Better: The Brand Designer Podcast

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, motherhood and business

S13 E22: Building a 7 Figure Creative Agency that Will Sell with Brooke Apffel

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This week I chatted with Brooke Apffel about building her digital marketing business, Coastal Collective Marketing (CoCo), from the ground up, growing it into an agency with a team, and what the process looked like to eventually sell through an acquisition. We also talk about her social media masterclass, a course I took personally and highly recommend!

Guest Name: Brooke Apffel

Guest Website: coastalcollectivemarketing.com

Guest Social: @coastalcollectivemarketing

The Course: The Social Media Manager Masterclass

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Become a member of Editorial Stock images and use code “BETTER15” to receive 15% off your membership.

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design

S13 E21: Stationery as Storytelling: The Power of Tangible Design with Amanda DeWoody

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In this weeks episode, I'm chatting with my friend Amanda, owner of Poised Avenue Studio, who specializes in stationery, print design, and design licensing.
We talk about why print still matters in a world of digital noise and AI, how tactile collateral can strengthen a brand experience, and how to educate your clients on print and all the possibilities it opens up to elevate their brand presence beyond just digital.

Guest Name: Amanda DeWoody

Guest Substack: amandadewoody.substack.com

Guest Social: @poisedavenue

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design

S13 E20: Eat the Donkey: How (and Why) to Choose Discomfort in Your Business with Anthony Reeves

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In this week's episode, I talk with brand leader and author Anthony Reeves, who has led the creative teams for major brands like Amazon, Airbnb, Kohler, and more. We talk about his book, Eat the Donkey, what inspired the title, and the idea of making hard short-term choices for long-term success. We also talk about AI and his take on how both small and large companies should be using it while still preserving that human element.

Guest Name: Anthony Reeves

Guest Website: anthonyreeves.co

Guest Linkedin: Connect with Anthony

Eat the Donkey Book: Buy on Amazon

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Become a member of Editorial Stock images and use code “BETTER15” to receive 15% off your membership.

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*These are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design

S13 E19: What Are Designers Charging for Branding and Web Services?

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In this solo episode, I chat about my new mini version of the Minimind (the Mirco Mind) and share what we cover in the 4 month program kicking off in August! I also share real pricing & wins from my Design Minimind Program and what they are charging. They discuss the projects they are booking and what they are charging.

Interested in the upcoming Micro Mind (mini 4-month Minimind)? Applications for are now open and live! Apply here

00:00 Intro & overview of the mini Minimind program (The Mirco Mind!)

07:25: Reading student screenshots | What designers are charging.

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Become a member of Editorial Stock images and use code “BETTER15” to receive 15% off your membership.

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

S12E9: Demystifying SEO for Web Designers—SEO Q&A with Julia Bocchese

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design

S13 E18: How to Get Recommended to Potential Clients by AI with Julia Bocchese

Fri, 29 May 2026 13:00:00 -0400

In this week’s episode, I have SEO and AI search strategist Julia back on the podcast to talk about how designers can show up in AI search results like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, and more. We also discuss how AI search overlaps with traditional SEO, and some practical tips and actionable steps you can take to improve your visibility and increase your chances of showing up in AI-generated search results.

Guest Name: Julia Bocchese

Guest Website: juliareneeconsulting.com

Guest Social: @juliareneeconsulting

Episodes Mentioned:

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Become a member of Editorial Stock images and use code “BETTER15” to receive 15% off your membership.

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design

S13 E17: Calm the Room: Managing Client Fear in Creative Work with Ashton Hauff

Tue, 12 May 2026 14:00:00 -0400

In this episode, I chat with Ashton Hauff, brand strategist and co-founder of The Good Kids, a branding agency in North Dakota. Ashton talks about their "Slingshot Method," a three-phase process covering strategy, creative, and rollout, and why having a clear system in place makes such a difference in how projects run. We also get into the DACI model, which helps clarify internal roles and approval processes for clients during the project, plus practical strategies for handling client anxiety and keeping the project experience smooth for everyone involved.

Guest Name: Ashton Hauff

Guest Website: thegoodkids.co

Resources: thegoodkids.co/category/resources

Guest Social: @thegoodkids / @ashtonhauff

Guest LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashtonhauff

Podcasts: The Brand Archive & Brand in Motion

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Become a member of Editorial Stock images and use code “BETTER15” to receive 15% off your membership.

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*These are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design

S13 E16: How to Raise Your Prices (and How I've Done It Wrong)

Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In this solo episode, I'm chatting all about pricing—when it's time to raise your rates, the steps to do it, how to communicate price changes to existing clients, new inquiries, and referrals, and the common mistakes I see designers make along the way, including sharing a few of my own mistakes I have learned from!

Also I have an exciting announcement! - The Mini Minimind (The first ever Micromind) will start on Aug 3, 2026 with applications opening June 1, 2026! If you're interested or just have questions about it, send me a DM over on Instagram @hellojunecreative!

Timestamps:

01:29 - The first Micromind cohort announcement & sharing past student wins

12:00 - How to Raise Your Prices

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Become a member of Editorial Stock images and use code “BETTER15” to receive 15% off your membership.

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design

S13 E15: Motherhood & Creative Business Q&A with Sydney Walden

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In this weeks episode I'm chatting with fellow design business owner and mom of three Sydney of Rouse Design Studio in a fun Q&A style all about motherhood and business, and also how we both live on land and raising animals and what that brings into the mix as well.

Guest Name: Sydney Walden (Rouse Design Studio)

Guest Website: rousedesignstudio.com

Guest Social: @rousedesignstudio

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Become a member of Editorial Stock images and use code “BETTER15” to receive 15% off your membership.

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design

S13 E14: I’ve Stopped Doing These Things in My Design Business

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Running a business means you're constantly evolving, and in this solo episode I'm sharing with you guys what that's looked like for me lately, what I've outgrown, what I've let go of, and what's working in this season of business for me and my micro agency model.

Also if you're curious to learn more about Scale with Confidence send me a DM on insta @hellojunecreative!

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Become a member with Editorial Stick images and use code “BETTER15” to receive 15% off your membership.

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design

S13 E13: Pivoting to and Designing for a Faith-Based Niche with Lisa Johnson

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In this episode, I chat with Lisa Johnson, brand and web designer and owner of Verve & Concord. We chat about her decision to pivot her business and niche down to work specifically with Catholic and faith-based women in business, what led her there, how it's deepened her client connections, and why choosing a niche that's personally meaningful makes a difference in how you show up and market yourself.

Guest Name: Lisa Johnson

Guest Website: verveandconcord.com

Guest Social: @verveandconcord

Guest Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/verveandconcord

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Become a member of Editorial Stock images and use code “BETTER15” to receive 15% off your membership.

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design

S13 E12: Stock Isn’t Dead—You’re Just Using the Wrong Kind with Tina Loszewska & Jordan Aulin

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In this episode, I chat with Tina and Jordan, the founders of Editorial Stock Images (ESI). We talk about why the word "stock" tends to make designers cringe, what's actually possible when stock imagery is done well, and how they built ESI to give creative service providers access to assets that feel emotional, editorial, and real.

>> Sign up here for ESI and use code BETTER15 and get 15% off your membership!

Guest Name: Tina Loszewska & Jordan Aulin

Guest Website: editorialstockimages.com

Guest Social: @editorialstockimages

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Become a member of Editorial Stock images and use code “BETTER15” to receive 15% off your membership.

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design,

S13 E11: How to Offer Art Direction Services with Meghan Svetich

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This week’s episode, I chat with Meghan, who works full-time as an art director in New York at a corporate apparel brand while also building her studio, Reine Creative, on the side. We dive into what it really looks like to plan and art direct a photoshoot from concept to execution, and why having strong creative direction behind your visuals matters so much, especially for your website and social media. It was so fun chatting with her and having another past Minimind student on the pod!

Guest Name: Meghan Svetich

Guest Business: Reine Creative

Guest Website: reinecreative.com

Guest Social: @svetiich / @reinecreative

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design

S13 E10: Spring Clean Your Design Business with Me

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

I'm back with a solo episode talking all things spring cleaning… your business that is. With spring right around the corner, I'm sharing exactly how I'm cleaning up the backend of my business and refreshing my systems to stay organized during busy seasons and make sure my team is set up for success.

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

S5E20: Connecting and selling in an Organic Way on Social Media with Ashleigh Henry

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design

S13 E09: The Pace That Holds You: Sustainable Success for High-Capacity Women with Ashleigh Henry

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This week I have my good friend Ash back on the pod (last time was in 2022!) and so much has shifted for her since then. We chat about her pivot from running an agency and business consulting to stepping into personal development and life coaching focused on pacing, identity, and the “silent burnout” many high capacity women experience. She also shares more about her program, Harmonious Living.

Guest Name: Ashleigh Henry

Guest Website: ashleighchenry.com

Guest Social: @ashleighchenry

The Harmonious Living Program: Click here to learn more

Links Mentioned in Episode:

Take Control of Your Calendar, Take Control of Your Life - Blog Post | IG post

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design

S13 E08: How to Get into the Business of Font Design with Meg Burk

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

*Learn more about The Brief Collective's Scaling Summit happening May 3-6, 2026 and reserve your ticket now to attend!

---

In this week’s episode I have on a past Minimind student and friend of mine, Meg Burk, who is a multipassionate brand designer, font designer, and soon launching her own clothing active wear line as well. We're chatting all things fonts, creativity, and what it really looks like to build a business that holds space for more than one passion.

Guest Name: Meg Burk

Guest Website: bymegburk.com

Guest Social: @bymegburk

Click Here to book an office hour with Meg

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design

S13 E07: Why Every Designer Needs An In-Person Experience (At Least Once A Year) with Kenzi Green & Marisa Burgett

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

*Get your ticket for The Brief Collective's Scaling Summit happening May 3rd-May 6th, 2026!

---

This week, I welcome Kenzi and Marisa, the founders of The Brief Collective, back on the pod for a conversation about the power of getting together with like-minded creatives in person. They share all the details about their upcoming designers retreat, Scaling Summit, happening May 3rd–6th, 2026 in Asheville, NC.

Guest Names: Kenzi Green & Marisa Burgett

Guest’s Website: thebriefcollective.com

Scaling Summit Retreat: Get your ticket

The Brief Collective Social: @thebriefcollective

Kenzi’s Social: @kenzigreendesign

Marisa’s Social: @marisa.burgett.director

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design

S13 E06: Designing Brands That Hold Up Over Time with Matt Ellis

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

*Learn more about The Brief Collective's Scaling Summit happening May 3rd-May 6th, 2026 and reserve your spot!

---

This week I chatted with Matt Ellis, who is the Executive Director of Brand at Metalab in the UK. We talk about how he spotted a gap at MetaLab to bring in more brand services that actually enhance product development, and what makes a brand stand the test of time. He also shares his take on AI—experimenting with new tools while keeping your craft sharp, using AI to explore ideas and make them richer rather than just speeding things up.

Guest Name: Matt Ellis

Guest Linkedin: Connect with Matt

Metalab: metalab.com / @metalab

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

S12E4: Six Sneaky Places Design Businesses Leak Time & Money with Shannon Mattern

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design

S13 E05: How an Adult Autism Diagnosis Changed My Approach to Creativity with Jennifer Murtell

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

*Learn more about The Brief Collective's Scaling Summit happening May 3rd-May 6th, 2026 and reserve your spot!

---

In this episode, I chat with Jennifer, VP of Strategy & Innovation at creative agency Marks. She shares her journey from traditional advertising to becoming a leader in brand strategy, and how her autism diagnosis helped many of her ways of thinking finally make sense. We talk about the power of emotional detachment and truth-telling in creative work, plus why adaptability and future-focused thinking matter more than ever—especially for small agencies and independent designers.

Guest Name: Jennifer Murtell

Guest Linkedin: Connect with her.

Episode Mentioned:

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design

S13 E04: How to Pay Yourself, Pay off Debt, and Save like a CEO (Even with Variable Income) with Gina Knox

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

In this episode, I chat with Gina Knox, a financial coach who helps small business owners craft strategic financial plans. She shares her journey from art school to QuickBooks to financial coaching, and dives into the unique financial challenges small businesses face and how to get better at managing your finances. Gina is on a mission to help business owners thrive financially, and I took so much goodness away from our conversation and I hope you do too!

Guest Name: Gina Knox

Guest Website: ginaknox.co

Guest Instagram: @ginaknox

Podcast: Small Business, Big Money

Program: Small Business Money School

https://ginaknoxco.thrivecart.com/money-school/partner/ - Affiliate link

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design

S13 E03: How to Reignite Your Inner Creative Spark When It Fizzles Out with Vidya Ramachandran

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

In this episode, I chat with Vidya, a leadership catalyzer, strategy consultant, and founder of Warrier Strategy. We talk about the challenges of monetizing your passion, especially in creative fields, which can often lead to burnout. Vidya also shares her personal journey from a seemingly fulfilling life to experiencing burnout, what led her to make major life changes, and how she ultimately transitioned into coaching other business owners and creatives.

Guest Name: Vidya Ramachandran

Guest Website: vidyawarrier.com

Guest IG: @vidya.r.warrier

Liberate Course

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design

S13 E02: The Wildest Client Feedback You’ve Ever Gotten

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

In this episode, I read and chat about some of the wild client feedback you have received as designers that you guys submitted, plus share a few stories of my own.

*Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design

S13 E01: Peek Into My Daily Schedule

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Happy New Year listeners! In this solo episode, I'm breaking down what an ideal day and weekly schedule looks like for me as a mom of two, wife, and business owner working 24 hours a week. I'm also chat a bit about Scale with Confidence, my new sister offer to The Design Minimind.

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design

From the Archives | S9 E1: How to Get Faster at Brand & Web Design

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Enjoy this episode from the archives while we're on our Holiday break! We will be back with season 13 next week!

In this solo episode, I’ll be chatting about ways to improve your efficiency and get faster at brand and web design, allowing you to scale back on your working hours.

Inbox Question:

“What's an appropriate amount of time spent on choosing brand colors (initially)?” - Shelby Reed

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Purchase Assemblage: The Art & Science of Brand Transformation on Amazon

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design

From the Archives | S8 E5: Market Research for Small Studios with Emmanuel Probst

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Enjoy this episode from the archives while we're on our Holiday break! We will be back with season 13 on Jan 13th!

I chat with Emmanuel Probst, Global Lead of Brand Thought-Leadership at Ipsos, a global market research company. We dive into all things market research and brand transformation. Emmanuel gives insights into the skills and empathies independent designers can offer clients that larger agencies can’t, as well as ways to find unique inspiration outside of social media. There are so many incredible topics discussed in this episode and I can’t wait for you to hear it!

