Hello Again! Re-Introduction & Evolution
Hi!
*This post was updated in June of 2023 to reflect changes to the services mentioned below.
When I initially started my business, I figured I would blog every month or so. Well...you can see how well that worked out! Seriously though, 2020 was quite a year. While I am grateful to have been collaborating with awesome clients, the past year also came with lots of time to step away from the screen and re-evaluate what I’m doing—both of which I’m grateful for!
Since this is my first blog post in over a year, I thought I’d take a moment to reintroduce myself and mention a few things that are new for Amp’d Designs.
If we’re new friends just getting to know each other, here’s a Sparknotes of how I ended up here:
I grew up in Buffalo, NY, and got into graphic design when I started working with local bands & musicians on album art & gig posters.
Moved to Brooklyn to go to college at Pratt Institute, an art & design school.
Had the awesome opportunity to intern at Atlantic Records. Through that experience, I discovered that I couldn’t see myself doing design for music full time, and my true passion was branding.
After graduating, I worked for a handful of design studios in NYC. My last full-time job was as an Art Director at a high-end print company.
In 2017, my boyfriend and I spontaneously quit our jobs and moved to Asheville, and I figured there was no better time to try working for myself.
Took Mountain Bizworks’ amazing Foundations in Business class, and Amp’d Designs officially became a biz in 2018.
Other than working on design all day, I also enjoy cooking, baking, garden experimentation, fiction writing, running, going to concerts, board games, and the occasional (okay, probably more than occasional) video game.
Over the past year, I’ve taken some time to revamp my services and re-examine who my business is.
Some things haven’t changed one bit. Here are the things I can confidently say have always driven me forward as a designer, and continue to guide my work:
My values
Transparency and Honesty
Approachability
Relationships and Community
Quality
Concept and Creativity
Education
My mission
To humanize the design process, empower business owners with branding knowledge, and collaborate with the community to help entrepreneurs thrive.
Who I work with
Passionate, value-driven businesses who love what they do, are excited about what their businesses can grow to be, and are interested in how design can be an integral part of their brands.
Business owners who are solo entrepreneurs or run small businesses.
My thought process
Every design decision is purposeful. I am incredibly concept-driven. I love logos with hidden meanings, combined shapes, and deeper messages. I strive for design that conveys a feeling, which helps deliver the vibe of who a company is.
The past year has also given me the chance to assess the direction I’d like my own business to grow in. Here are the biggest changes (which are really just small shifts!):
Introducing myself as a brand designer:
Most inquiries for branding come in the form of a request for “logo design.” While your logo is often the star of the show, your brand is so much bigger than just your logo. No matter how large or small the project, it’s important to think about how the other aspects of your brand will be impacted by your visual designs. So I’m making the shift to incorporate “branding” more into my verbiage when I describe what I do, and to help make the term more digestible.
Since “branding” is a pretty broad term, I’ve created a page on my site called “What is Branding?” to help break down how it applies to a business.
I’ve broken my Branding services into several packages to accommodate businesses with different needs.
My Web Design services have also been broken into packages, and are now treated as custom quotes so we can truly hone in on your goals and curate a package that specifically fits your needs.
Brand audit
*2023 update
Sometimes it can be difficult to determine what exactly you need to focus on when it comes to design. With my Brand Audit, we take an in-depth look at your brand identity and/or website, and you get actionable steps you can take to move in the right direction confidently.
Portfolio updates
To further clarify my process and what my collaborations look like, I’ve highlighted several in-depth client stories from my Branding and Website Design projects.
Before wrapping this up, I’d also love to mention a few resources that have helped me find clarity in my work over the past several months:
The spectacular & ever-supportive design community, especially AIGA Asheville!
Now that I’ve spent all these words updating on what’s new with me, I’d love to hear about YOU! If you’re a business owner, potential collaborator, another designer, or just a friendly face, let’s connect. Happy to talk about branding or websites, or music or baking or games, or anything else!
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