Studiocaitli.n

You’ve never thoughts about including these deliverables:

➡️ **Social Font Styling** - which preset, how do they ensure they’re on brand with colour selections.

🪩 **Social Filters** - pre selecting go-to filters that align with your client’s new branding or creation of an all-new filter.

💻 **Web Safe Fonts** - the typography styling you’ve crafted may be stunning. but what about when it comes to email footers, creating compatibile word docs and ensuring high-speed websites?

🕺🏼 **Social GIFs** - presets again, can be selected. how about creating a custom set of searchable GIFs for your client?

💸 **Subscriptions** - I’m not talking retainers, although they’re a great way to build recurring income. If you’re a design studio that advocates for accessible design and set your clients up on Canva, including a year of premium subcription can be the one element that increases your conversion massively.

Or, maybe you’ve thought of these and more. In that case - go you. 🤝

➡️ There’s a number of simple steps to attract high-budget customers and clients.

While we can utilise various cold-outreach techniques to approach specific industries, individuals and demographics, how can we become a MAGNET to ATTRACT your dream customer and instantly let them know they’re in the right place? 🤔

I see you. Marketing teams of 1, aspirational business owners. 🤝

🪩 If you’ve dipped your toe into the world of Canva before, did you know last week there was a HUGE launch of new, super user-friendly features?

Did you watch a reel that convinced you it’s no good for great design?

🩵 I’m Caitlin, a brand designer who has utlised Canva to create pitches for the world’s biggest social publisher, here to tell you - some of their new features will seriously unlock the level of content you can use to supercharge your content strategy.

🗣️ Disclaimer: I do not advocate for branding or logo creation through Canva due to legal limitations and instead suggest using Canva as a hub to store all brand assets.

Year 3 of Studio Caitlin. It’s time to refocus and deliver a clear vision for our community of rule-breaking business owners. Driven by authentic connection between designer & brand owner, each identity launch we build is supported with a bespoke collection of future-proof deliverables.

➡️ We’ve had a great 2 years so far and don’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.

Here’s to more striking branding projects, event support and great vibes.

✌️

Can I get a little commotion for a major highlight of 2022? 🗣️

Leading the event styling & signage was an absolute blessing and I’m very pleased to share I’ll be returning for the design work for 2023. 😌

Bring on the great vibes, inspiring projects & wonderful clients. 🫶🏻

Revisions and push-backs can feel like a punch in the gut 🫡

You’ve worked up what you believe to be the best possible work for your clients and suddenly, they’re not so sure.

Over the last 3 years as a freelance graphic designer I’ve learnt to not take feedback personally - I’m grateful that business owners can be honest and now I go with the flow.

Naturally, sometimes a suggestion goes against our brand strategy discussions and I’ll advise otherwise, but it all ends up great in the end.

How many revisions do you allow for in your client projects?

🕺🏼 What to expect from businesses design wise this year

From eyes on the inside, it's exciting to see how Founders & Marketing Managers are incorporating design into their business strategies this year.

So what’s shaping up so far?

📈 High demand for templates to streamline internal processes
(Utilising software like Canva)

⚖️ More reliance on ad-hoc support from freelancers
(supporting the in-house team while keeping headcount low)

🍄 Embracing unconventional designs (loove!)

🎯 Outsourcing to tackle stagnant projects
(My personal fav type of project. Attack something dated, begging for fresh eyes)

Overall, I’m a big fan of these these shifts & I can see these sticking around for a little while.

Here’s to embracing change 🤙

I often share my work over on Pinterest just to see what sticks & picks up attention.

📌 Pinterest is a big lover of delayed-gratification & it's one of my focus' this year.

Often, Pins take several months to gain traction. It’s odd, but I like to experiment with Linkedin, Reels/Tiktok & Instagram when attracting the next dream clients.

In my experience:
Linkedin is best for leads with my B2B freelance business but can be a little mind-numbing!

⬇️ Image:
Client Work - Flo Hair Studio based in Brentwood, Essex.
Brand UP Branding Package

I quickly realized that relying on being in the "right mood" to design just isn't sustainable.