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Emmanuel Probst

Guest Business Name: Ipsos

Guest Website: www.ipsos.com/en-us

Guest LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/emmanuelprobst

Links Mentioned:

Access Ipsos’s market research data

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Spark Conference for Showit Designers

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design

From the Archives | S9 E11: How to Level-Up Your Web Services with Chris Misterek from Showit

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Enjoy this episode from the archives while we're on our Holiday break! We will be back with season 13 on Jan 13th!

I interview Chris Misterek from Showit! As you all know I am a huge fan of Showit and we talk everything from Chris' own design journey, to the Showit design community, to creating websites that convert.

Guest Name: Chris Misterek

Guest Business Name: Showit

Guest Website: showit.com

Links Mentioned:

Mec Labs formula: C = 4m + 3v + 2(i-f) - 2a (https://meclabs.com/about/heuristic)

Steve Krug Books on Conversion - Don’t Make Me Think & Rocket Surgery Made Easy

Inbox Question:

"How can I sell Showit as my preferred web building platform to clients, even though they might be more aware of platforms like Squarespace and Wordpress?” - Lauren B.

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program

FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Free Resources from Adrienne

Tags: designer, brand design, brand identity design, design business, better podcast, brand designer podcast, design

From the Archives | S7 E5: The Power of Having Your Ideal Clients Coming to you on Autopilot with Adrienne Johnston

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Enjoy this episode from the archives while we're on our Holiday break! We will be back with season 13 on Jan 13th!

Adrienne Johnston joins Jen to talk all about how she generates 5+ leads per week WITHOUT doing active content marketing! This was such an interesting and insightful conversation all about using the power of simple, effortless SEO shifts to start capturing leads that may not have been aware of you.

Guest Name: Adrienne Johnston

Guest Business Name: Adrienne Johnston

Guest Website: adriennejohnston.com

Guest Instagram: @adriennebjohnston

Links Mentioned:

Six-Figure Presentation Designer Course

Live Virtual Retreat

Free Masterclass: How to Build a Six-Figure Design Business

Stupid Simple SEO Course

Sem Rush

Ubersuggest

Ahrefs.com

Help A Reporter Out (HARO)

Inbox Question:"Always curious about graduating to bigger clients who can take on more ambitious projects and not living off small projects that feel “good enough” for the client.” - Jackie Antreasian

Links:

The Design Minimind - My 1:1 coaching program for designers

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

S5 E14: Iterating on the One Concept Method

S12 E18: Answering Your Inbox Questions

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

We’re wrapping up Season 12, which means it’s inbox question time! I’m answering questions submitted by you guys, mainly from those hopping into our podcast Facebook group. And if you’re not a part of the group yet, go join—you can submit your own question, and it might be featured on a future episode!

Links Mentioned:

Apply to be a guest!

Claude Ai

S5 E23: Using Intuition in Your Design Process with Alex McGinness

Past Inbox Question episodes:

Past Motherhood & Business Update Episodes:

Links:

FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription*

1 month of Showit FREE with code “HelloJune”*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk*

*Some are affiliate links

Connect With Us:

Website

Tags: designer, brand design, brand identity design, design business, better podcast, brand designer podcast

S12 E17: Jen’s 2025 Business Recap: 22 Lessons Learned

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

In this solo episode, I'm recapping my 2025 business year and answering some questions about what worked, lessons learned, and things I'm leaving behind in 2025 and what I am taking into 2026.

Mentions in Episode:

My Bookkeeper: Balanced Roots Bookkeeping / @balacnedrootsbookkeeping

Brand Shoot: Lynette Ortiz Photography / @lynetteortiz.photo

Shopify Developer: Jenuine Creative / @jenuinecreative

My Episode with Bethany: The Part-Time Breadwinner: Working Less, Earning More, Living Fully

My Episode with Marty Neumeier: Diving into Octavo, a Thriller for Designers

Purchase his book on Amazon: Octavo: A Novel

Book: Contagious by Jonah Berger

Links:

The Design Minimind - Applications for cohort 6 opens Nov 1st, 2026

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

S12 E16: Agency vs. Courses vs. Live Programs: How to Choose the Best Path to Scale Your Online Design Business with Shay Brown

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

In this week’s episode, Shay, the COO of Bucketlist Bombshells, joins me to discuss scalable business models for brand and web designers. We talk about the challenges designers face, such as revenue plateaus and burnout, and provide actionable insights on transitioning to more sustainable models, as well as the importance of defining a niche, raising rates, and creating recurring revenue through current clients and monthly membership models.

Guest Name: Shay Brown

Guest Website: bucketlistbombshells.com

Guest IG/Connect in the DM’s: @bucketlistbombshells

Links:

Grab your FREE Dream Client Playbook to consistently land more clients & grow your revenue.

Get booked out in your business and start generating $5k+ months: She's Fully Booked.

Hit 6 figures and ready to scale? Join our small group coaching program.

Tune into the Freedom Filled Life Podcast.

-----

The Design Minimind - Cohort 5 is now SOLD OUT.

• Sign up to be notified - Applications for the next cohort open Nov 1st 2026.

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*These are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

S11E4 Branding Bestie Chit Chat: What’s the Future of the Boutique Brand Design Industry?

S12 E15: Branding Bestie Chit Chat: How to Trade Your Design Services with Lauren Braier

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

This week, we are back with another branding bestie episode with my design bestie, Lauren. We chat about the benefits and strategies of trading design services, how Lauren recently did trades with vendors for her wedding, and some past and current trades we’ve both done. We also talk about the importance of choosing the right trade partners, times when trades are appropriate, and making sure you don’t skip the contract just because it’s a trade.

*Don’t forget to drop a post in the podcast FB group or DM Lauren or Jen if you wish and tell us something you have traded services for. We would love to hear about it!

Guest Name: Lauren Braier

Guest Website: elbycreative.com

Guest IG: @elbycreative

Lauren's Pod: Branding Bestie Podcast

Previous Branding Bestie Episodes:

S11E8 Branding Bestie Chit Chat: Reading Our Old Goals with Lauren

S11E11 Branding Bestie Chit Chat: Designing a Life You Love

S11E14 Branding Bestie Chit Chat: Breaking Down Sticky Client Situations

Links:

The Design Minimind - Applications open until Nov 20th!

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

S5 E14: Iterating on the One-Concept Method

S12 E14: Are You Making these Brand & Web Design Business Mistakes?

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

✨ The Design Minimind - Apply Here (applications open until Nov 20th — limited spots are filling fast!)

Episode Description:

In this solo episode, I chat about some common mistakes brand and web design studio owners frequently make that are interfering with the growth and profitability as a business owner. Drawing from years of experience and observing patterns among my students in The Design Minimind as a mentor.

Episode Mentioned:

Links:

The Design Minimind - Applications open until Nov 20th!

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

S12 E13: Going from “Freelance” to “Studio” (and Surpassing $10k Months!) with Shani Josefovits

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

The Design Minimind - Accepting Applications NOW OPEN! - Apply Here.

___

This week, I had a past Design Minimind student Shani of Shani Jay Creative on to talk about her experience in the program and how much of an impact it had on her business and the revenue goals she hit and surpassed! We talk about the importance of confidence, going all in, proper mindset, and strategic investments in building a sustainable and profitable design & web business.

Guest Name: Shani Josefovits

Guest Website: shanijaycreative.com

Guest IG: @shanijaycreative

Reclaim Your Brand in 15 days: Sign up here.

Links:

The Design Minimind - Applications NOW OPEN! - Apply Here.

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

S8 E12 | Spooooky Client Stories (Round 2) with Lauren Braier

S12 E12: Spooooky Client Stories (Round 3!) with Audrey Humphreys

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

I’m back with another spooky client story episode in celebration of Halloween, with Audrey who is my production designer here at Hello June. We read your spooky stories that you submitted anonymously and Jen shares a spooky(kinda) lead that reached out to her as well!

Guest Name: Audrey Humphreys (HJC's production designer!)

Guest Website: audaciouscreativestudio.com

Guest IG: @audaciouscreativestudio

Episodes Mentioned:

S6 E12 | Spooooky Client Stories

Kenzi’s Podcast: The Unapologetic Designer Podcast

00:00: Intro & info about my NEW offer *Scale with Confidence*

13:24: Jen’s Spooky (kinda) Inquiry Story

18:16: Spooky Client Story #1

24:38: Spooky Client Story #2

30:16: Spooky Client Story #3

35:04: Spooky Client Story #4

38:13: Spooky Client Story #5

43:23: Spooky Client Story #6

45:37: Spooky Client Story #7

46:21: “The Day I Met a Ghost..Kinda of” #8

48:20: Spooky Client Story #9

49:38: “The White Roses Incident” #10

55:06: Halloween Plans

Links:

• Sign up to be notified - Applications for cohort 5 opens Nov 1st, 2025

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*These are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

S12 E11: Person-First vs. Platform-First: Optimizing Your Social Media Content for Connection with Katie Campbell

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

In this episode, I chat with Katie of Katie Creative Co, who is a social media strategist. We dive into the nuances of using social media effectively—focusing on a people-first approach that prioritizes genuine relationships over algorithmic approval. Katie shares her tactical breakdown of growth, nurture, and connection content, the power of vulnerability and personal storytelling, and practical ways to avoid burnout. This episode is perfect for those looking to enhance their social media presence while staying authentic and avoiding burnout.

Guest Name: Katie Campbell

Guest Website: katiecreativecompany.com

Guest IG: @katiecreativeco

Social Sweet Spot Course: Learn More

00:00: Intro and Minimind Video Library Overview

06:49: Challenges of Social Media for Service Providers

08:01: The Biggest Mistake in Social Media Strategy

08:56: Holistic Approach to Social Media Success

11:56: Person-First Marketing Philosophy

20:55: The Funnel Strategy for Social Media

35:02: Setting Boundaries for Sharing Personal Life

37:46: Pushing Comfort Zones in Social Media

43:44: Balancing Digital Wellness

49:59: Social Media Best Practices to Ignore

51:59: Social Sweet Spot Program

Links:

• Sign up to be notified - Applications for cohort 5 opens Nov 1st, 2025

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*These are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

S12 E10: Diving into Octavo, a Thriller for Designers with Marty Neumeier

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

*Pre-order Octavo on Amazon*

Episode Description:

In this week’s episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with one of my design icons, Marty Neumeier, who is an accomplished designer and author. We chat about his new design-thriller book, The Scarlett Files/Octavo, his shift from non-fiction to fiction, and how he integrates design and writing within his work. Marty also shares how his early experiences shaped his career and why storytelling plays such an essential role in branding, design, and his writing.

Guest Name: Marty Neumeier

Guest Website: martyneumeier.com

Octavo Book: Pre-order on Amazon

Substacks

The Scarlett Files: martyneumeier.substack.com
Level C: levelc.substack.com

00:00: Intro & Minimind Wins From Past Students

07:55: Marty's Journey in Design and Writing

10:50: The Scarlet Files on Substack

11:19: The Origins of Graphic Design

12:58: Leonardo da Vinci's Influence

16:33: Challenges of Writing Fiction

18:49: The Intersection of Branding and Storytelling

26:20: Marketing Strategies for Authors

40:44: The Renaissance and Modern Story

43:36: The Aldine Press and Its Innovations

48:00: The Importance of Mentorship

52:31: Level C: Master Classes for Professionals

57:10: The Role of Testing in Design

Links:

• Sign up to be notified - Applications for cohort 5 opens Nov 1st, 2025

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*These are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

S12 E09: Demystifying SEO for Web Designers—SEO Q&A with Julia Bocchese

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 10:00:00 -0400

*Submit your Spooky Client Stories* 👻 🕸️

This week, I chat (Q&A style) with Julia Bocchese who is an SEO (Search Engine Optimization) expert, to discuss SEO strategies tailored specifically for web designers. We talk about the challenges and misconceptions around SEO, including client communication, expectations, and the technical nuances of ensuring sites rank well on Google. Key topics covered include the importance of user experience, site speed, mobile design, image optimization, and the role of tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics. The episode also addresses a bit about AI optimization as well.

Guest Name: Julia Bocchese

Guest Website: juliareneeconsulting.com

Guest IG: @juliareneeconsulting

SEO Tips for website designers: Read Blog

Collaborations & Partnerships: Learn More

Setting up Google Search Console: Watch Video

00:00: Intro, Minimind Reviews, & Spooky Client Stories
05:40: Understanding SEO for Web Designers
06:37: Client Communication and SEO Expectations
07:43: SEO Challenges for Designers
09:33: User Experience
10:35: Site Speed Optimization Tips
13:17: Mobile Design
18:26: Accessibility
22:33: Website Launch and SEO Considerations
26:54: Google Search Console and Analytics Setup
28:16: Connecting Google Search Console to Your Website
33:34: SEO Myths and Misconceptions
37:15: Blogging and AI Optimization for SEO
41:27: Ways to Work with Julia

Links:

• Sign up to be notified - Applications for cohort 5 opens Nov 1st, 2025

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links*

Connect With Us:

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer p

S12 E08: How to Scale Your Studio with White Label Design with Kayla Batista

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 19:00:00 -0400

In this episode, I chat with Kayla Batista, owner of Brand Barista, all about her journey in the design industry and the unique dynamics of being a white label designer. Kayla shares her background, her transition from one-on-one client work to specializing in white label design, and the flexibility it brings, especially during challenging times. We delve into her business model, the nuances of pricing and process, and how to establish effective and respectful relationships between agency owners and white label designers. Kayla also talks about her course, 'The White Label Way,' and her upcoming Discord community, offering resources and support for designers interested in white label work. Whether you're looking to understand white label design or considering it as an income stream, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

Guest Name: Kayla Batista

Guest Website: brandbarista.co

Guest IG: @brandbarista

Guest Course: The White Label Way

00:00: Intro & Minimind Resource Library

03:00: Mini interview with my 5 yr old son Ryder

04:49: Kayla's Design Journey

06:44: Starting a Business Amidst Challenges

08:39: The Shift to White Label Design

09:25: Balancing Work and Personal Life

12:51: What is White Label Design?

28:58: Pricing Strategies for White Label Work

30:01: Custom Proposals and Client Communication

35:37: Building Long-Term Client Relationships

39:26: Company Culture and Team Respect

39:55: Kayla’s Course Info & Discord Community

Links:

• Sign up to be notified - Applications for cohort 5 opens Nov 1st, 2025

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*These are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

S10 E13: Maternity Leave, New Motherhood, & Mom/Design Biz Life - from Design Unfiltered with Abbey McGrew

S12 E07: Launching a New CRM: Introducing Tezzera with Abbey McGrew

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

*Join the Tezzera waitlist | Launching Fall 2025

In this episode, Abbey McGrew is back on the pod, all the way from Season 1! We discuss all the details of Abbey's latest venture, Tezzera, a CRM designed specifically for designers, tackling a major gap in the market. Abbey discusses the features of Tezzera, its development process, and her vision to make administrative tasks feel creative and on-brand. Tezzera is launching with beta testers in October, with the official launch planned for Nov.

