Hey, Carl

Behind every successful brand is a design that speaks volumes without saying a word. It's the first impression, the lasting memory, and the silent communicator. What all goes into the design for your brand?

Logo and visual identity
Website design
Typography and color palette
Packaging
Brand assets
Marketing aesthetics
User interface
Photography

Just to name a few :)

If you put everything you have that's designed for your brand and put it together; what does it say visually? Do they match? Is it chaos? Is it clean? Is it messy?? What's your brand telling people without saying anything?

It's the last day for the "Jump Start with a Retro Heart" series. It's been super duper fun and I hope you've enjoyed the ride so far. Next month we're gonna get all lovey dove-y with our brands.

As we wrap up, remember: sharing your history and childhood memories isn't just a powerful way to connect with your audience; it's also a fantastic source of inspiration for reimagining your brand

Tomorrow, we shift gears to 'love fest vibes' for our brands. 💖 Get ready for a month filled with lovey-dovey branding insights!

And hey, want in on the conversation and a chance to win a prize at month's end? Make sure you're subscribed to my newsletter for exclusive brand and Canva tips aligned with each week's theme.

For now, enjoy this adorable snapshot of my youngest playing with the set design by . Isn't it just the cutest?

xoxo
Carl

I'm just going to leave this here.

I had so much fun working on this logo and can't wait to do our next VIP day in February. We're buildin' some brand disco magic for Laci Jones Lactation.

Not to be a super creep, but I mean if you'd like me to get inside your head and take those ideas out to make them a brand reality, I'm here for you :)

I remember the drama of picking the perfect picture for Facebook and picking the perfect song for MySpace. The last songs I remember needing on my MySpace was either a song by the Honorary Title, 'The Good Song' by Blur or 'Wow, I can get Sexual Too' by Say Anything.

In this week's newsletter I shared the good, the bad and the ugly of the 2000 and I'll unpack it for you here, too.

The Good: Apple's iPod campaigns. They were so freakin' fun and they stood out with the bright colors, minimal design and the silhouettes. Honestly I think Apple could dip back into their playfulness they used to have with color.

The Bad: I think the most obvious one would be the Dot-Com bust. The lesson there is that you need to build a sustainable business with realistic expectations.

The Ugly: GAP WTF WERE YOU THINKING?! They rebranded and it was so good that it lasted 6 whole days LOL.

What do you remember with brands that were good, bad and ugly? Or maybe get spicy and add in some bold too.

lessons

Imagine walking into a room and feeling instantly at home. Like you just walked into a space where you could be yourself without hesitation, and the people there just knew you. They get you.

That's what a well-crafted brand can do.

When you have a well-crafted brand design it will:

1. set you apart from your competitors.
2. Build trust and recognition.
3. Enhance your customer experience.

Ready to connect with your people and welcome them into your space? Let's chat! :)

Your brand doesn't have to be rigid or flat.

Your brand should have guidelines, yes - but it doesn't have to be rigid or flat. Instead of giving you an olive branch, I'm giving you a disco ball. A chance to party, dance and play with your brand.

Are you in?

P.S. Make sure you're on my newsletter so you get all the hot brand tips and Canva tips on how to play with your brand.

Imagine your brand as a destination, a place where your client wants to be. A strong brand draws people in, creates a memorable experience and turns your business into a landmark... a place that people want to recommend, cherish and come back to over and over again.

Let's make your brand the destination everyone's talking about in your industry. Ready to start the planning and destination? :)

We're clearly having fun this month talking about nostalgia, doing our and learning how looking back and help us connect with our audience. So I'm not sure if you knew this or not, but I created a fortune teller / cootie catcher that's got fun brand prompts in it.

I'm giving you permission to procrastinate for a bit today and play. If you'd like one for yourself, comment cooties and I'll send you the link to get one :)

A flyer I designed for Roxi & Co for a VIP day. We did 2 flyer designs in 4 different sizes, a reusable bag design, a gift card flyer and a gift card insert.

BTW if you need any dog waste cleanup this year; Roxi & Co is the s**t. We used it last year and it was amazing to not have to think about picking up dog p**p.

Nostalgia—it's that warm, fuzzy feeling that takes you back to the good ol' days. Whatever that might be for you. But did you know it's also a branding powerhouse?

Well it isa, and we're talking about it this month on my newsletter. We're exploring how nostalgia can breathe new life into your brand. Think about those shared moments that connect us. That connects your brand to your people.

Here's your branding tip for this week: think about what nostalgia looks like for your audience and then connect with them there. Put your brand there, in that moment, in that memory with them.

Hey, Carl! took a break from the socials for a week and it was rather nice. I've been working on my Q1 plan, spending some extra love on my newsletter. Speaking of which, my newsletter is getting a teeny tiny little face lift. Kind of. More of a restructure? Q1 is going to have monthly themes and I'm pretty excited to play with this and see how it goes.

January: Jump start with a retro heart. We're going to have some fun with a little nostalgia this month.
February: Love your brand (cliche I know, but still fun!)
March: Spring into Brand Action. We're going to declutter your brand my friend and clear some space for more play.

I've been really enjoying the responses for those you filled out my little question form about my newsletter and we're gonna work in these requests for you my friend(s).

So if you want in on the fun this year, or at the very least for this quarter, get on the list my dude.

Crafting a logo design for Laci Jones Lactation and this is the mood board that's pulling the inspo. What vibes are you getting from the images?

