Design Resource Garden

Brand Design Articles

Discover the secrets to a successful pitch with my 4-step guide. Engage emotionally, highlight urgency, ...
Follow my four-step process to raise capital and find a business partner for your technology startup. Avoid mistakes and learn quickly from my decades of building trust with visual design.
In the ever-evolving world of visual branding, the decision to use sub-brands can be both enticing and challenging. Explore when ...
Losing market share and confusing customers are at risk when considering whether to sub-brand. An expert visual designer can help you navigate your branding carefully.
Trust-dependent ventures must think like designers. From visual layouts to client experiences, from lobby layouts ...
Scoring a branding win in the marketplace requires embracing our four pillars of designing for trust. Win bigger and faster with my designing for trust guidelines.

Running a business is a daily hustle, right? Managing the ins and outs often leaves no time to dive into ...

A creative director can lighten your workload as they declutter your branding, improve your sales pitches, and refine your overall brand identity.
Bringing your new product to market doesn’t have to be stressful. Learn about my practical ...
Bringing your new product to market doesn’t have to be stressful. Learn about my practical branding tips to help make your product launch successful.
How do you know if your current brand identity is working? Let’s compare the pros and cons of a brand ...
Let’s compare the pros and cons of a brand refresh and a complete rebrand to help you make the best decision for your business.
Understand the importance of branding, how to support brand development, and the people you need ...
Once your visual brand identity design and expression are defined, it’s time to set up your team to support branding harmony. Learn how.
Over the last few years, I’ve made my way to incredible places, opening my eyes to new experiences, exciting stories, ...
When I’m not working with companies to develop their visual brand identity, I’m traveling the globe and discovering incredible branding lessons.
Discover how hiring a pro copywriter will pay for itself by making it easy for ...
Discover how hiring a pro copywriter pays for itself by making you a more effective entrepreneur and giving your marketing the clarity it needs.
Discover how to create an organic connection with your business card when you're networking in ...
Discover how to create an organic connection with your business card when you’re networking in person. As we step into more human contact, it’s time to step up your biz card game.
Learn how to turn your generic slides into a subtle-yet-effective piece of marketing. I share ...
Learn how to turn your generic slides into a subtle-yet-effective piece of marketing. I share five design secrets that will win you more business and boost your bottom line.
Create an indestructible proposal with 5 key elements so you can curate business with your ideal clients. Your proposal is ...
Create an indestructible proposal with 5 key elements so you can curate business with your ideal clients. Your proposal is a critical conversion tool that offers you more chances to make a connection and show how well you listened. A thoughtful proposal is an opportunity to tell a powerful story, in which your client clearly sees the problem, how you can fix it, and how they can be the hero by choosing you as the solution.
Develop the visual elements to impress your audience and unify experience across brand touchpoints. Get ...
Develop the visual elements to impress your audience and unify experience across brand touchpoints. Get prepared to powerfully market your business.
If you’ve been taking your contact form for granted - falling back on a template or simply including a calendar ...
If you’ve been taking your contact form for granted – falling back on a template or simply including a calendar link for your prospects to nab a bit of your valuable time – I’m here to check your assumption and show you how a thoughtful contact form can rocket your business forward.

Leadership isn’t just about being the voice of your brand, but juggling responsibilities behind the ...

Here are five of the most valuable tools I use to manage my brand, streamline my processes, and leave a positive impression on the people I serve.
Have you ever driven off proudly after purchasing a brand new car? You're filled with confidence that your sweet ride ...
A new website is like a brand new car. Just as your new Mazda needs oil changes and car washes, your website requires regular maintenance to keep purring.
When customers connect with you, they stay with you. Relationship building is a central part ...
Don’t waste the opportunity to connect with customers once they land on your page. Here’s how to design your website so leads can engage and take action seamlessly.
Email marketing templates save you time, narrow your focus, build trust, and increase conversions. Here are 5 quick tips to ...
Email marketing templates save you time, narrow your focus, build trust, and increase conversions. Here are 5 quick tips to whip your email marketing template into shape
Gorgeous, thoughtful design isn’t just for the obvious places. Your brand is reinforced by using ...
Thoughtful design isn’t just for the obvious places. Let’s talk about email marketing. How can your email template reinforce your brand with every campaign?
To inspire trust, each piece of your marketing strategy should be done exceptionally well. Good ...
To inspire trust, each piece of your marketing strategy should be done exceptionally well. Good marketing collateral unmistakably connects your audience to the brand they know and trust.
You have about three seconds to engage someone’s attention before they decide to leave. So ...
What goes into effective above the fold design? It can be hard for a non-designer to figure out what belongs above the fold. Here are 5 tips to get you started.

Competition for your customers’ attention is stiff – and getting stiffer. Your website has to be on point – attractive, ...