00:00: Intro + Minimind Testimonials

05:51: Abbey’s Life Updates: Moving and Motherhood

11:10: Introducing Tezzera: A New Business Venture

24:25: The CRM Features it will include

36:55: Beta Testing and Launch Plans

Guest Name: Abbey McGrew

Guest Website: wayfairdesignstudio.com

Guest IG: @wayfairdesignstudio

Podcast: Design Unfiltered on Patreon and The Heart-Led Brand

New CRM Launching Fall 2025 - Tezzera

Join the Tezzera waitlist

IG: @tezzera.co

Episodes Mentioned:

S1 E11: Attracting Dream Clients and Building Your Design Business with Abbey McGrew

Links:

• Sign up to be notified - Applications for cohort 5 opens Nov 1st, 2025

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*These are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast

S12 E06: So You Want to Book Luxury Clients? These Are Your First Practical Steps with Bethany McCamish

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

✨ **Grab my Creative Direction template for FREE** ✨

Curious what the first stage of my brand design projects looks like? Grab the Figma template (and four bonus audio trainings walking you through how to populate it!)

This week, I chat with Bethany McCamish, a speaker, author, podcast host, and design agency owner, about her multifaceted career journey. Bethany shares invaluable insights into attracting and serving luxury clients, the importance of personal branding, and the impact of authentic storytelling on social media. We both discuss practical advice on elevating your design business and positioning yourself in the luxury market.

Guest Name: Bethany McCamish

Guest Website: bethanyworks.com

Instagram: @bethanyworksdesign

TikTok: @bethanymccamish

Podcast: Unbreakable Brands

00:00: Intro

02:59: Bethany's Career Journey

10:56: Booking Luxury Clients

13:06: Defining Luxury and Premium Clients

14:41: Avoiding Common Mistakes

17:18: Building Personal Connections

23:55: Importance of Messaging and Visuals

25:18: Curating Your Portfolio for Luxury Clients

27:43: Engaging Luxury Clients Through Content

37:55: Bethany’s Mentorship Programs for Designers

Links:

• Sign up to be notified - Applications for cohort 5 opens Nov 1st, 2025

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*These are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

S12 E05: Catch Up With Jen: My Wins and Struggles Recently

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

In this solo episode, I wanted to switch gears and just have a fun little chat with you about life and discuss some current wins and struggles running a business and being a mom currently to little kids. I also discuss a new educational offer I'm creating in partnership with the Minimind—designed to help fellow designers scale their businesses more effectively.

00:00: Intro

00:56: Personal Life and Business Updates

02:33: Client Wins and Business Growth

06:38: Team Dynamics and Work Structure

14:53: Struggles and Challenges

22:31: Future Plans and New Offers

My Recently Hired Bookkeeper:

Website: www.balancedrootsbookkeeping.com

IG: @balancedrootsbookkeeping

Links:

• Sign up to be notified - Applications for cohort 5 opens Nov 1st, 2025

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*These are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

S12 E04: Six Sneaky Places Design Businesses Leak Time & Money with Shannon Mattern

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 11:00:00 -0400

✨ Get access to my Creative Direction Figma Template for FREE ✨

Episode Description:

In this episode, I chat with Shannon Mattern, a web design business coach and founder of the Web Designer Academy, to discuss her journey from corporate marketing to running a successful web design coaching business. Shannon shares the key turning points in her career, including how she identified and overcame six common areas where design businesses leak time and money and shares with us what those are. She emphasizes the importance of mindset, proper pricing, and setting boundaries to ensure profitability in your business.

Guest Name: Shannon Mattern

Guest Website: www.shannonmattern.com

Guest Instagram: @shannonlmattern

Shannon’s Course: Web Designer Academy

Shannon’s Podcast: Profitable Web Designer

00:00 Intro and Creative Template Freebie Info

02:49: Shannon's Story

19:19: Identifying Time and Money Leaks

20:39: The Cost of People Pleasing

21:24: Setting Boundaries and Managing Scope

24:34: Perfectionism and Pricing Challenges

25:35: Client Feedback and Pricing Models

28:30: Empowering Clients with Choices

35:25: Mindset and Self-Concept in Business

37:43: Web Designer Academy Course Overview

Links:

• Sign up to be notified - Applications for cohort 5 opens Nov 1st, 2025

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*These are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

S12 E03: How to Use AI in Your Branding Business & The Future of AI in Boutique Branding with Liz Martinez-Nelson

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 08:00:00 -0400

✨ **Grab my Creative Direction template for FREE** ✨

Curious what the first stage of my brand design projects looks like? Grab the Figma template (and four bonus audio trainings walking you through how to populate it!) below!

👉🏼 Grab the template here! — Coming Sept 1st!

Episode Description:

As the first guest of season 12, I talk with Liz from Favorite Things Studio to discuss the integration of AI (Artificial Intelligence) in brand strategy and design. Liz shares her journey from casting director to boutique brand designer, emphasizing the value of AI tools (ChatGPT being her bread and butter) for creating more efficient and high-quality outputs and how to use them elsewhere in your business and systems. We discuss all things skepticism and the advantages of using AI in the creative industry, and how AI is reshaping the way designers approach their projects. Liz also shares details about her Brand Strategy Purrr-fection course and how she's helping other designers master the fundamentals of strategic branding.

00:58: New Updates to the Upcoming Design Minimind Course

06:06: Liz's Journey to Brand Design

08:10: Starting from Scratch: Learning the Tools

14:06: Customizing AI for Your Business

19:16: The Future of AI in Brand Strategy

26:33: Leveraging AI for Client Questionnaires

29:09: Transparency with Clients About AI Usage

32:13: Exploring Visual AI Platforms

36:57: Creating Custom AI Workflows & Systems

40:30: Legal and Ethical Considerations of AI

43:16: Brand Strategy Purrr-fection Course

Guest Name: Liz Martinez-Nelson

Guest Website: www.favoritethingsstudio.com

Instagram: @favorite.things.studio

Liz’s Course: Brand Strategy Purrr-fection

Links:

• Sign up to be notified - Applications for cohort 5 opens Nov 1st, 2025

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Tags: designer, design, brand design, design studio, design business, brand designer, better podcast, better designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S12 E02: How to Name Your Business (or Your Clients’ Business)

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

✨ **Grab my Creative Direction template for FREE** ✨

Curious what the first stage of my brand design projects looks like? Grab the Figma template (and four bonus audio trainings walking you through how to populate it!) below! I'll send it out September 1, 2025 (or automatically after that date) - are you ready? 👀

👉🏼 Grab the template here!

Episode Description:

In this solo episode, Jen talks about the intricacies of naming your business or your client's business. She covers the emotional (yes, that’s a thing!) and psychological aspects of naming, common pitfalls to avoid, essential checks in the naming process, and best practices for creating memorable and unique names.

00:00: Intro

01:11: Exciting New Freebie Announcement and What That Includes

04:11: Diving into Episode Topic

06:20: Psychology and Emotional Impact of Naming

08:02: Abstract and Compound Naming Strategies

09:30: Things to Avoid in Naming

12:35: Naming and Brand Design Considerations

14:32: Ensuring Name Availability and Suitability

16:11: Conclusion and the Upcoming The Design Minimind Cohort 5 Reminder.

Website Mentioned:

USPTO Trademark Search

Links:

• Sign up to be notified - Applications for cohort 5 opens Nov 1st, 2025

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*These are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

S8E12: Spooooky Client Stories (Round 2) with Lauren Braier

S12 E01: How to Thrive During Slow Seasons

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

✨ **Grab my Creative Direction template for FREE** ✨

👉🏼 Grab the template here!

In this first episode of season 12, Jen is talking about something we've all experienced as business owners—slow seasons. But here's the thing: these quiet moments are actually golden opportunities! She shares ideas and ways for thriving during slower months, like creating low-cost services, launching digital products, or reconnecting with past clients, invest in learning and take courses (hint: The Design Minimind), and more! Slow seasons don't get to define your business—you do.

00:00: Intro/welcome to season 12!

01:27: Upcoming freebie announcement and Info

05:25: The Design Minimind success testimonials

10:00: Diving into the episode topic - slow seasons

12:34: How to generate quick cash in slow seasons

19:36: Ways to make the best use of the extra time

25:51: Final thoughts and encouragement

Episodes Mentioned:

S6E12: Spooooky Client Stories

S3E9: Difficult Client Stories

Links:

• Sign up to be notified - Applications for cohort 5 opens Nov 1st, 2025

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*These are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

S10 E7:What Should You Charge? Pricing Survey Results

S11 E21: Answering Your Inbox Questions

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Wrapping up season 11 with a fun one! I’m answering your questions straight from the inbox.

Questions:

5:03: I’m a branding designer currently and I was wondering if you had an episode on pricing brand projects with and without websites?

6:55: How do you professionally incorporate Ai into your process?

12:05: If client "A" offers 10K for a project but you're a little iffy about some portion of the project vs client "B" offers 8K for approximately the same amount of time, which do you choose?

16:39: Creative directing is a role I thought I was ready for this spring and realized quickly that I was not. Can I ask where you get your leads from?

19:39: How do you stay creative when you have multiple projects?

21:44: How can you market yourself as a Brand Designer when you’re too working on your own brand and figuring out how to establish yourself?

22:49: Best places to learn and stay up to date with trends and best practices?

27:16: What must haves should a brand designer have in their contract?

28:20: How do you look for inspiration without comparing yourself to others and making yourself feel small?

29:54: How to help your client keep an open mind during the creative process.

32:00: How to say no when clients ask extra work?

33:35: Does it ever get easy?

35:24: How do we demonstrate our value as designers in an increasingly DIY landscape?

36:47: How people deal with direct competitors to their current client reaching out for branding help in a small market?

Episodes Mentioned:

S1 E10: How to Identify Good Clients and Avoid Red Flag Clients

S10 E1: Our Red Flag List(Avoid These Clients!) with Lauren Braier

S11 E19: 5 Year Update on Motherhood & Business

S10 E5: Why, When, and How to Start an Internship Program

S8 E17: Rethinking Social Media Marketing with Xanthe Appleyard

S8 E 18: How to Launch Your Services with Kelsey McCormick

S6 E19: Turning Your Services Page into a Sales Page with Kelsey McCormick

S5 E2: Finding Creative Inspiration

S11 E11: Branding Bestie Chit Chat: Designing a Life You Love with Lauren

Links:

The Design Minimind • Sign up to be notified - Applications open Nov 1st, 2025

S11 E20: My Favorite Adobe Illustrator Hidden Gems

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

In this solo episode, I’m talking about the tools and shortcuts I use every day in Adobe Illustrator (my favorite Adobe software!) while designing for my clients. Plus, I’m sharing exactly where to find them in Illustrator and how I use them. Follow along in more detail over on the blog post while you listen! - hellojunecreative.co/blog.

00:00: Intro

03:52: Pattern Brush Tool

05:31: Duplicate Shortcut

06:27: Smooth Tool

07:39 Pattern Tool

09:21: Width Tool

10:42: Join Tool

11:47: Pathfinder Tool

12:55: Puppet Warp Tool

14:53: Recolor Artwork Tool

15:56: Outline Stroke Tool

Head over to hellojunecreative.co/blog for more tools that I didn’t talk about on the podcast in the blog post! Or go comment on my instagram post over on @hellojunecreate if you know of a tool/shortcut that you use and love that I didn't talk about!

Links:

• Sign up to be notified - Applications for cohort 5 opens Nov 1st, 2025

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*These are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Bonus Episode: Navigating Maternity Leave and Scaling a Business with a Newborn

S11 E19: 5-Year Update on Motherhood & Business (Q&A Style!)

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

In this solo episode, I'm getting real about what five years of motherhood and business ownership looks like—and spoiler alert, it's nothing like I expected when my son was born back in 2020.

With baby two now in the mix, I'm diving into how being a mom has completely shifted alongside my career. We're talking daily schedules (chaos included), managing client expectations, and Dylan (my husband) now being home full-time with the kids. Plus the financial pressures of variable income and my ongoing feelings of mom guilt.

00:45 Motherhood & Business Q&A

02:15 Daily Schedule & Family Dynamics

07:15 Managing Client Expectations & Project Timelines

09:32 Financial & Growth Considerations

12:22 Personal Development & Mindset

20:33 Client Work & Creativity

24:20 Practical Day-to-Day Management

27:52 Long-Term Vision & Legacy

Episodes Mentioned:

S5 E21: 2-Year Update on Motherhood and Business

S7 E22: 3-Year Update on Motherhood and Business

S10 E6: 4-Year Update on Motherhood and Business

S9 E3: Steal My Web Design Process

S11 E7: What Happens After You Design a Website?

S11 E2: How to Take(Paid!) Extended Time Away from Your Business

S11 E5: Making “The Leap” from Agency to Studio (and Balancing Mom Life) with Katie Higginbotham

S5 E14: Iterating on the One-Concept Method

S9E10: Entering a New Era of Brand Strategy with Marion Tan

S4 E3: All About Brand Strategy with Melinda Livsey

Links:

The Design Minimind / Get notified - Applications opens Nov '25

30% off of your HoneyBook subscription

1 month Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune”

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.

(Some are affiliate links)

S11 E18: Tour the Hello June Offer Suite (Peep My Packages!)

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

I’m back with another solo episode where I’m breaking down the complete Hello June offer suite and sharing why having flexible packages has been a total game-changer for the studio.

I discuss my four main package tiers, from full service brand and web combos down to essential branding offerings, plus all the add-ons that support them and how I customize each to fit the client. Plus, I'm sharing how to get valuable feedback from leads (even the ones who don't book) and why your offer suite should always be evolving.

Whether you're just starting out or ready to refine what you've got, this episode is for you.

Links Mentioned:

S11E17: How to Leverage Semi-Custom Web Design with Alex McGinness

S10 E10: How to Run a Successful (and Profitable) Design Intensive with Jenna Johnson

S7 E4: How to Structure, Price, Market, and Sell Design Intensives

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription

• Sign up to be notified - Applications for cohort 5 opens Nov 1st, 2025

Connect With Us:

S5 E23: Using Intuition in Your Design Process with Alex McGinness

S11 E17: How to Leverage Semi-Custom Web Design with Alex McGinness

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 20:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Alex of Arcoiris Design Studio is back on the pod to talk all things semi-custom websites, and why it might just be the best thing for small boutique studios looking to scale without the stress.

They talk through how starting with a solid template can still lead to a high-end, unique result for clients, why not every business needs (or benefits from) a custom build, and how setting boundaries around scope and timelines can protect your time and profitability. This episode is full of helpful tips on creative direction, client communication, and finding smart ways to grow sustainably.

Whether you’re considering building a template shop, white-label web development offers, or simply want to streamline your process, this convo is full with honest insights and actionable takeaways.

