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Beyond the Buzzword: What “Stand-Out Branding” Really Means

A conversation with designers Alyssa Phillips, Bre Alsouissi, Olivia August, Kate Christy

​​Have you noticed that nearly every designer promises to make you “stand out”? 

“Stand-out” has become a bit of a buzzword when it comes to design. And, we get it — what business doesn't want to stand out from their competitors?! But, what does that really mean?

When every designer is making claims to help you “stand out,” it’s hard to know the difference between who’s offering a vague promise versus a genuine strategy.

Here are the real questions:

  • Does it actually matter if you go bold and colorful or beige and minimal?

  • When are design trends helpful versus harmful?

  • How much do your preferences matter — you should love your own branding, right?!

  • How do you know which designers are really going to help you stand out?

I’m excited to talk with 3 fellow designers at a free online panel discussion about all of these things and more. We’re known for our bright, bold, eye-catching styles — but we’re putting our personal preferences aside to give you practical insights into what it truly takes to have an attention-grabbing brand.

Watch the recording:


Meet the speakers:

Alyssa Phillips Downey is the owner of Amp’d Designs, transforming businesses through unforgettable branding and web designs crafted with intention, strategy, and style. She loves collaborating with fearless and ambitious entrepreneurs to provide designs that match the level of intention and quality they put into their work.

Alyssa holds a BFA in Communications Design from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, and worked as an art director in NYC before moving to the mountains of Asheville.

Bre Alsouissi is the very bright branding and web designer whirlwind behind Bre Creative. She’s been designing in some format for over 20 years, but working with small businesses over the past 5 years to help them reach their goals and bring their vision to life. Bre loves to work collaboratively and as an extension of your team in order to help you achieve the best success and create something that stands out but still embodies you and your business!

Bre lives abroad in Saudi Arabia with her husband. She loves getting to deliver her new creative inspiration to the bad*ss businesses and women she works with. 

Olivia owns Bold August Design Studio, a design studio focused on designing bold websites for incredible small businesses who want to thrive online. She loves helping new businesses get off the group with a full system set up, a beautiful and flexible brand, and of course a highly functional website. She can be found in Atlanta, GA, where she loves connecting with the community.

Kate Christy is the owner and designer behind the screen at Folk Founded, a brand and web design studio. With over a decade of experience designing for businesses of all shapes and sizes, Kate found her groove when co-creating with her clients. Her candid, collaborative approach invites clients into the design process, resulting in a true partnership where ideas flow freely and fun is non-negotiable. She’s a maximalist at heart and loves designing bold, vibrant digital experiences that create memorable moments of delight and connection.

Kate is a mom of three and talks about the intersection of motherhood and entrepreneurship on her podcast Raising Kids and Running a Business. When Kate’s not working or wrangling her kids, you can find her dabbling in pattern and type design and sipping on a glass of cheap white wine (with a splash of raspberry liqueur when she’s feeling fancy).

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July 18

AIGA Asheville Panel Discussion: Leading Clients Through a Project Smoothly

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August 22

Creative to Creativepreneur: Transitioning from Employee to Design Business Owner