That's why I've turned to automations and easy-to-follow daily routines to help me be power through, no matter my mood or level of vibes.

My mantra? Make showing up as easy as possible for yourself.

What do I automate?

⏰ Task time tracking via Bamboo

🦋 Project Pricing

🤷‍♀️ Social posts through for the week of my period

🔋 Workload calculating

& I’m sure this list will grow as the year goes on.

Do you have any similar tricks to share? I'd love to steal them & add them to my collection 🤣

Designing a pitch deck for sales teams that wins over clients and potential investors is always an interesting project, and it's satisfying to hear how your collaborative efforts paid off.

➡️ Here are my top tips for creating a lasting impression:

💬 Keep them engaged:

Opt for visual storytelling over text-heavy slides. Use text sparingly and as a supporting element, allowing your visuals to do the heavy lifting in communicating your message.

🐋 Go big with font sizes:

Whether you're presenting in a boardroom or over video conferencing, small fonts can detract from your message. Choose font sizes that are easy to read, even from a distance.

🧐 Collaborate with a copywriter:

If you're confident in your message but need help tailoring it to your audience, consider working with a specialist sales copywriter. They can craft copy that resonates and sells.

🔄 Revise and refine:

Regularly revisit your pitch deck designs with your team. Take note of feedback and incorporate changes to ensure you're always delivering a pitch that leaves a lasting impression.

I've found that working independently or alongside internal teams to build pitch decks can lead to amazing results. So, to all the teams out there creating beautiful, successful pitches, good luck!

Bringing the vision to life. 🤯

Building several creative directions through mood-boarding forms part of the second stage of creating your business' future-proof visual identity.

➡️ Following the 2.5 hour Brand Strategy Workshop, this exercise is a fun preview of how your logo, supporting assets and more creative elements may feel.

This mood-board is part of our client's chosen package and is tailored to:

· Sky-rocket confidence in your business' potential
· Ensure your discussed brand values shine through
· Align your vision with my projected design style for your company

🤐 Did Burberry just make a huge mistake?

Burberry takes a step back to its British roots with a new logo update for 2023, in a refreshing change from the ultra-minimalist design of 2018.

Led by Daniel Lee, this slick callback to classic high-fashion styling is a win for the serif stans.

The new look is a cleaner take of the original logo dating all the way back to 1901, replacing the previous branding which was both loved and declared a huge mistake by many.

My thoughts? It’s full of character and energy - It’s hard to say if other fashion industry leaders will follow the rejection of refinement culture, but I hope so!

Which Burberry branding style do you prefer?

Oh, how rare it is to be able to share client work!

NDAs are the just one of the cogs of freelancing. I'd love to show off all I create, but most of it has to remain top secret 🤐. That's alright though – I'm aiming to share as much as I can this year. Here's to manifesting more clients without NDAs! 🤞

Building proposals for business owners should be painless and speedy. That's how I imagine clients would want it to be too - so it's how I work.

Focussing on:
- Timeline
- Goals & objectives
- Business history, industry and structure
- Investment budget
- Current & target audience

I translate this into deliverables, clear tiered investment options and timeline suggestions...because who wants to overcomplicate it. 💁🏼‍♀️

Tackling social as a team doesn't have to be tricky. Here's a sneak peek at what I created for Golden Age Antiques.

These are social media templates for their team to use, fully customisable while retaining the most important branding elements. As requested, built on Canva for the entire team to access.

When I say brand services & creative support - what does that look like for business owners?

Most commonly:
- Branding Packages
- Day-hire & Intensives
- Social Support

Often:
- Printed Materials
- Website Design & Build
- Retainer Support

Lesser known services:
- Packaging Design
- Social GIF Creation
- Creative Direction

If you're unsure what type of branding support you may need, or can't see it listed here - reach out. I can either do it, or can point you towards another freelancer who can. 👋🏻

What are we aiming for in Q4?

What about beyond & into 2023?
..and is there something holding you back?

If you're looking to launch your business, or rebrand before the new year - now is the best time to schedule a call with a freelance branding specialist.