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Alex McGinness

Guest Business Name: Arcoiris Design Studio

Guest Website: arcoiris.design

Guest Instagram: @arcoiris.design.studio

Links Mentioned:

Connect With Us:

S9E3: Steal My Web Design Process

S11 E16: How to Streamline Your Brand & Web Design Process

Fri, 30 May 2025 18:00:00 -0400

In this solo episode, Jen’s chatting all about how she’s refined and streamlined her brand and web design process to better serve both her clients and her business.

She emphasizes customizing workflows to fit different client needs, cutting unnecessary steps, and focusing on high-value tasks. Key changes include reducing client calls, minimizing lengthy brand strategy, and relying on simple, effective communication tools with her clients.

Jen also shares practical tips such as live refinement sessions, unlimited revisions within a set time frame, and delivering social-media-ready assets upon off-boarding. These process shifts have saved time, allowed her to take on more projects, all while maintaining a high-quality client experience.

Links Mentioned:

S5E14: Iterating on the One-Concept Method

Connect With Us:

S11 E15: Making “the Leap” from Agency to Studio (and Balancing Mom Life) with Katie Higginbotham

Tue, 13 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

In this episode, I’m chatting with Katie Higginbotham, previous minimind student of mine, designer, studio owner, creative director, and mom of three. We talk all about what it really looked like to make the leap from her established agency job to running her own studio.

With Mother’s Day just behind us, this convo feels especially timely. Katie shares how she knew it was time for a change, how she prepped for the transition, and what it’s been like balancing client work, a part-time role, and mom life all at once. We also dive into the honest truths, like mom guilt, chaotic schedules, and learning to protect the time that matters most.

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Katie Higginbotham

Guest Business Name: Katie Higginbotham Design

Guest Website: katie-higginbotham.com

Guest Instagram: @katie_higg_design

Connect With Us:

S11 E14: Branding Bestie Chit Chat: Breaking Down Sticky Client Situations with Lauren Braier

Tue, 06 May 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Branding Bestie Chit Chat is back and in this episode Lauren and Jen share honest examples of when things didn’t go quite as planned in their client projects from unclear direction to challenging feedback and how they navigated those moments. It’s a candid supportive conversation full of lessons learned growth moments and a few laughs as well.

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Lauren Braier

Guest Business Name: Elby Creative

Guest Website: elbycreative.com

Guest Instagram: @elbycreative

Connect With Us:

S11 E13: Evolving Your Design Offers with Joy Warren

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Better: The Brand Designer Podcast, we sit down with Joy Warren, the creative force behind Joy Warren Creative — a full-service brand and web design studio known for its playful simplicity, vibrant use of color, and custom illustrations. Based just outside Raleigh, NC, Joy shares how she launched her business after relocating from Indiana and built a studio that celebrates and supports small, female-owned businesses.

We kick things off with a quick story time about how Joy’s business began, and then dive into a foundational concept for any designer: the offer suite. What is it, and why does it matter? Joy walks us through how her own suite of services has evolved — including a major shift away from her once-popular Mini Brands offer. She opens up about the mindset behind pivoting, how to stay responsive to your audience’s needs, and why flexibility in your offers is key to long-term success in the design industry.

Whether you’re a seasoned designer or just starting out, Joy’s thoughtful approach to building and refining your offers will leave you feeling inspired and ready to adapt.

Have you re-evaluated your own offer suite lately?

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Joy Warren

Guest Business Name: Joy Warren Creative

Guest Website: joy-warren.com

Guest Instagram: @joywarrencreative

Links Mentioned:

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S11 E12: From Bedridden to Building Brands: Overcoming Illness and Running a Design Studio with Alouette Marsh

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 01:00:00 -0400

In this powerful and inspiring episode, we're joined by brand designer Alouette Marsh, whose journey is anything but ordinary. From facing the debilitating effects of endometriosis to rising above it and building a thriving design studio, Alouette shares her deeply personal story of resilience, creativity, and purpose.

We talk about the darkest moments of her health battle, the mindset shifts that helped her through, and the unexpected lessons she now carries into her business every day. Whether you're navigating your own challenges or simply need a reminder that growth is possible—even in the hardest seasons—this conversation is for you.

Guest Info:

Lark Brand Studio

Connect With Us:

S11 E11: Branding Bestie Chit Chat: Designing a Life You Love with Lauren Braier

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Better the Brand Designer Podcast, we’re diving into the ways design influences every part of our lives—far beyond our work as brand designers. Lauren shares how her love for interior design, wedding planning, and beautifully packaged products fuels her creativity, along with how house hunting has sharpened her ability to see potential in unexpected places. Jen talks about infusing creativity into everyday life, from crafting and needlepoint with her kids to designing her dream home. Plus, we explore how our experiences with client relationships and embracing different styles have shaped our design perspectives. Get ready for a fun, insightful chat about how the things we love outside of work make us better designers!

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Lauren Braier

Guest Business Name: Elby Creative

Guest Website: elbycreative.com

Guest Instagram: @elbycreative

Links Mentioned:

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S11 E10: Protecting Your Brand: Trademark Essentials for Designers with Alli Elmunzer (aka Attorney Alli)

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 01:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Better: The Brand Designer Podcast, we’re diving into the legal side of branding with special guest Alli Elmunzer from Influencer Legal! As brand designers, we create visual identities that help businesses stand out—but how do we ensure those identities are legally protected?

Alli breaks down the key differences between a registered trademark (®), a trademark (™), and copyright (©), and explains when and why brand designers should start thinking about trademarking business names and logos. We’ll also discuss the first steps in guiding clients through the trademarking process and whether independent designers should consider trademarking their own business assets.

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Alli Elmunzer

Guest Business Name: Influencer Legal

Guest Website: https://influencerlegal.co/

Guest Instagram: @attorneyalli

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S11 E9: Combining Faith & Business with Morgan Morris

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 18:00:00 -0400

In this week’s episode, I sit down with my good friend Morgan Morris, the talented designer and founder behind Thuro Design. Morgan opens up about her powerful testimony — from life before Christ to how her faith journey has transformed not only her personal life but also her business.

Morgan shares why she made the bold decision to integrate her faith openly into her business, despite the fear of judgment or losing clients. She offers thoughtful advice for other designers of faith who want to share their beliefs authentically while maintaining alignment with their brand and values.

Morgan’s Program: Aligned Designers

Aligned Designers is a mentorship program helping designers create a business aligned with their God-given calling. Our in-depth, 1:1 approach covers business growth and design skill with a faith-centered perspective. You can sign up on our waitlist to be the first to know about Early Bird pricing when we launch again this October. https://thurodesign.com/aligned-designers-2025-waitlist/

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Morgan Morris

Guest Business Name: Thuro Design

Guest Website: thurodesign.com

Guest Instagram: @thuro_design

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S11 E8: Branding Bestie Chit Chat: Reading Our Old Goals with Lauren Braier

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 01:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Better: The Brand Designer Podcast, we’re back with another Branding Bestie Chit Chat featuring Lauren Braier from Elby Creative! We’re diving into the past as we dust off our old goals, reflect on what we’ve accomplished (and what we haven’t), and chat about how we’ve grown both personally and professionally over the years. Join us for an honest and inspiring conversation about evolving as designers, learning from our experiences, and setting new intentions for the future. Tune in for some laughs, insights, and maybe even a little nostalgia!

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Lauren Braier

Guest Business Name: Elby Creative

Guest Website: elbycreative.com

Guest Instagram: @elbycreative

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S11 E7: What Happens After You Design a Website? (Steal Our Exact Pre-Launch Process)

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 18:00:00 -0500

In this week’s episode, I share about our refinement, QA, pre-launch, and launch phases of our web design projects! Steal my process or adjust for your own needs—it’s all laid out in this episode!

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S11 E6: How to Serve Neurodivergent Clients with Tonya Bamboe

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 17:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Better: The Brand Designer Podcast, we’re joined by the incredible Tonya Bamboe, founder of Booth and Bard, to dive deep into the world of inclusive branding for neurodivergent clients. Tonya shares her journey—from the pivotal moments that shaped her business to how she discovered her passion for serving the "neurospicy" community.

We break down what "neurospicy" means, how Tonya has positioned her brand to support clients who identify with this term, and the intentional shifts she’s made in both her systems and marketing to create a more accessible and empowering experience. Plus, she gets real about the challenges that come with working with neurodivergent clients and how she’s adapted to meet their needs without sacrificing her own well-being.

If you’ve ever wanted to build a business that feels aligned, inclusive, and sustainable—this episode is a must-listen! Tune in and get inspired to refine your own brand with intention.

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Tonya Bamboe

Guest Business Name: Booth & Bard

Guest Website: boothandbard.com

Guest Instagram: @boothandbard

Links Mentioned:

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S11 E5: Peek Behind the Curtain into Recent HJC Client Projects

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 01:00:00 -0500

Today I go through some of my recent projects breaking down the who, what, when, where and how. Just giving a little peak behind the curtain to some of my favorite projects I have worked with recently.

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S11 E4: Branding Bestie Chit Chat: What’s the Future of the Boutique Brand Design Industry? with Lauren Braier

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 01:00:00 -0500

In the first episode of our new monthly series, Branding Bestie Chit Chat, I sit down with Lauren Braier to explore a question that’s been buzzing around the boutique brand design community: What’s the future of our industry?

From online chatter to shifts in the career paths of high-profile designers, we dive into why it feels like so many business owners are struggling right now. Is it just the nature of social media amplifying the lows, or is something deeper happening in the branding world?

Lauren and I share our predictions for 2025, including a possible decline in courses and education in favor of 1:1 coaching, the lingering effects of an oversaturated market post-COVID, and the continued importance of showing up authentically on social media (because being a faceless brand just doesn’t cut it anymore).

We also reflect on what these changes mean for our own futures as brand designers. Whether you’re navigating similar questions or just curious about what’s ahead, this episode is packed with insights, candid thoughts, and some serious bestie vibes.

Grab your coffee, tune in, and let’s talk shop!

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Lauren Braier

Guest Business Name: Elby Creative

Guest Website: elbycreative.com

Guest Instagram: @elbycreative

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S11 E3: How to Collaborate with Illustrators with Kat Super

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 01:00:00 -0500

In this inspiring guest episode of Better: The Brand Designer Podcast, I’m chatting with Kat Super, the talented founder of B Super Design, a boutique brand and web design studio based in Richmond, Virginia. Known for her signature “vintage meets modern” illustrative style, Kat combines brand identity design, web design, and custom illustration into a seamless, full-service experience for her clients—and even offers white-label illustration services to fellow designers.

We dive into Kat’s design journey, her passion for illustration, and how she discovered the unique niche of collaborating with brand designers to create custom illustrations. Kat also shares practical advice for designers looking to strengthen their illustration skills and explains the ins and outs of her white-label services, from inspiration to delivery.

Whether you’re curious about elevating your illustration game, exploring new ways to serve clients, or just love hearing from talented designers, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable takeaways. Tune in to learn from Kat’s creative process and get a behind-the-scenes look at her approach to design!

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Kat Super

Guest Business Name: B Super Design

Guest Website: www.bsuperdesign.com

Guest Instagram: @bsuperdesign

Connect With Us:

The Design Minimind Sales Page

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S11 E1: My Ins & Outs for 2025 (& My Word of the Year)

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 17:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Better: The Brand Designer Podcast, we’re diving into what’s in and what’s out for creating a thriving, joyful design business in the new year. Inspired by a trend making waves on social media, I’m sharing my personal “ins” and “outs” for a better work-life balance and a more intentional approach to running my brand design studio.

From booking clients far in advance to pursuing non-work-related hobbies (hello, needlepoint Facebook groups!) and crafting offers around work I truly love, I’m redefining success on my own terms. Plus, we’ll chat about what’s out this year, like accepting clients with red flags, obsessive email checking, and overloading on unnecessary business expenses.

I’ll also share a glimpse into my word of the year—gratitude—and how it’s shaping my mindset and goals moving forward. Whether you’re a seasoned designer or just starting out, this episode is packed with relatable insights and practical tips for creating a business you genuinely enjoy.

Links Mentioned:

The Design Minimind Waitlist

Thuro Design

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S11 E2: How to Take (Paid!) Extended Time Away from Your Business (Maternity Leave Recap)

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 01:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Better: The Brand Designer Podcast, we dive into the art of stepping away from your business while keeping things running smoothly—whether it's for maternity leave or another extended break. I’m sharing a personal recap of my recent maternity leave, reflecting on the biggest differences from my first experience, and breaking down actionable strategies to prepare for extended time off.

From starting your planning early to adjusting team operations and building a financial buffer, this episode is packed with tips to help you stay organized, maintain client trust, and avoid losing leads. Plus, I’ll share how I kept essential operations like social media, sales, and client communication humming while taking much-needed time to rest and recharge. Whether you're a new mom or planning a well-earned sabbatical, this episode is for you!

Tune in to learn how to plan ahead, set boundaries, and keep your business thriving while prioritizing your personal life.

Connect With Us:

The Win Without Pitching Manifesto

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

From the Archives | S8 E15: How to Craft a Luxury Offer Suite that Sells with Katelyn Alyssa from Studio Kaly

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 01:00:00 -0500

Today we’re joined by Katelyn from Studio Kaly talking about what makes a luxury brand design experience and how to craft a luxurious offer suite that sells. If you’re struggling with your positioning and offers, this episode is for you!

Links Mentioned:

Studio Kaly

Inbox Question:

What are the key elements to running a successful photoshoot (for yourself or a client?)

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

From the Archives | S5 E1: What to Do When a Client Doesn’t Love Your Work

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 01:00:00 -0500

Have you ever had a review session with a client and they're just not feeling the work you've created? We've been there! In this episode Jen and Esther talk about some of their experiences with push-back and how they worked through the problems to create better solutions for their clients.

Links Mentioned:
The Anti-Anxiety Notebook

Inbox Question:
"How do you present your initial designs to the client? What do you include– how many logo/secondary logo ideas, how many fonts (and where to get fonts/legalities), do you photoshop a mock-up and include that with the package? Like what do you do lol" — Mackenzi Chapman

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

From the Archives | S9 E3: Steal My Web Design Process

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 01:00:00 -0500

Episode Description:

In today’s episode Jen shares her entire web design and web development process, from a blank slate all the way to launch day, Jen explains the systems that she has in place that allows her small team to design, build, and deliver the perfect website every time. Get ready to take notes, this one is packed with a lot of value and details!

Inbox Question:

“Finding clients who only need branding services is challenging. I’m often finding web development or design services is easier. What are the best lead gen options for this space?” - Marta Nicole Rodzen

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

From the Archives | S3 E9: Difficult Client Stories

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 11:00:00 -0500

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

From the Archives | S6 E5: Hiring a Team that Supports Your Vision with Olivia Austin

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 01:00:00 -0500

Today Jen chats with Olivia Austin from Current Design Studio all about hiring - when to think about it, how to know you’re ready, and how to navigate the hiring and interview process. We approach the hiring conversation from the perspective of knowing your studio values and adding team members who share those values.

