The process of developing a truly successful and authentic brand requires a well-integrated system of resources, strategy, skill, and collaboration. BUT - and I will die on this hill - the most powerful tool amongst them all is this.

If we can’t remove ourselves from capitalism, can we build brands that question this system? Can we create business models that honor workers, reduce harm, embrace non-conformity, support mutual aid, and builds a more inclusive world? Can we break down how business should be for how it could be?

Branding and design go through cyclical trends just like anything else. We’ve seen our fair share—equivalents of the puka shell necklace, “mall bangs,” and bellbottoms. When I was in the early days of my career, we were welcoming the rise of minimalism after the MySpace era (think sparkling marquees and tiled, animated GIFs). Embracing the almighty Grid ( 🙌 ) was as good as Sunday service for even the budding designer such as myself circa 2009. So, while illustrated branding isn’t a new thing, its return to the stage is both strategic and aesthetically pleasing.

Gone are the days when ‘going out’ is a once or twice-a-year occurrence. So why do people go out? And in an age where bars and restaurants of all styles, quality, and prices are in abundance - how do they choose? Or more specifically, what keeps them coming back?

Somewhere between intention and aesthetic lies authentic branding for your business. Here's the step-by-step guide to achieving that.

While our age of technology brings convenience and accessibility, it can also bring decision overwhelm. With an abundance of options available to you at the click of your mouse, it’s easy to feel weighed down by all the ‘what if’s’ in the brand process. Here are six frequently asked questions that I get and how I respond to them.

Logos, and more specifically, brands have been around for centuries. How else could a cattle farmer tell the difference between his own cow and his neighbors’? While the process may look different today than it did a hundred years ago, a few things have remained the same.

Your brand design should be an investment into your business, but not lead you into bankruptcy before day one. The truth of the matter is: you get what you pay for.