Perhaps you're looking for short-term support? Day-hire and Weekly intensives are available all the way up to the new year.

⚡️

Reintroducing...Rain & Flowers 🌸

Little did you know, this was the second brand concept I presented for the brand Rain & Flowers.

After being one of my first completed client projects in 2021 - I started from scratch after the business owner wasn't 100% aligning with the initial concept I presented.

This happens - not often, but it does! As lovely as receiving 'YES' to the first concept is, this client was 100% right, and her feedback allowed me to dig deeper into their preferences, goals and business audience.

She adored the final product - as i do too, over a year later!

This was a turning point for me. I decided as soon as this project came to a close that I'd approach client conversations differently. From May 2021 I built and launched a 'Brand Strategy' session into each and every branding project to ensure 100% alignment before we even begin designing.

Looking to rebrand? If you're looking to launch before 2023 - now is the best time to get in touch. 👋🏻

When is it the right time to outsource as a business owner?

When is it the right time to transition from DIY design to hiring a freelancer?

First look to why you're asking yourself this question:

Are you running out of time to complete tasks such as social media planning?

Are you unsatisfied with your business' look & feel - does it still align with your goals as it did when you created your business?

Maybe you're actually enjoying the creation process, and you've got the time to experiment and play around with designs.

Or perhaps it's time to add a specialist to your team? You'll be unlocking time to focus on what you'd truly like to be working on, building confidence with your brand and you'll gain a friendly face to take on creation.

It's tricky to know when, but often if you're even asking yourself this question it may be pointing towards outsourcing.

If you'd like to discuss your current business situation to see how I'd solve any design or brand issues - pop me a message. 👋🏻

We're scarily close to November, which for me signals the new year is in sight. It's also time for me to buckle down to ensure all of the goals I set in January are beyond reached. 👋🏻

For the next 2 months I'm introducing a more strategic approach to my schedule, focusing on optimisation, and pushing myself to see how good I really can be with consistency.

I'll look back at this post in late December & see if I truly gave it my all. Fingers crossed 🤞

New branding work for Elevate. ⚡️ 3/3

Bold colours & vintage imagery with an edge was the focus from day 1 for this time of virtual assistants. Creating branding that can be applied across all platforms, including TikTok, I'm in love with how this turned out for Alice and her team.

Keen to rebrand or build branding from scratch before the new year? Reach out to Caitlin: [email protected] 👋🏻

New branding work for Elevate. ⚡️ 2/3

Embossed, textured business cards were created as part of the new business package for Elevate. Providing virtual assistant support to female creators, I'm in love with how this turned out for Alice and her team.

Keen to rebrand or build branding from scratch before the new year? Reach out to Caitlin: [email protected] 👋🏻

New branding work for Elevate. ⚡️ 1/3

Bold colours & vintage imagery with an edge was the focus from day 1 for this time of virtual assistants. Primarily supporting female creators to unlock time to be spent on creating, I'm in love with how this turned out for Alice and her team.

Keen to rebrand or build branding from scratch before the new year? Reach out to Caitlin: [email protected] 👋🏻

Manifesting clients truly works - so if you think your business could align with any of these vibes, let’s talk!

🦋 What types of clients are you manifesting next month?

Time to celebrate 🎉 My website has finally been relaunched! You’ll now be able to enquire using a much more user-friendly form.

There’s still a way to go - but what I’ll be adding soon is top secret 🤫 Can’t wait! 🦋

Putting myself into the shoes of other business owners, I can imagine it can be quite scary to invest in a brand designer. Not only does it involve a financial investment, but also trusting a freelancer with your business’ visual identity.

How do I support business owners during projects?

➡️ Friendly design terms
➡️ Notion project management
➡️ Payment plans
➡️ File type guides
➡️ Post-project support period
➡️ Dedicated WhatsApp number

Happy Monday pals 🦋😛

Gentle reminder that running a business takes so much brain power, patience and ‘I hope this works out lmao’ mentality.

Whether you’re a graphic designer, lash artist, accountant, local cafe or anything in between - remember to celebrate all small wins and surround yourself with like-minded people to help ride out the rough times.

We got this 🎈