Guest Information:
Guest Name: Olivia Austin
Guest Business Name: Current Design Studio
Guest Website: https://currentdesignstudio.com/, https://byoliviaaustin.com/
Guest Instagram: https://instagram.com/current.designstudio

Links Mentioned:
Gusto
ClickUp
Notion
Motive Affirmation Deck

Inbox Question:
“Should I list multiple package/price options on the proposal? My gut is telling me not to, because they will go with the lower price package even though they really need more.” — Chelsea Levinson

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

From the Archives | S5 E17: How to Plan Your Work Schedule for True Rest + Vacation

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 01:00:00 -0500

Do you ever feel like you can’t take a TRUE vacation? Maybe your fears are that your clients will be mad, you don’t have enough funds to pay for the time away, or you feel like you have TOO much to do that taking time away doesn’t make sense. We’ve been there. In this episode we talk about:

The things we do to prepare for vacation
Battling mindset when taking time away
How we plan for vacation ahead of time
How time-off impacts our business and our own mental health?
How to build rest into our schedules more regularly
And much more!

Inbox Question:
“How do you make the most use of a junior designer/intern?” — Indy Griffiths

Connect With Us:

S8E15: How to Craft a Luxury Offer Suite that Sells with Katelyn Alyssa from Studio Kaly

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S10 E18: Answering Your Inbox Questions

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 01:00:00 -0500

Final episode of the season is here already! Today we answer all of your inbox questions!

Links Mentioned:

S7E10: Font Design, Digital Products, Burnout, and Industry Culture with Jen Wagner

Connect With Us:

Don’t Make these Brand Messaging & Positioning Mistakes!

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S10 E17: Changes I Made in My Business to Hit My First $100K Revenue Year

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0500

Today I go over some small changes I made early on in my business that made a big impact on my revenue. This is how I hit my first 100k year.

Links Mentioned:

How to Sell Out Your Design Services with Expert Positioning

Spooooky Client Stories (Round 2)

Inbox Question:

"[Question here?]” - [Name Here]

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S10 E16: How to (Properly) Manage Your Design Studio’s Finances with Rita Julian

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0500

In this episode I had the pleasure of peppering Rita Julian (a bookkeeper for brand & web designers!) with questions about keeping your business finances nice and tidy (and saving money on taxes!)

Get 20% off Cash + Creatives (DIY bookkeeping course) with the code PODCAST20!

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Rita Julian

Guest Business Name: Julian Bookkeeping

Guest Website: www.julianbookkeeping.com

Guest Instagram: @julianbookkeepingllc

Links Mentioned:

Cash & Creatives (DIY bookkeeping course) - get 20% off with code PODCAST20

Connect With Us:

NobiWorks Resources mentioned

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S10 E15: Why NOT to Niche (What?!) with N. Chloé Nwangwu

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 01:00:00 -0500

In this episode, I chat with N. Chloé Nwangwu from the consulting agency NobiWorks all about how the traditional ICA (ideal client avatar) model of brand strategy is outdated—and what to do instead!

Guest Information:

Guest Name: N. Chloé Nwangwu

Guest Business Name: NobiWorks

Guest Website: https://www.nobiworks.com/

Guest Instagram: @NobiWorks

Links Mentioned:

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S10 E14: The Transition to Agency Life with Lauren Braier

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 01:00:00 -0400

This week Lauren (Jen’s previous designer) is back to share about her decision to leave the boutique studio space in favor of the agency world! She talks about her job search, interview process, and differences between boutique and agency she’s been surprised by.

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Lauren Braier

Guest Business Name: Elby Creative

Guest Website: www.elbycreative.com

Guest Instagram: @elbycreative

Links Mentioned:

[Insert Links Here]

Inbox Question:

"[Question here?]” - [Name Here]

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S10 E13: Maternity Leave, New Motherhood, & Mom/Design Biz Life - from Design Unfiltered with Abbey McGrew

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 11:00:00 -0400

I was asked to guest on another podcast called the Design Unfiltered Podcast with Abbey McGrew. You can find a link to that pod below. In this episode we talk about being a new mom, maternity leave, and preparing for a big family change. Thank you Abbey for having me on as a guest!

Design Unfiltered Podcast

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S10 E12: Don’t Make These Brand Messaging & Positioning Mistakes! - from The Unapologetic Designer Podcast with Kenzi Green

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 01:00:00 -0400

I’m so excited to share an episode of The Unapologetic Designer podcast I recorded with Kenzi Green from Kenzi Green Design and the Brief Collective! We chatted all things brand messaging (I just completed her brand new messaging and home page copy during one of my signature Copy Sprints!)—focusing specifically on mistakes we see designers making (and how to avoid them!

The Unapologetic Designer Podcast with Kenzi Green

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S10 E11: Relationship Marketing & Finding Magic in the Motherhood/Biz Balance with Madison Standke

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 16:00:00 -0400

This week I got to chat with a personal friend and past student of mine Madison Standke from Soulful Solution, a boutique brand and web design studio specifically for therapists. We chat all things relationship marketing—how to maximize your current client relationships, get more referrals, and partner with other service providers. We also had a great discussion about finding the balance between motherhood and business!

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Madison Standke

Guest Business Name: Soulful Solution

Guest Website: https://www.soulfulsolution.co/

Guest Instagram: @soulful.solution

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S10 E10: How to Run a Successful (and Profitable) Design Intensive with Jenna Johnson

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 01:00:00 -0400

This week I chat with Jenna Johnson from White and Salt - the original creator of the "design intensive." We discuss scheduling, hiring, team management, and of course talk all things design intensives - how to pitch them, how to sell them, and how to make them both profitable for your studio and valuable for your clients.

Guest Info:

Jenna Johnson

Website

Instagram

Design Intensive Master Training - Listeners can use code BETTERBRANDPOD at checkout for $200 off!

Inbox Question:

“As a brand designer, how do you find your inspiration when working on a major project with a short deadline”? - Nieves Arellano

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S10 E9: Setbacks with Silver Linings: Business Challenges that Taught Me Valuable Lessons

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 01:00:00 -0400

Another solo episode! Today, I talk about some of my business setbacks over the years and how each one taught me valuable lessons that helped both my business and me grow.

Past Episodes Mentioned:
Iterating on the One Concept Method
Spooooky Client Stories

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S10 E8: Is Our Industry Shifting? Design Business Changes I’ve Made Over the Last Year

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400

In this weeks episode I go over where our Industry was, is, and where I think it is going. I also share what I have done in my business to try to adapt to these changes in order to not fall behind.

Inbox Question:

“When do you know whether you should niche or not?” - Cristina Mojica

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S10 E7: What Should You Charge? (Pricing Survey Results!)

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 01:00:00 -0400

What is everyone charging in this industry?! I asked and I have the results. This week I surveyed over 100 designers to ask what they are charging for various services and I share what they said with you.

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S10 E6: 4-Year Update on Motherhood & Business

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 01:00:00 -0400

A more personal episode this week! With baby number two right around the corner I share how both myself and my business have changed in the after the first four years of motherhood.

Links Mentioned:

Carly Riordan

Rowan Made

Inbox Question:

"[Question here?]” - [Name Here]

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S10 E5: Why, When, and How to Start an Internship Program (It Will Change Your Life!)

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 01:00:00 -0400

Do you want to hire but wondering if it's the right time? Or maybe you are concerned about adding a bunch of overhead to an already successful business. An Internship program may be the answer as an alternative to hiring a full time employee. Today I go over how and why I started an internship program at Hello June. I will also go over how you know it's time to hire and why an internship program may be a better fit for a lot of small businesses.

Inbox Question:

“Do you ever do print design (posters, flyers) etc? If so how do you price for this kind of project? - Tanya LeClair

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S10 E4: What Software Should You Use for Your Design Business?

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 01:00:00 -0400

This week I am explaining all the web applications and software I use to help manage my business. Spoiler, it's a lot!

Links Mentioned:

Inbox Question:

“How do you handle feedback from clients that conflicts with your professional design opinion?” - Kemorine Molyneaux

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S10 E3: Brand Messaging for Dummies (er, Designers!)

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 01:00:00 -0400

Brand Messaging is just as important for a brand as the visual design... but what the heck is it?! In today's episode I explain what Brand Messaging is and isn't and how to use your messaging to attract the clients you want to work with and not those that you don't.

Links Mentioned:

The Hello June Brand Messaging & Copy Sprint - DM me on Instagram @hellojunecreative for the link to the sales page!

Perplexity.ai

SEMrush.com

Ubersuggest.com

Inbox Question:

“How do you set the right prices for different branding packages?” - Angelie Napagao

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S10 E2: You’re Invited to My Font Nerd Party (All About Typography)

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 01:00:00 -0400

In today's episode I get super nerdy and do a deep dive into everything fonts!

Links Mentioned:

Inbox Question:

"Can you be a brand designer if you only know how to use Canva?” - Shannon Lynn

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S10 E1: Our Red Flag List (Avoid These Clients!) with Lauren Braier

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 01:00:00 -0400

In the first episode of season 10 I bring back the guest with the most guest episodes, my close friend, and now sadly my former employee Lauren Braier! In this episode we go into our red flag list, talk about our major and more subtle red flags, and share some stories of some recent inquiries we had to let go.

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Lauren Braier

Guest Business Name: Elby Creative

Guest Website: www.elbycreative.com

Guest Instagram: @elbycreative

Connect With Us:

The Cheetah Company Website

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

From the Archives | S5 E23: Using Intuition in Your Design Process with Alex McGinness

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 01:00:00 -0400

Jen and Alex from The Arcoíris Design Co. chat all about discovering, cultivating, and making the best use of your intuition in your design business. They discuss what an “intuitive hit” is, how to recognize different types of inspiration and thoughts, and best practices for getting acquainted with your intuition and using it to provide more value to your clients and increasing your creativity. Alex shares a bit about her rebrand, her Oracle Deck, and what creating and launching her Squarespace Template shop was like!

Guest Information:
Guest Name: Alex McGinness
Guest Business Name: The Arcoíris Design Co.
Guest Website: https://www.thearcoirisdesign.co/
Guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thearcoirisdesign.co/

Inbox Question:
"How do you create standout brands that aren't typical?" - Chiara Garcia

Connect With Us:
Our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/betterbranddesigner/

From the Archives | S6 E13: LIVE from the Studio… it’s Brand Presentations!

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 01:00:00 -0400

We’ve never seen this shared publicly before… we’re pulling back the curtain in today’s episode to share the audio from actual client presentations from our studios! We watched each other’s Strategy/Creative Direction videos and then reacted live to them - noting what we loved about them and making some really juicy suggestions for making them even better. We hope that this episode inspires you to mix things up and gives you some ideas to try in your own brand presentations. Check the Facebook group to see the visuals behind what we discuss in this episode!

Inbox Question:
"How do you get faster at design projects and honor limited time especially as a mom? I usually become hyper-focused and tend to go down a rabbit hole of exploring concepts."] - Jolie-Anne Walker

Connect With Us:
Our Free Facebook Community

From the Archives | S7 E20: How I Went From Feast/Famine to Booking 5 Months Out

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 16:00:00 -0400

This episode was inspired by a question from one of the students in my group program for designers The Design Minimind! She wanted to know how I went from the (seemingly) never ending cycle of being overworked, followed by really slow seasons. I go through what I learned in my 1:1 marketing mentorship with Ash from The Cheetah Company, what I did on my own, and things I recommend to designers wanting to break the feast/famine cycle in a way that works best for their businesses and lifestyles.

Links Mentioned:

The Timeless Sales Method (Ash's Course)

Podcast Episodes I Recommend Related to This Topic:

Going From $0 to Six Figures Post-Maternity Leave with Chaitra Radhakrishna - S6E8

Connecting and Selling in an Organic Way on Social Media with Ash Henry - S5E20

Inbox Question:

“I'd love to hear more about how other designers go about researching new industries or niches. I've mostly worked on referrals and on topics I was already familiar with, and am working on branching out.” - Libby Miner

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

www.hellojunecreative.co/minimind

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

From the Archives | S8 E11: Design Retainers, Privacy, & Carving Your Own Path with Olivia Herrick

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 16:00:00 -0400

Today I’m joined by the design icon Olivia Herrick as we chat about how to create consistent revenue with retainers, maintaining personal boundaries in business, lead generation and SO much more.

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Olivia Herrick

Guest Business Name: Olivia Herrick Design

Guest Website: https://www.oliviaherrickdesign.com/

Guest Instagram: @oliviaherrickdesign

Links Mentioned:

Design Retainer Bootcamp use 50OFF for $50 off

This Season’s Partner:

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S9 E15: Answering Your Inbox Questions

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 16:00:00 -0400

The finale of season 9 is already here! I can't believe how quickly time goes by! As always we are answering your submitted inbox questions to wrap up this season.

Connect With Us:

The Dream Design Biz Mentorship

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S9 E14: How to Sell Out Your Design Services with Expert Brand Positioning with Chelsea Blackwell from Honey & Co. Creative

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 15:00:00 -0400

In today's episode I sit down with my friend Chelsea Blackwell from Honey and Co. Creative. Chelsea is an expert in brand positioning and we talk about how your brand positioning may be what's holding your business back, and how to up-level it.

Links Mentioned:

The Tune-Up Session

Use Code BETTER15 for 15% off The Tune-Up Session Intensive

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Chelsea Blackwell

Guest Business Name: Honey & Co.

Guest Website: https://www.honeyandcocreative.com/

Guest Instagram: @honeyandcocreative

Inbox Question:

“What do you say in a sales call when you get push back about price or value?” - Jennifer Jones

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S9 E13: How I’m Managing My First Trimester (I’m Pregnant!) While Working

Mon, 27 May 2024 20:00:00 -0400

Hey Guys! So excited to share with you that I'm pregnant! So I thought I would let you guys know how I am managing my first trimester while also being the primary bread winner for my family.

Connect With Us:

https://www.emilyclaireand.co/10k-email-club

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S9 E12: How to Increase Sales Through Email Marketing with Emily Claire Hughes

Tue, 14 May 2024 10:00:00 -0400

Today I am talking to my former NYC roommate Emily Claire Hughes! Emily is an email marketing expert who has worked all over the world! Get ready to get email curious!

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Emily Claire Hughes

Guest Business Name: Emily Claire & Co.

