more. 🧠

As a new or evolving business owner, you know it’s something that will make you look polished and feel like a pro, but where do you even start? Maybe you’ve even worked up the courage to reach out and email an agency, and then…crickets.

Not around here.

Design and branding should – and can – feel fun. The best part? As an organised creative, I’ve got the systems and processes that go together with the creative pieces like peas and carrots…or Halloween and candy. You get the idea.

I don’t use designer jargon either – so we’ll just chat like ordinary people and you can ask all the questions you like. If you’re a South Coast local, we’ll grab a coffee (long black with one stevia if you’re buying!).

As a little something extra, I never charge for management of your printing. I source quotes from my go-suppliers and talk the talk so you don’t have to. It’s just one less thing for you to worry about.

So, I’m wondering. Does this sound familiar?

〰️ You’re so busy managing your business there’s no time to think about a brand identity.
〰️ You want to elevate your brand and build an aligned client base.
〰️ You want something more professional and one-off than a generic DIY option.
〰️ You lack confidence with various creative and tech pieces of the design puzzle.
〰️ Your website needs to be more user friendly and speak to your ideal audience.


I can help.

I offer bespoke brand strategy and custom built websites to help you develop a well-rounded brand you can feel proud of – one that truly connects you with your audience.

Design is not a band-aid solution for poor business practices. Here are some hard truths we need to face. ⁠👀

designthinking, businessmindset, hardtruths, branding mistakes, graphic design, web designer, creative entrepreneur, my creative business, brandidentity, brandstorytelling, brand, entrepreneur, branddevelopment, brandingstrategy, brandstory, businessofdesign