Simple web design mistakes can give your site an amateur feel that detracts from your message and makes it frustrating for your customers to connect.
Your pre-launch checklist may not be as life-or-death as NASA’s, but a successful business launch ...
Your pre-launch checklist may not be as life-or-death as NASA’s, but a successful business launch requires these 8 critical branding and marketing elements.
Like pop-up ads and cat memes, there are a lot of handshake photos on the internet. I’m here to tell ...
There are lots of handshake photos in web advertising. You can do better. Every visual on your site should build your relationship with a potential client.
Websites with a “set it and forget it” mentality get left in the dust. To ...
Websites with a “set it and forget it” mentality get left in the dust. To propel your business forward, your website needs some TLC to stay current. I’m here to help you embrace this opportunity. When we’re done with our design project, I make it easy for you to take control of your ongoing marketing and make the basic updates to your website required to stay competitive.
Finding the right designer can feel like speed dating. While I do take the time to ensure you and your ...
Not too long ago, if I went to a restaurant and my friendly waiter happened ...
Are you doing your marketing wrong? Every once in awhile a book comes along that is so inspiring and spot-on ...
My clients work in a variety of industries and come from a wide range of ...
You might be selling the coolest product in the world, but every business owner knows ...
Good text content and good photography are important foundations of a great website - but ...
I know how many things there are to keep track of when you’re starting or running a business. It’s easy ...
I know how many things there are to keep track of when you’re starting or ...
Design is everywhere – and chances are if you’re not noticing it, it’s because it’s done really well. Good design ...
In today’s episode of “what IS that website acronym?” we’ll be introducing you to your ...
Meet your new best friend: the CTA. Short for “call to action,” a CTA is the clear invitation to your website visitors to do what you want them to do.
Cheesy stock photography: You can spot it a mile away. That generic smile, the forced pose. A sense of disconnect, ...
Cheesy stock photography: You can spot it a mile away. But you want your own brand to be authentic, honest, and connected to its customers. Here’s how.
Cheesy stock photography: You can spot it a mile away. That generic smile, the forced ...
Cheesy stock photography: You can spot it a mile away. But you want your own brand to be authentic, honest, and connected to its customers. Here’s how.
Being a small business owner undoubtedly means you have way more to keep up with than time allows. As a ...
These classic marketing blunders can hold back the success of your small business. Here are some tips to address them and keep things running smoothly.
Being a small business owner undoubtedly means you have way more to keep up with ...
These classic marketing blunders can hold back the success of your small business. Here are some tips to address them and keep things running smoothly.
When people ask me what I do, I may answer that I’m a multimedia brand ...
These small business tools do more than just simplify my life; they up my game as a designer. They help me focus on what I love and what my clients need.
When people ask me what I do, I may answer that I’m a multimedia brand ...
These small business tools do more than just simplify my life; they up my game as a designer. They help me focus on what I love and what my clients need.
No matter how much inner beauty your business has going for it, you’re going to need some outer beauty - ...
No matter how much inner beauty your business has going for it, you’re going to need some outer beauty – in the form of good website practices – to make sure all your potential customers stick around long enough to get to know you (and spend their money!).
No matter how much inner beauty your business has going for it, you’re going to ...
No matter how much inner beauty your business has going for it, you’re going to need some outer beauty – in the form of good website practices – to make sure all your potential customers stick around long enough to get to know you (and spend their money!).
Of course, anyone spending good money on a website wants it done well! But with good web design being more ...
Of course, anyone spending good money on a website wants it done well! But with good web design being more of an art than a science, it’s important to know what foundational elements to look for and build your site around.
When your designer hands over the keys to your brand new website, it’s shiny, pretty, ...
When your designer hands over the keys to your brand new website, it’s shiny, pretty, technologically cutting-edge, and you want to cruise around and share it with the whole world. Don’t forget that in order to keep it running well, you’ve got to learn where everything is and keep pace with regular maintenance.
When your designer hands over the keys to your brand new website, it’s shiny, pretty, technologically cutting-edge, and you want ...
When your designer hands over the keys to your brand new website, it’s shiny, pretty, technologically cutting-edge, and you want to cruise around and share it with the whole world. Don’t forget that in order to keep it running well, you’ve got to learn where everything is and keep pace with regular maintenance.
Creating a website for your small business? As a novice, it’s easy to get overwhelmed ...
Creating a website for your small business? It’s easy to get overwhelmed picking a content management system (CMS) in which to create and edit your site. While the simplicity of Squarespace may seem attractive, WordPress is a comprehensively more flexible platform that can be endlessly customized and tweaked.
Congrats on your new website! I trust you're showing it off like a new car. After all, your new 'dashboard' ...
What are the most important ways to maintain your website? The following list outlines the most important things you can do to maintain your website.
As a veteran graphic designer, I have a sharp eye for great design, as well ...
As a veteran graphic designer, the biggest design mistakes on business signage or billboard ads jump out at me. Don’t make these 5 design mistakes.
As a veteran graphic designer, I have a sharp eye for great design, as well ...
As a veteran graphic designer, the biggest design mistakes on business signage or billboard ads jump out at me. Don’t make these 5 design mistakes.
Have you ever been in a relationship that was totally fine – and at the ...
We've all been there. A massive document slams into your desk or inbox and rather than read it, you seriously ...
When you start a company, the initial decision to name your entity and pick a ...
Naming your brand may be the most important step you take as an entrepreneur. Avoid these 9 common branding mistakes.
The most important thing on your site is, perhaps surprisingly, not your logo. Wait a minute, don't I create logos ...
After years of creating websites, I know that dumping all your cash on a fancy pants logo isn’t prudent if you won’t have enough for a top notch website.
I see it all the time. A thriving business sullied by an amateur logo design. ...
Looking for logo design? Avoid these 7 crushing logo design mistakes.
Your new website is finally up. Now you can sit back, relax, and wait for the leads to roll in. ...
Website advertising strategies to make the most of your new website thru email, blogs and paid ads.