Guest Website: https://www.emilyclaireand.co/

Guest Instagram: @emilyinhamburg

Links Mentioned:

Inbox Question:

"What is your opinion on integrating copywriting into the design process?” - Alexa Gupta Wells

Connect With Us:

Spark Conference for Showit Designers

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S9 E11: How to Level-Up Your Web Services with Chris Misterek from Showit

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Today I interview Chris Misterek from Showit! As you all know I am a huge fan of Showit and we talk everything from Chris' own design journey, to the Showit design community, to creating websites that convert.

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Chris Misterek

Guest Business Name: Showit

Guest Website: showit.com

Links Mentioned:

Mec Labs formula: C = 4m + 3v + 2(i-f) - 2a (https://meclabs.com/about/heuristic)

Steve Krug Books on Conversion - Don’t Make Me Think & Rocket Surgery Made Easy

Inbox Question:

"How can I sell Showit as my preferred web building platform to clients, even though they might be more aware of platforms like Squarespace and Wordpress?” - Lauren B.

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S9 E10: Entering a New Era of Brand Strategy with Marion Tan

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 01:00:00 -0400

The industry landscape when it comes to Brand Strategy is shifting, and designer/strategist Marion Tan from Hearten and Hone and By Marion Co. joins me to talk about her unique approach to offering this signature service to her clients (hint: it doesn’t have to be as complex as you think!)

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Marion Tan

Guest Business Name: By Marion

Guest Website: bymarion.co

Guest Instagram: @bymarion.co

Links Mentioned:

FREE MINI COURSE: Brand Strategy Training Ground https://bymarion.co/training-ground

Use code “BETTER” for $50 off of Marion’s signature brand strategy course, SOUGHT AFTER STRATEGIST http://bymarion.co/sas-betterpod

Inbox Question:

“I’d love advice for how I can relaunch my studio as a luxury brand” - Sierra Mechelle

Connect With Us:

From the Archives | S5 E3: Running a Successful Design Business with Neurodivergence with Lea Gucciardi

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 01:00:00 -0400

I’m on spring break! Enjoy this favorite episode from the archives featuring my good friend Lea Gucciardi from Arq Design Studio.

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

From the Archives | S6 E6: Refining Your Sales & Proposal Process

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 01:00:00 -0400

Description: I’m on spring break! Enjoy this favorite episode from the archives where Esther and I discuss how to up-level your sales and proposal process.

Connect With Us:

25% off one year of Honeybook

S9 E9: Are You Making These Design Business Mistakes?

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 22:00:00 -0400

Another solo episode! In this one I go through some of the most common design business mistakes new and even experienced designers make. Don't make the same mistakes I did!

Links Mentioned:

Inbox Question:

“Helpful tips to gain confidence in presenting concepts?” - Gemma de Munk

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S9 E8: How to Level Up Your Onboarding & Offboarding Experiences

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 01:00:00 -0400

Having a good on / off boarding process is the key to a positive client experience, in today’s episode I am going to do a quick deep dive on mine and show you some lesson’s learned and maybe give you a few new ideas for yours!

Links Mentioned:

Honeybook Discount Code

Boxfox

Inbox Question:

“how to explain the importance of following a brand guide” - Heather Van Dyne

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S9 E7: Business IRL: How to Maintain a Streamlined & Inspiring Office Space (At Any Size)

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 01:00:00 -0400

Episode Description:

Today I go over my desk setup and how I like to keep my office space to make sure I am both productive and in a good mood. A little lighter and on the quick side today.

Inbox Question:

“I’m looking for guidance for the legal side of business setup. Do most people start with a sole proprietorship or an LLC?” - Kaitlin Knust

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S9 E6: How to Make Consistent Five Figure Months on Day Rates Alone with Sarah Masci

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 01:00:00 -0500

I got to chat all things VIP Days (how to price them, how to run them, and how to sell them) with the OG day rate creator herself, Sarah Masci of Day Rate Mastery. Sarah’s story spans well over a decade, and it was incredible to hear how she generated tons of leads early on in her company, how she configured her work schedule, and how she shifted her mindset to be able to make consistent five figure months on day rates alone.

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Sarah Masci

Guest Business Name: Sarah Masci

Guest Website: www.sarahmasci.com

Guest Instagram: @sarahmasci

Links Mentioned:

VIP Days 10 Different Ways (Free PDF!)

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S9 E5: All About Inquiries: Stats, Trends, & How to Get More

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 01:00:00 -0500

Inspired by Abbey McGrew’s podcast episode from Unfiltered Designers! How many inquiries we got, how they found us, and who booked!

In this episode Jen shares her secrets for converting those site clicks into Inquiries. Jen shares some real inquiries from real clients and talks about what exactly on her site, her social media, or her brand got those clients from just thinking about it to actually booking a discovery call.

“What are your best tips for advertising yourself as a brand designer?” - Natalie Brown

Connect With Us:

Iterating on the One Concept Method podcast episode

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S9E4: How to Project Manage Your Studio to Success

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 01:00:00 -0500

Project management is a skill that every brand design studio owner needs. Having good project management doesn’t just help your business run smoothly, but it leads to a good work environment for your employees and provides your clients with a seamless client experience. In today’s episode Jen shares her best tips and lessons learned around becoming a better project manager.

Links Mentioned:

Brand Messaging & Copy Sprint for Designers Waitlist - a new Hello June offer!

Notion

shopcreativelaw.com

Inbox Question:

“How do you manage the subjectivity aspect of designing a brand with a client and setting boundaries on the amount of work or options you provide while giving them what they need/want?” - Maddie Jacobs

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S9 E3: Steal My Web Design Process

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 01:00:00 -0500

Episode Description:

Inbox Question:

Connect With Us:

https://risecreativeco.com/bootcamp

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S9 E2: How to Confidently Show Up as the Face of Your Brand with Marisa Switzer

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 12:00:00 -0500

Marisa Switzer is the founder of RISE Creative, a strategic design studio for female-founded e-commerce brands. In today’s episode we chat about her shift from the NYC fashion girlie lifestyle to owning a brand studio, showing up confidently as the face of her brand, and how her transition into motherhood has give her added confidence and clarity.

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Marisa Switzer

Guest Business Name: Rise Creative Co.

Guest Website: www.risecreativeco.com

Guest Instagram: @risecreativeco

Links Mentioned:

Inbox Question:

"Where do you market your services besides your website and Instagram?” - Erin Fitzsimmons

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S9 E1: How to Get Faster at Brand & Web Design

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 01:00:00 -0500

Welcome to the first episode of season 9!! Today I’ll be chatting about ways to improve your efficiency and get faster at brand and web design, allowing you to scale back on your working hours.

Inbox Question:

“What's an appropriate amount of time spent on choosing brand colors (initially)?” - Shelby Reed

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

From the Archives | S3 E8: How to Book Your Dream Clients with Meredith Uyeyama from Quixotic Design Co

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 01:00:00 -0500

Welcome to another episode from the archives! We have Meredith Uyeyama from Quixotic Design Co on the podcast to chat all about booking dream clients and nailing the sales call.

We open the episode sharing our favorite places to get icons for branding projects. Meredith then tells her story about starting a design studio, becoming a creative director, and managing a team.

We dive into how Meredith has defined her ideal client and successfully found her niche in the industry. Meredith shares how she got her first client and her number one tip for getting referrals.

We share our advice for having an abundance mindset, branding for our ideal client, writing goals and keeping promises to ourselves. Meredith talks all about the strategies her team uses to build relationships with dream clients and the value of building rapport before selling.

Connect With Us:

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Meredith Uyeyama

Guest Website: https://www.quixoticdesignco.com/

Guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quixoticdesignco/

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

From the Archives | S5 E6: Level-Up Your Pricing & Start Charging $10k+ with Carli Anna

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 01:00:00 -0500

Welcome to another episode from the archives! Five years ago Carli dropped out of design school and started her own business with charging $200 a logo. Today, at 25 years old, She runs a multiple six-figure business that allows her to provide for her growing family, book dream projects at 15k+, all without selling her soul and every hour to her business. Now Carli is teaching other creatives how to charge more while still having more fun in their business. In this episode we talk to Carli about her story, why she's passionate about teaching others how to earn money, and her learnings on the path to success.

Connect With Us:

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Carli Anna

Guest Website: https://carlianna.co/

Guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlianna_/

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

From the Archives | S2 E3: Typography, Typography, Typography!

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 01:00:00 -0500

Welcome to another episode from the archives! Typography is one of the most fun (if not challenging) parts of our jobs as brand designers. We go over the vocab, resources, and chat about our favorite foundries and fonts.

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

From the Archives | S5 E11: Designing a Website from Start to Finish with Kenzie Amick

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 01:00:00 -0500

Welcome to another episode from the archives! Kenzie is a brand and website designer who fell in love with website design and decided to start her business focusing on brand and website design for small businesses. In this episode we talk about the process of building a website from start to finish, making websites feel like our clients’ digital homes, and the details we think about when putting a site together.

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Kenzie Amick

Guest Website: https://www.kenzieamick.co/

Guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenzieamick/

Connect With Us:

Our “The One Concept Method” Episode

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S8 E19: Answering Your Inbox Questions

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 01:00:00 -0500

It’s our last episode of season 8! Today I’ll be answering your inbox questions, diving into topics like how to get high-profile clients, firing clients, structuring day rates, hiring team members and more! Thank you SO much to everyone for listening along this season.

Links Mentioned:

Our Scaling Episode

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S8 E18: How to Launch Your Services with Kelsey McCormick from Coming Up Roses - Use Code BETTER for $50 off Launch Your Own Way!

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 01:00:00 -0500

Use code BETTER for $50 off the live cohort of Launch Your Own Way (Jan. 10-12 2024). Today I’m joined by Kelsey McCormick of Coming Up Roses, a squiggle-brained brand designer, marketing strategist, and mentor. Kelsey empowers creative professionals to fearlessly and unapologetically show up as themselves online and IRL. We chat all about launching services, her transition into education, and so much more.

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Kelsey McCormick

Guest Business Name: Coming Up Roses

Guest Website: https://www.cominguproses.co/

Guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cominguproses.co/

Links Mentioned:

Launch Your Own Way - Use code BETTER for $50 off the live cohort of Launch Your Own Way (Jan. 10-12 2024)

Inbox Question:

"How do you keep your designs from falling into the abyss that is the overpopulated design world?” - Mai Mai Gerber

Connect With Us:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S8 E17: Rethinking Social Media Marketing with Xanthe Appleyard from Oh Sierra

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 11:00:00 -0500

Today I’m joined by Xanthe of Oh Sierra, a creative studio that help leaders and brands harness the potent power of community – online and IRL – through content marketing strategy, collaborative events, and creative spaces. In this education-packed episode we discuss the future of social media, what designers are overlooking in marketing, thought leadership, and more.

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Xanthe Appleyard

Guest Business Name: Oh Sierra

Guest Website: https://ohsierra.ca/

Guest Instagram: @ohsierracreative

Inbox Question:

"What’s your biggest struggle running your business that isn’t talked about enough?” - Mariah M

Connect With Us:

Launch Your Business in 6 Weeks Freebie

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S8 E16: Creating a Design Business that Supports a Flexible Lifestyle with Cass & Amanda from Foxtrot

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0500

Today I chat with Cassidy and Amanda, co-founders of Foxtrot Branding, all about leading a flexible lifestyle with business, being in a business partnership, digital products, and more!

Links Mentioned:

Foxtrot Branding

Free Foxtrot Guides

Inbox Question:

“How do you break into a new niche? I have a steady clientele from a specific industry and would like to shift into different industries but don't know how to make the jump without having all the contacts.” - Stevie M

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

The Win Without Pitching Manifesto

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S8 E15: How to Craft a Luxury Offer Suite that Sells with Katelyn Alyssa from Studio Kaly

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 01:00:00 -0500

Links Mentioned:

Studio Kaly

Inbox Question:

What are the key elements to running a successful photoshoot (for yourself or a client?)

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

The Design Minimind Website & Application

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S8 E14: How I Built and Launched The Design Minimind

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 01:00:00 -0500

Today I’m walking you through how I built my signature group mentorship program, The Design Minimind! The Minimind is an intimate group of designers crafting freedom-filled businesses—together. Doors to the application close on November 19th and spots are extremely limited, so apply today!

Links Mentioned:

25% off Packaging Design Master with code CLOSINGTIME

Inbox Question:

“How do you explain the real value of investing in a good, comprehensive brand design and strategy plan to potential clients?” - Charmaine Stott

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S8 E13: How to Make Small Shifts for Big Impact in Your Design Business with Miriam Noble

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0500

I chat this week with past Miniminder and personal friend of mine Miriam Noble about mom/biz life, embracing your faith in the business space, and what her experience in The Design Minimind was like!

Links Mentioned:

The Design Minimind: https://hellojunecreative.co/minimind

Inbox Question:

“How do you feel more confident in processes and strategy when you are self taught?” - Katie Jaine Anderson

This Season’s Partner:

The Shopify Codex

theshopifycodex.com

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S8 E12: Spooooky Client Stories (Round 2!) with Lauren Braier

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 01:00:00 -0400

Happy Halloween, designers! Today I’m joined by my friend and employee, Lauren Braier, as we read your spoookiest client stories. Plus we share some of our own scary client stories at the end!

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S8 E10: Behind the Scenes of Hello June (Q3 & Q4 Update)

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 01:00:00 -0400

Q4 is here! Today I’m taking you behind the scenes to give an update of where my business is at, including our project cadence, lead generation, and reflecting on what I’ve learned this year.

Links mentioned:

This Season’s Partner:

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S8 E9: How to Increase Profitability and Peace with Ashton Smith

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 01:00:00 -0400

Today we’re chatting with Ashton Smith of The Awakening, a Business Coaching and Education platform. Ashton graciously shares her expertise on how to increase profitability in your business while maintaining a peaceful, intentional, and harmonious life.

Links Mentioned:

Learn more about the Awakening Membership (Use code LEGACYCREATOR for 50% off your first month)

Complimentary Profit Planner Our Awakening Academy (for those in the messy middle, ready to sustainably scale)

This Season’s Partner:

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S8 E8: Life Beyond Being Laid Off with Brad Almond

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 01:00:00 -0400

Today we chat with Brad Almond, creative specialist at Compassion International, about his experience being layed off from his design position and the lessons he’s learned as a result. Whether you’re experiencing a layoff or a slow season of business, Brad shares his encouraging advice on how to stay productive, creative, and positive throughout.

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Brad Almond

Guest Business Name: Compassion International

Guest Website: dribbble.com/bradalmond

Guest Instagram: @bradalmondart

Links Mentioned:

Compassion International

Fontspring

Dieter Rams Quote

Inbox Question:

“What advice would you give for someone starting in this industry with no design degree?” - Vivian C.

This Season’s Partner:

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

Alli from Influencer Legal

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S8 E7: My Design Business Startup Guide (What I Wish I Knew)

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0400

In today’s episode, Jen walks you through all the things she wish she knew when she started Hello June including legal, finances, style, positioning, client acquisition, mindset and more!

