your biz besties are going to be asking who you put on a design retainer

I soft-launched my brand illustration-only package, "Brand Brushstrokes," in last week's newsletter and signed the first of four beta testers that same day - but what happened next revealed something I've been noticing for years.

By Wednesday, my first beta tester, Ash, was in my DMs with second thoughts.

For some context - the Brand Brushstrokes offer gives you three custom brand illustrations & a pattern... with an option to add on a brand identity refresh, including an updated mood board, color scheme, font pairings, and brand texture.

Ash couldn't shake the feeling that she needed more than just illustrations. She needed that refresh for her whole brand.

"I like what I have," she told me about her current brand identity, "but I know it could be better."

And then came the confession I hear all too often: that she didn’t feel confident when it came to actually designing with it.

So, I had her send me her brand guidelines for some feedback.

You can click here - and head to the highlight titled "color audit" to watch my audit of Ash's color scheme

What I discovered didn't surprise me but confirmed something crucial: Ash didn't need an entirely new brand. She needed two things:

Part 1: An evolution of her existing brand – tweaking her color scheme for better depth and contrast, refining her typography, combined with the custom illustrations that tie everything together.

Part 2: The knowledge to actually USE these elements effectively in her day-to-day content creation.

This is where SO many entrepreneurs get stuck. They invest in a beautiful brand identity but then struggle to implement it themselves. They have the assets but not the know-how.

And that's exactly why Ash's situation gave me the kick in the butt I needed to finally launch something I've been scheming up for over a year:

🎓 2D-Design 101:

LIVE April 25th at noon EST (thanks for voting on times!)

In just one masterclass, you'll learn to apply the principles of art and design to your digital brand so you can create more professional-looking content for your business.

In fact, your biz besties are going to be asking who you put on a design retainer - but really, it's just you 🙃.

Education should be accessible, so for the first time ever, I'm offering this on a pay-what-you-want basis exclusively for waitlist members (meaning you choose the price)—early registration with flexible tuition starts soon!

JOIN THE WAITLIST TO LOCK IN PAY-WHAT-YOU-WANT PRICING

And in the meantime - let's work on making your brand - a little more your vibe. ↓

The First Step in Curating a Brand Identity That Feels Like You

You know that old branding “rule” - the one that says your brand should be explicitly designed to attract your ideal customers & clients?

For product-based brands? Sure, that makes sense.

But for service providers and personal brands? It creates a weird disconnect that your audience can feel.

The #1 identity question brands like yours ask me is how to translate your personal vibe into your professional brand identity.

Because we all know that showing up to market your brand feels weird when your brand’s identity looks nothing like the world around you.

If your goal is to connect with people & build trust, aligning your brand’s identity with your personal aesthetic helps people get to know the real you through a screen.

This matters more than ever.

AI, faceless Instagram accounts, not to mention news cycles and mainstream media have given us all digital trust issues.

We’ve seen enough catfish videos to know that just because someone’s business looks polished online doesn’t mean it reflects their actual vibe behind the scenes.

It’s 2025, and in case no one has told you, Your brand doesn’t have to look a “certain way” to fit into your industry or “attract your ideal client.”

In fact, it’s actually a lot easier, more natural, and fun to create content when your brand’s identity aligns with who you really are.

If you’re planning on pivoting or redesigning your brand and want to create something that actually grows with you, open up a fresh Pinterest board and try this:

First: Stop looking at other brands in your industry for inspiration.

Instead: Look outside your industry at other kinds of creators—like YouTubers or even musical artists.

Find inspiration in signage, print materials, art, photography, interior design, and product packaging design.
Don’t forget to draw inspiration from your own photos!
Remember that nature never gets it wrong—look for color combinations in your favorite flowers, landscapes, and places.
Think about the imagery, symbols, and visual motifs that would tell your brand’s story.

The subtle shift here? Instead of designing a brand to attract others, you’re creating a brand that attracts you first.

When you genuinely love your brand’s look and feel, you’ll naturally want to show up, create content, and share your expertise. And that consistency and authenticity? It’s exactly what your audience is craving.