If your brand were a pizza, who would you share it with? Hey, Carl! would share pizza with creative thinkers who wanna shoot the s**t, share big dreams, their favorite conspiracy theory, some dad jokes and go to a movie later followed with some ice cream.

There's a lot of majesty that South Dakota has to offer. My favorite part is that we inherit all four seasons. While I generally hate winter; I love the beauty of it. I also love how snow absorbs the sound around you and just provides this recluse feeling. Like a cold hug.

I also love how every season brings different things to look forward to and some excitement for the next season. Always giving room for ebbs and flows, pause and go.

I LOVE seeing what my girls create. I love how messy it is, how 'not right' it almost always is. I love all of it. The play that they put into their art - it's never intended to be perfect and it's simply the best.

When I used to teach with Wine and Canvas, the kids classes were one of my favorites because they just did the thing. They didn't ask too many questions, they just did it. 99% of the time they didn't look anything like the painting they were supposed to and that was my favorite.

They all follow the same instructions; but they all look so different.

They played and they didn't give a f**k.

Color outside the lines with your brand.
Play.
Have fun.
Try something new.
Loosen up! It doesn't mean you have to publish it, just play.

Want to have some fun with your brand before Christmas? Sign up for my Brandvent Calendar. It's a 12 day countdown that'll put some play back in your brand.

Half the time when I'm working I feel like I'm in my own little world. Some days are easier with hyper focus, other days require more breaks or forced focus. But it's a world all in my own none-the-less.

A world where I get to see another's vision
A world where I get to build another's vision
A world where I get to help create a landmark
A world where I get to form a visual story
A world where I get to create art
A world where I get to form personality to a non-tangible thing.

How cool is that?!

I think that's pretty cool.

What's your world look like when you're working?

I got to team up with for their annual report again and I'm loving all the bright bold colors. Who said annual reports had to be stale? Add some punch in the program :)

I also loved creating some new custom illustrations to their arsenal. Can't wait to see the final product!

Introducing the fancy new logo for Move to Sioux Falls. We wanted it to match the same vibe as , so I carried over a couple of things:

1. A badge type logo
2. Rainbow lines
3. The yellow from Sodak Stays

Swipe to see how it plays out on some of the other brand colors! :)

5 days until the official launch of this cutie pie. 6 Lessons to help you decorate your brand for the holidays; and enrollment will only be open for one week starting on Black Friday.

3 reasons why this mini course is awesome:
1. It's free
2. It's fast paced (longest video is 6 minutes long)
3. You can use this for this year, next year, and honestly any holiday that suits your fancy.

Go to hey-carl.com/brand-sleigh and get your pretty little name on Santa's brand building list ;)

Sneak peek! Here’s a little behind-the-scenes of my holiday branding magic. Did you catch my story? You on my newsletter? Can you guess what's coming? 🎄✨

I had to LOL a little bit when I was having dinner celebrating one of my bestie's bday (hey Mariah!) . It's funny how just two weeks ago I was all spooky scary, and now I'm all like: 'Let's talk all things bright and cheery!'

I like to keep you on your toes I suppose. But also it makes sense because:
1. I love halloween.
2. Christmas is just around the corner whether you like it or not, and I know most of you are planning for some holiday sales or you've forgotten all about it and have no idea where to start.

So here I am, your brand design bestie, helping you gear up for the brand thing you wanna participate in but each time you have or tried, your brand went through an identity crisis, felt a little unhinged or you just didn't know where to start.

So today for this week, start your week with a brand twist!

Remember, your brand's holiday spirit should be as unique as you are. Also, remember to have fun with your brand. Play and have fun with it :)

"

Lemme share with you some brand vitamin D.
Discover.
Define.
Design.

Discover (or rediscover) the backbone of your business, what it's all about, why you're doing it and how you help.

Define who your audience and ideal client is.

Design your brand to create a bridge for your audience and your business - create a pathway for people to connect.

This holds true in all areas of your brand, no matter what season you're on. If you have these three things down; you can decorate your brand with more clarity and ease.

With the Holiday upon us, we can anticipate that everyone and everything is going to be draped in all the festive things. So how do you make your brand stand out through all the tinsel and still keep it looking and feeling like your brand?

I got a secret for you: It’s a brand recipe that’s as good—dare I say better—than grandma’s famous cookie recipe.

Read all about it on the blog at hey-carl.com/blog

Which holiday palette do you love more for your brand? Vote in the comments! 🎨🗳️

Hey there, branding beauty! ☕🍂 As we step into November, it’s time to infuse our branding with a sprinkle of holiday magic and I just gotta ask you: are your brand foundations solid enough to give it holiday outfits?

Can your brand visuals change with the seasons while still being on brand and authentic to itself?

This month is all about how to deck your brand for the holiday. If it's all good to you I'd love to help get that brand of yours sparkling brighter than the holiday lights! ✨

Make sure to keep up with the blog and ket weekly tips (as well as be the first for a Black Friday Hey, Carl! offer)

Swipe for sparkle! ➡️

Your branding basics serve as your biz's North Star, especially during the festive frenzy.

Here’s how a touch of holiday cheer can elevate even the most foundational elements of your brand.

Which one’s your fave?

P.S. some of these were generated in Dalle3 ChatGPT.

It's the last story of series that hits your inbox tonight. I hope you enjoy it and thank you so much for sharing some spooky fun with me this season!