Links Mentioned:

Episode: Using Unique Premium Positioning to Attract High-Ticket Clients with Liz Cholhan

This Season’s Partner:

The Shopify Code(x)
Watch our Instagram Live answering the questions we didn't have time for in our bonus episode!
Watch our FREE Workshop all about the Designer/Developer relationship! We share screenshots of our systems, Lea tells us the details on how to scope and fulfill a $70k project, and we share our insights into what makes a great designer/dev partnership.

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

Lea Gucciardi of ARQ Studio

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S8 BONUS: Q&A on Partnering with a Shopify Developer with Jen Chuah & Lea Gucciardi

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 17:00:00 -0400

I’m so excited to bring you a bonus episode today with two incredible Shopify developers, Jen Chuah and Lea Gucciardi! We discuss how designer and developer relationships can thrive in order to run successful, easygoing e-commerce projects with no scope creep. If you enjoy this conversation, don’t forget to join our FREE workshop right here in the Facebook group this Tuesday, September 26th led by Lea where we’ll be sharing even more information about how to have a successful Shopify designer/developer relationship.

Links Mentioned:

The Shopify Codex
Watch our Instagram Live answering the questions we didn't have time for in this episode!
Watch our FREE Workshop all about the Designer/Developer relationship! We share screenshots of our systems, Lea tells us the details on how to scope and fulfill a $70k project, and we share our insights into what makes a great designer/dev partnership.

Guests:

Jen Chuah of Jenuine Creative

This Season’s Partner:

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

Curated - Cassie's Signature Program

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design, shopify, ecommerce

S8 E6: How to Find Business & Mom Life Harmony with Cassie Gudmundson

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0400

In today’s episode I chat with Cassie Gudmundson, energetics business coach and host of Wealthy Mama Podcast. We chat about how to embrace flexibility and flow to create a life that feels harmonious with motherhood and business.

Links Mentioned:

Reux Design Co.

Wealthy Mama Podcast

Inbox Question:

"How do most designers handle scheduling? Is it more common to do projects VIP-style on a strict timeline/quick turnaround or take multiple on at the same time but each project taking longer? I’m a newer designer and new mom and just got so busy out of nowhere and feel very overwhelmed (but also extremely grateful that it’s all finally paying off!” - Stephanie O’Neal

This Season’s Partner:

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

Purchase Assemblage: The Art & Science of Brand Transformation on Amazon

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S8 E5: Market Research for Small Studios with Emmanuel Probst

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 01:00:00 -0400

In today’s episode I chat with Emmanuel Probst, Global Lead of Brand Thought-Leadership at Ipsos, a global market research company. We dive into all things market research and brand transformation. Emmanuel gives insights into the skills and empathies independent designers can offer clients that larger agencies can’t, as well as ways to find unique inspiration outside of social media. There are so many incredible topics discussed in this episode and I can’t wait for you to hear it!

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Emmanuel Probst

Guest Business Name: Ipsos

Guest Website: https://www.ipsos.com/en-us

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmanuelprobst/

Links Mentioned:

Access Ipsos’s market research data

This Season’s Partner:

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

Get on the waitlist for The Shopify Codex Round 2

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S8 E4: Scaling from Freelancer to Multiple-6-Figure Agency with Lea Gucciardi from Arq Design Studio

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 11:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we explore the journey of Lea Gucciardi, founder of ARQ Design Studio, as she transitioned from being a freelancer to building a successful 6-figure agency. We delve into how to identify that pivotal moment that prompts a shift to a team-based approach, and we discuss some of the challenges faced with scaling. Whether you're a freelancer with dreams of expansion or you’re simply intrigued by the agency world, this episode gives so much insight into self-discovery and deciding what’s best for your business.

Links Mentioned:

Arq Design Studio website

Find Lea on Instagram

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S8 E3: There’s No Shame In…

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 01:00:00 -0400

Episode Description:

There’s no right way to run a business! Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting, this episode is a reminder that the journey is uniquely yours. Tune in as we celebrate embracing your creative journey, learning from challenges, and growing without guilt or shame.

Inbox Question:

"What's the greatest personal setback you struggle with that sometimes works against your success as a brand designer? For instance, I'm an overachiever and perfectionist and always have been, but I LOVE brand design and want to know how I can work to overcome or at least reduce the impact of my personal setbacks so I can be my best and achieve success.” - Kelsey Wade

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S8 E2: How to Craft a Top-Notch Client Experience with Danielle Joseph from Willowspace

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 01:00:00 -0400

Danielle Joseph is the visionary founder and creative director at Function Creative Co. and founder of Willowspace, the newest CRM tool for designers! Jen and Danielle chat about the importance of crafting a strong client experience and Danielle’s experience building a startup software company.

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Danielle Joseph

Guest Business Name: Function Creative Co. and Willowspace

Guest Website: https://willowspace.app/?lmref=s7e3YA

Guest Instagram: @hellofunction @willowspace.co

Links Mentioned:

Enjoy a free month trial of Willowspace using the code BETTERBRAND here.

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

Showit Shortcuts by Seedling Studio

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S8 E1: Catching Up with Jen & How to Take a Summer Sabbatical

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 01:00:00 -0400

Welcome to season 8! In today’s episode, Jen discusses her summer sabbatical and how she’s been able to run her business while being out of office. She also gives tips for designers to plan time away from their own businesses without the worry of missed opportunities.

Links Mentioned:

Inbox Question:

"What are some of the best ways to improve workflow?” - Abbey Cabler

Connect With Us:

From the Archives | S5 E20: Connecting and Selling in an Organic Way on Social Media with Ashleigh Henry

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 01:00:00 -0400

This episode was so wonderful to listen back to! We hope you enjoy. We will be back with Season 8 on August 15th!

If you’ve ever felt like marketing yourself on social media (or elsewhere) felt uncomfortable or you’re worried about coming off “salesy,” then this is the episode for you! Ashleigh Henry of The Cheetah Company is a marketing consultant who focuses on educating powerful women to show up and serve in their digital spaces with intentional storytelling and a whole lot of joy. She chats with us in this episode about breaking the “burn and churn” cycle of content creation and marketing, how to organically make lasting connections that provide conversion or collaboration, and what mistakes she sees brand designers specifically making in their content marketing on social media.

Guest Information:
Guest Name: Ashleigh Henry
Guest Business Name: The Cheetah Company
Guest Website: thecheetahcompany.com
Guest Instagram: @thecheetahcompany

Links Mentioned:
http://thecheetahcompany.com/

Inbox Question:
“I'm always looking for different methods to acquire clients and share my work more efficiently online. What do you do?” — Nakia Chiron

Connect With Us:
Our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/betterbranddesigner/
Podcast Website: https://www.betterbranddesigner.com
Podcast Resources Page: https://www.betterbranddesigner.com/resources
Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterpodcast/
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/betterpodcast

From the Archives | S6 E10: Burnout, Baby, Burnout

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 01:00:00 -0400

This episode was so wonderful to listen back to! We hope you enjoy. We will be back with Season 8 on August 15th!

Burnout is a strong sign from your body that something is not working. It’s important to listen. In this episode, Jen and Esther talk about what it’s like to maintain creativity when you’re burnt out, keeping the money coming in, and personal stories of working through charred seasons.

Inbox Questions:
“How do you maintain your creativity without feeling burnt out?”— AJ Samson
“How do you balance burnout and also keep the $$ coming in?” — Selena Nohea Conmackie

Links Mentioned:
Insight Timer — Free guided meditations

From the Archives | S4 E2: Work Less & Make More with Kelsey Kerslake from Pinegate Road

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 01:00:00 -0400

This episode was so wonderful to listen back to! We hope you enjoy. We will be back with Season 8 on August 15th!

Imagine an easy, slow morning: you wake up, have breakfast with your family, do an activity with your kids or explore a hobby on your own, work for a couple of hours, then have the rest of the day to yourself. This reality is attainable, but more importantly, you don't need to sacrifice income when you make shifts to get to a more aligned schedule. Today Giselle & Jen chat with Kelsey Kerslake all about her journey from *needing* to make some quick cash to pay her bills to owning and running a 7-figure business.

Kelsey Kerslake is a multi-passionate CEO of two companies: Pinegate Road, and the Aligned Business. Kelsey has been helping entrepreneurs and businesses build their brands and market their online presences for over a decade. She is a business strategist, coach, and mentor for service-providers, coaches, and educators looking to scale their online businesses in complete alignment with the lives they want to live and the values they hold. She deeply believes that everyone has the potential to make their dreams reality and her businesses help online business owners define their future vision and literally bring it to life through coaching, strategy, design, and websites.

Inbox Question:
"How do you get the client to agree the project is finished?" - Jessica Robinson

Links Mentioned:
Kelsey's Instagram: instagram.com/kelseykerslake
The Aligned Business Academy: pinegateroad.com/academy
The Aligned Business Mastermind: pinegateroad.com/mastermind
Kelsey's Website: pinegateroad.com
Kelsey's resources: pinegateroad.com/grow-your-biz

Connect With Us:
Our Free Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/betterbranddesigner
Podcast Website: www.betterbranddesigner.com
Podcast Resources Page: betterbranddesigner.com/resources
Podcast Instagram: instagram.com/betterpodcast

From the Archives | S1 E11: Attracting Dream Clients and Building Your Design Business with Abbey McGrew

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 01:00:00 -0400

This episode was so wonderful to listen back to! We hope you enjoy. We will be back with Season 8 on August 15th!

We are excited to have Abbey from Wayfarer Design Studio on the podcast! Abbey is a master at attracting dream projects and spills all her secrets to us on how she does it. She also tells us her design studio's origin story, what she's learned, and how she's up-leveling to the next best version of her studio. Join us!

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/betterbranddesigner/
Website: https://www.bettebranddesigner.com/
Better Resources Page: https://www.betterbranddesigner.com/resources

Links Mentioned:
Abbey's Design Shop: https://thedesigneressentialskit.com/
Wayfarer Design Studio: http://www.wayfarerdesignstudio.com/
Wayfarer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayfarerdesignstudio/

S7 E23: Answering Your Inbox Questions

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 01:00:00 -0400

It’s the last episode of Season 7! This week Jen is joined by her new employee and brand design studio owner Lauren from Elby Creative to answer all of your burning inbox questions related to design, business, and everything in between.

Links Mentioned:

Monotype Subscription

Audacity

GSAP

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S7 E22: 3-Year Update on Motherhood & Business

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 01:00:00 -0400

This week Jen opens up about what her third year as a mom while running her business looked like. She goes over some of the top lessons she learned this year, sharing some perspective on her early years as a mom/business owner and also getting pretty deep about some challenges and personal growth she’s experienced this year in particular. Whether you’re a new mom, seasoned mom, or not a mom at all and just curious about her perspective and life, this episode is probably one of her most personal (and favorite) episodes she’s ever recorded!

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

Stakeholder Spectrum Blog Post from NobiWorks.com

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S7 E21: Brands and Bias — Avoiding Blindspots in Branding with N. Chloé Nwangwu

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 01:00:00 -0400

N. Chloé Nwangwu is the Brand Scientist, a brand visibility and Digital Diplomacy (like actual diplomacy!) advisor who unabashedly believes brands and visibility strategies not built with power dynamics and biases in mind should consider the old Thanos snap treatment. In this episode Jen interviews N. Chloé about how brand practitioners can be on the lookout for blindspots in brands and bias.

Guest Information:

Guest Name: N. Chloé Nwangwu

Guest Business Name: NobiWorks

Guest Website: nobiworks.com/

Guest Instagram: @nobiworks

Guest Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/nobiworks/

Links Mentioned:

Resources mentioned in this episode on NobiWorks.com

N Factor Group Intensive June 19, 2023

Why We Should Stop Saying “Underrepresented” article from HBR

Inbox Question:

“How we can all be working towards making a better impact to help reshape the industry?” - Kate Carman

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

The Cheetah Company Website

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S7 E20: How I Went from Feast/Famine to Booking 5 Months Out

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 01:00:00 -0400

Links Mentioned:

The Timeless Sales Method (Ash's Course)

Podcast Episodes I Recommend Related to This Topic:

Going From $0 to Six Figures Post-Maternity Leave with Chaitra Radhakrishna - S6E8

Connecting and Selling in an Organic Way on Social Media with Ash Henry - S5E20

Inbox Question:

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S7 E19: Working for (or Hiring) Another Designer with Lauren Braier

Tue, 30 May 2023 01:00:00 -0400

This week Lauren Braier of Elby Creative (and now Branding Bestie podcast!) joins Jen for a chat all about hiring - whether that’s for your own studio or for someone else’s studio. Lauren is now (officially!) Jen’s first part time employee but has been with Hello June as a subcontract Production Designer & Admin Assistant for the past one and a half years. We chat through do’s and dont’s for hiring, mistakes we’ve made, recommendations for how to know when to hire, and what you should be doing as a studio owner to prep for your first (or next) hire.

Links Mentioned:

www.elbycreative.com

Packaging Design Master: www.packagingdesignmaster.com - $50 off PDM enrollment with the code BETTER

Branding Bestie Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2OjqjljCGrxhsFy2I3WQAH?si=908e23762b754b9d

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S7 E18: Leveraging Your Expertise & Value in Pricing

Tue, 23 May 2023 01:00:00 -0400

Pricing is a crucial aspect of any business, as it can make or break the profitability of the business. Leveraging your expertise and value is a great way to ensure that you are pricing your products or services appropriately. In this episode we talk through some important points to consider when leveraging your expertise and value in pricing, how we determine the value of our expertise (and constantly monitor and adjust it!), and methods we use to communicate our value.

Inbox Question:

"How do I position myself as an expert?” - Iannah James-Smith

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S7 E17: Podcast Updates / Esther’s Farewell

Tue, 16 May 2023 01:00:00 -0400

In this episode Esther announces her decision to depart from the podcast due to focusing more time on her rapidly expanding design studio Sereth Design. The hosts discuss what’s next for the podcast (Jen is going to host solo alongside some amazing guests!) and they review their favorite Esther episodes from the past three seasons.

The Better community is so grateful to Esther and all the time, passion, creativity, and heart that she’s brought to the brand over the past three seasons, and she will be missed but wholeheartedly supported in this next phase of her career! We love you Esther!

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

Brand Strategy Podcast
B is for Bonnie Design

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S7 E16: Learning to Trust Yourself as a Designer with Bonnie Bakhtiari

Tue, 09 May 2023 01:00:00 -0400

This week we did a podcast swap with the lovely Bonnie Bakhtiari from The Brand Strategy Podcast! We chatted all about how difficult it can be to trust yourself as a designer - and what tools we use to strengthen our confidence and self-trust.

Links Mentioned:

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:

Our Free Facebook Community
Our Website
Our Resources Page
Podcast Instagram
Support us on Patreon

Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

S7 E15: Would You Ever…

Tue, 02 May 2023 06:00:00 -0400

Play a game with us! Think the opposite of “Never Have I Ever” - this week, we’re playing “Would You Ever…” We’re doing a Q&A-style episode where we ask some (juicy) questions about being a designer and business owner, working with clients, and our preferences. We also polled our audience (you guys!) on Instagram and share the results alongside our own opinions. Let’s have some fun!

Special thanks to our producer Jon from Wayfare Recording Co.

Connect With Us:
Our Free Facebook Community
Our Website
Our Resources Page
Podcast Instagram
Support us on Patreon

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:
www.betterbranddesigner.com/disclaimer

S7 E14: Making your Website Stand Out from a Copywriter’s Perspective with Alice Brown

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 06:00:00 -0400

Alice Brown is the pen behind Alice Writes Copy, from Cornwall, England: a website specialist, copywriter and SEO strategist for passionate business owners. In this episode Esther interviews Alice about how copy is crucial to websites - and is as important (if not more!) than design. They talk about first impressions, hooking customers and motivating them to move through your site, common mistakes to avoid, and how copywriters work hand-in-hand with designers.

Guest Information:
Guest Name: Alice Brown
Guest Business Name: Alice Writes Copy
Guest Website: alicewritescopy.com
Guest Instagram: @alicewritescopy
Guest LinkedIn: Alice Brown

Links Mentioned:
Website Builder’s Blueprint

Special thanks to our producer Jon from Wayfare Recording Co.

Connect With Us:
Our Free Facebook Community
Our Website
Our Resources Page
Podcast Instagram
Support us on Patreon

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:
www.betterbranddesigner.com/disclaimer

S7 E13: Catching Up with Esther & Jen / Our Q1 Recaps

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 06:00:00 -0400

This week Jen and Esther chat about life updates (Jen’s recent move and Esther’s travels) and business updates (how things are going and what we’re working on). We also review how Q1 went for Sereth and Hello June, and what’s in the pipeline for Q2 and beyond.

Links Mentioned:
Emma Fabros (Jen’s Engagement specialist - tell her I sent you!)

Special thanks to our producer Jon from Wayfare Recording Co.

Connect With Us:
Our Free Facebook Community
Our Website
Our Resources Page
Podcast Instagram
Support us on Patreon

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:
www.betterbranddesigner.com/disclaimer

S7 E12: Working with a Developer with José Roa

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 06:00:00 -0400

Jose is a Venezuelan born self-thought web developer & wellness enthusiast. After 7 years working in all sorts of different non-fulfilling corporate jobs he discovered his passion for coding and the limitless possibilities that it offers. His expertise lies within front-end web developing, and the main languages in his tech stack are JavaScript, and of course HTML and CSS. In this episode, Esther interviews Jose about the designer-developer relationship, his experience developing the Better Podcast website with Esther and Jen, and how overcoming the fear of failing is the key for effective coding and problem solving.

Guest Information:
Guest Name: Jose Roa
Guest Business Name: J.Roa Dev
Guest Website: jroadev.com
Guest Instagram: @dev.jroa

Inbox Questions:

What are some of the key differences between web designer and web developer? When do you hire a web designer and when do you need to bring on a developer? And what would you call someone who designs websites in site builders like Squarespace, WIX, Wordpress, etc.? — Jez Towner Campbell
How do you want my files to be set up when I hand them over to you? I work in Figma, but is that what other developers use? I also know a developer, who can start developing without me being done — is that something that is common? – Simonka Čellarova
Can you hire a developer for specific dev tasks? For example: a section you can’t seem to code or figure out yourself. How would you go about reaching out for something like this? — Alex McGinness
When the project is over, what are monthly, annual tasks one should keep up with to keep the site running smoothly? I would love to sell "maintenance plans to clients". – Simonka Čellarova
How do you market yourself as a web dev for other designers? — Gloria Novello

Special thanks to our producer Jon from Wayfare Recording Co.

Connect With Us:
Our Free Facebook Community
Our Website
Our Resources Page
Podcast Instagram
Support us on Patreon

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting: www.betterbranddesigner.com/disclaimer

S7 E11: In the Eyes of the Beholder: Taking Customer + Clients’ POV Into Consideration

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 06:00:00 -0400

When it comes to creative work such as brand design and website design, it is important to keep in mind the end user's perspective. After all, they are the ones who will be interacting with the final product. In this episode, Esther shares some tips for taking customers' and clients' points of view and needs into consideration to create the best result for them. We do this by researching, using customer-centric language, considering user experience, and testing your designs by cross-checking how the audience will see them. Because at the end of the day, the designs are not about us as designers, trends, or what we like - it’s about moving the needle for our clients, telling a story, and making something worth remembering (call back to S7 E6!)

Special thanks to our producer Jon from Wayfare Recording Co.

Connect With Us:
Our Free Facebook Community
Our Website
Our Resources Page
Podcast Instagram
Support us on Patreon

S7 E10: Font Design, Digital Products, Burnout, & Industry Culture with Jen Wagner

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 06:00:00 -0400

This week Jen chats with Jen Wagner, a type designer - and the conversation was incredible. We went totally off-script and talked through some really personal things. Jen shares her story and recent experience with burnout, we chat about culture shifts we’re noticing in the independent designer industry, and then we talk through how to get started in font design and what that looks like for Jen W. and her business.

Guest Information:
Guest Name: Jen Wagner
Guest Business Name: Jen Wagner Co.
Guest Website: Jen Wagner Co. website
Guest Instagram: @jenwagner.co

Links Mentioned:
Jen Wagner Co. website
Gimlet Studios
Free Font Pairing Guide
Fontself
Glyphs
Learning Type Design by Charles Nix
Ingrid from Penguin Designing
Maria Bowler - Writer & Creative Coach

Special thanks to our producer Jon from Wayfare Recording Co.

Connect With Us:
Our Free Facebook Community
Our Website
Our Resources Page
Podcast Instagram
Support us on Patreon

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:
www.betterbranddesigner.com/disclaimer

S7 E9: Boundaries & Expansion

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 06:00:00 -0400

As we build our businesses, we find that we’re constantly monitoring and evaluating our models, as well as taking into account the lessons we learn along the way in order to expand into the higher levels of success and growth we desire. In this episode we’re talking about two very separate things that work closely together: Boundaries and Expansion. We’ve found that you FIRST need boundaries in order to step into a space where you can THEN expand and grow. We talk about how we prune and cull our business models and activities and watch them bloom.

Inbox Question:

“What are the biggest red flags when a client is inquiring about a project? What are the most important lessons the designer has learned when working with clients?” — Kristy Lee Ueda

Special thanks to our producer Jon from Wayfare Recording Co.

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting: www.betterbranddesigner.com/disclaimer

S7 E8: How Much Does it Cost to Run a Design Studio?

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 06:00:00 -0400

Anyone ever been afraid of looking at their books? This week Jen pulled back the curtain on her business expenses. She goes over what the last few years of running Hello June have looked like financially, trends she’s noticed, goals she’s had, mistakes she’s made, and things she’s doing now to help her business stay lean and profitable.

Links Mentioned:
Profit First
Gusto - payroll & taxes
Adobe - pretend to cancel and they’ll give you a discount
Quickbooks Online
Tonic Site Shop - Showit Templates

Inbox Question:

"As a freelancer what are the options for self-employed insurance and plans for retirement savings? How do you approach retirement savings and health insurance when you’re a full time freelancer?” - Miroslava Ruth

Special thanks to our producer Jon from Wayfare Recording Co.

Connect With Us:
Our Free Facebook Community
Our Website
Our Resources Page
Podcast Instagram
Support us on Patreon

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:
www.betterbranddesigner.com/disclaimer

S7 E7: Being a Multipassionate Creative

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 06:00:00 -0500

We’ve been taught to think that being multi-passionate means we’re not good at any one thing, lack focus, and are easily distracted. BUT THAT’S JUST NOT TRUE. Being multi-passionate means you’re curious, interesting, driven to learn, excited about life & being creative. In this episode we talk about what it means to be multi-passionate, how to celebrate and honor you many creative ideas, how to identify the type of multi-passionate you are, and how to do it all - in the best way that works for you.

We discuss 4 models which are written in the book “How to be Everything” by Emilie Wapnie:

The Group Hug approach: This is about having one multifaceted job or business that involves wearing many different hats.
The Slash approach: This model involves having 2 or more part-time jobs going at the same time or move between on a regular basis.
The Einstein approach: Here you have one full-time job or business, but it leaves you time and energy to pursue other passions on the side.
The Phoenix approach: You work in a single industry for months or years, then to change career in a new industry.

Links Mentioned:
The Multi-Passionate Phenomenon via The Business & Financial Times
“Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert
“How to be Everything” by Emilie Wapnie

Inbox Question:
“How do you stop comparing yourself? I love the work I create but I always strive to be better. Sometimes I get imposter syndrome along the way.” — Julianna Porter

Special thanks to our producer Jon from Wayfare Recording Co.

Connect With Us:
Our Free Facebook Community
Our Website
Our Resources Page
Podcast Instagram
Support us on Patreon

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:
www.betterbranddesigner.com/disclaimer

S7 E6: Creating Designs Worth Remembering

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0500

As designers, it is our job to deliver designs to our clients that are unique, ground-breaking, and ultimately: worth remembering. We are bombarded with brands, website, ads, day in and day out. But how many of those brands stick out to you? Very few! As you’re designing, it’s important to keep that in mind and work towards being the brand that sticks out. In this episode Esther talks about her 4 step fool-proof way to ensure she’s delivering brands that are each unique in their own way:

Start with Strategy
Tell a Story
Break the Mold
Be Unique (Don’t Copy)

Inbox Question:
"What are your thoughts about implementing personality types into branding?” - Lovella JG

Special thanks to our producer Jon from Wayfare Recording Co.

Connect With Us:
Our Free Facebook Community
Our Website
Our Resources Page
Podcast Instagram
Support us on Patreon

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:
www.betterbranddesigner.com/disclaimer

S7 E5: The Power of Having Your Ideal Clients Coming to You on Autopilot with Adrienne Johnston

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Today Adrienne Johnston joins Jen to talk all about how she generates 5+ leads per week WITHOUT doing active content marketing! This was such an interesting and insightful conversation all about using the power of simple, effortless SEO shifts to start capturing leads that may not have been aware of you.

Guest Information:
Guest Name: Adrienne Johnston
Guest Business Name: Adrienne Johnston
Guest Website: https://adriennejohnston.com/
Guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adriennebjohnston/

Links Mentioned:
Free Resources from Adrienne
Six-Figure Presentation Designer Course
Live Virtual Retreat
Free Masterclass: How to Build a Six-Figure Design Business
Stupid Simple SEO Course
Sem Rush
Ubersuggest
Ahrefs.com
Help A Reporter Out (HARO)

Inbox Question:
"Always curious about graduating to bigger clients who can take on more ambitious projects and not living off small projects that feel “good enough” for the client.” - Jackie Antreasian

Special thanks to our producer Jon from Wayfare Recording Co.

Connect With Us:
Our Free Facebook Community
Our Website
Our Resources Page
Podcast Instagram
Support us on Patreon

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:
www.betterbranddesigner.com/disclaimer

S7 E4: How to Structure, Price, Market, and Sell Design Intensives

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0500

If you guys are as curious as we were about adding design intensives into your offer suite, this episode is the one-stop-shop guide you’ve been looking for! We go through who intensives work best for, the pros and cons of offering them, and best practices for pitching and selling them to clients. We also go through some of the mistakes we’ve made when offering intensives - and what we’ve learned along the way.

Special thanks to our producer Jon from Wayfare Recording Co.

Connect With Us:
Our Free Facebook Community
Our Website
Our Resources Page
Podcast Instagram
Support us on Patreon

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:
www.betterbranddesigner.com/disclaimer

S7 E3: How to Invite Simplicity into Your Life, Business, and Design Style

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Ever wanted your business and life to feel simpler and easier? This week Jen goes over one of her biggest values - simplicity - and how she lives out that value in her design work, business, and her life. She’s always saying, “Let it be easy,” and hopes that this episode feels like a breath of fresh air and an invitation to a more spacious business and life.

Links Mentioned:

Paula Scher Citibank Story

Inbox Question:

“What is the most time consuming aspect of brand and web design?” - Ellie Johnson

Special thanks to our producer Jon from Wayfare Recording Co.

Connect With Us:
Our Free Facebook Community
Our Website
Our Resources Page
Podcast Instagram
Support us on Patreon

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:
www.betterbranddesigner.com/disclaimer

S7 E2: Elevating African Narratives Through Modern Design with Fungi Dube

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Fungi Dube is a creative solopreneur and ardent Pan-Africanist Brand, Visual, and Webflow Web Designer who is passionate about elevating African narratives through modern design and cultivating Afro-positive sentiments. Her work is heavily influenced by the profound nuances that are embedded in African cultures, likes the use of patterns, textures, historical writings, graphic symbols, and color as a form of visual and global communication. She is also a speaker and mentor; also currently works with Flux Academy as a Brand Design Coach. We speak with Fungi about her positioning and how she uses culture to impact her design and share powerful stories!

Guest Information:
Guest Name: Fungi Dube
Business Name: Fungi Dube Graphics
Website: www.fungidube.com/
Instagram: @fungidubegraphics
Twitter: @fungi_dube
LinkedIn: in/fungidube
Behance: @fungidube

Inbox Question:
"I'd love to learn what brand designers think about verbal identity and how they work with copywriters!” — Andrea Shah

Special thanks to our producer Jon from Wayfare Recording Co.

Connect With Us:
Our Free Facebook Community
Our Website
Our Resources Page
Podcast Instagram
Support us on Patreon

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:
www.betterbranddesigner.com/disclaimer

S7 E1: Business Lessons We Learned the Hard Way (So You Don’t Have To)

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 06:00:00 -0500

There are a couple things that we learned the hard way - and we want to help you avoid those mistakes! We chat through client communication errors we’ve made, our philosophy on hiring, standing up for yourself, and weathering the ups and downs of business. We’re curious - what’s one lesson you learned the hard way in your business?

Inbox Question:
"How do you develop your identity and visibility to find clients?” - Maël Petit

Special thanks to our producer Jon from Wayfare Recording Co.

Connect With Us:
Our Free Facebook Community
Our Website
Our Resources Page
Podcast Instagram
Support us on Patreon

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting:
www.betterbranddesigner.com/disclaimer

S7 E0: Catching Up & What to Expect in Season 7

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Happy 2023 and welcome to Season 7! Esther and Jen recap their holiday breaks, talk about their goals for 2023, and discuss new changes for Season 7 and what to expect. Can’t wait to have you guys along for the ride!

Special thanks to our producer Jon from Wayfare Recording Co.

Connect With Us:

Our podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting: