Design With Clarissa • OKC Brand Designer

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design with clarissa, okc based brand designer
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about clarissa

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Turns out, at least back in 2009-2010, if you zoom Turns out, at least back in 2009-2010, if you zoomed alllllllll the way out in Excel and made those cells really small, you could actually design graphics that were a decent pixel size. That’s how I made my first logo. [I know, cringe🫣] It was without design software, and really, without any “official” training. I just started making things in whatever PC software I could get my hands on for free (namely Excel and Paint – ‘free creative apps’ like Canva or Adobe Express weren’t even a thought back then). It might have looked like I knew all about it, but I really was just learning as I went. I don’t know if those early clients realized I had no idea what I was doing (besides my dad), but somehow they trusted me enough to make graphics for their well-established businesses. Maybe your thing isn’t design, but I think anyone can put themselves in this story. Maybe your thing is food or copywriting or photography or physical products. You might be starting, or did start, the way I did. You might not have the best of the best or know all of the answers in order to do what you are doing, or do what you want to do… I’m still doing that, actually: Learning as I go and figuring things out - like blogging and content creation, and doing it in a way looks and sounds like me. So all that to say, I hope this is encouraging to someone… It’s not about being an expert. It’s about going for it anyway.✨ [Take a look at my first logo😅 - link in my bio]
I started a stationery company in 2015. No experie I started a stationery company in 2015. No experience, other than graphic design, I just loved planners/stationery items and was already making some of my own for personal use. I thought, “this will be fun and easy.” I wasn’t crazy…. 😆🫠 Sold digital pdfs and physical tear-off desk pads, but wasn’t making much- literally wasn’t even supporting the Shopify store I was paying for- my graphic design/client side of my business was! In 2018 (ALMOST THREE YEARS LATER) I finally started to believe what I already knew all along: The stationery/planning product business just wasn’t for me. I liked it when I started. It was fun and creative. Plus, I had done it for so long, I was trying to make it work. I’m not a quitter (I told myself). Took me almost ANOTHER FULL YEAR to close my Shopify shop in 2019. I was draaaaagging my feet, but I knew it needed to be done. Best decision ever. But I also cried thinking I had wasted 4 years of my life trying to build a business that I didn’t stick with. I felt like I had failed. I was afraid to let go and mad that I had held on so long and thought “what have I been doing.” (A LOT of life happened in that time as well, link in bio for our story.) But also… The day I closed that store, I told myself I could - and would - start over doing something I knew I actually loved and had years of experiencing doing: brand design. It was right in front of me this whole time. It was comical, really, because the design side of my business was SUPPORTING the business I no longer liked, that I was trying to keep going. Closing that store was the best thing for me. It took me a while, but I was finally WILLING [key word here] to “burn it all down” and start over. And now, it's been slow, but steady growth. And I don’t even mean the making-money kind of growth, but the knowing what I wanted to do, and doing it, kind of growth. Clarity. Purpose. Anyone else have a “I am willing to burn it all down” story?? [Listen to the recent podcast/youtube episode of the @jasminestar Show called “You’ve Already Won: How To Let Go Of What’s Not Serving You w/ @amyporterfield ” - my question will make more sense!]🔥
Branding is a lot like 🍕 + other thoughts… su Branding is a lot like 🍕 + other thoughts… subscribe to get it right to your inbox (promise it’s worth your while & I’m always talking tips that will help you grow your brand!) Link in bio or designwithclarissa.com/besttips
I think what’s missing in most cases of brand co I think what’s missing in most cases of brand confusion is this: If there aren’t a clear set of rules or boundaries for how a brand is to be represented, then it will just look and feel, well… weird. Off. People will be confused. However, if you set some guidelines and actually stick to them, you’re going to see results in how often or how well you’re recognized - a.k.a., brand awareness. AND you’ll see consistency and cohesiveness in the things created for your brand. You can always switch things up as you grow. But no matter what you do, consistency is very key. If you’re needing a boost in this department, grab my brand consistency checklist at the link in bio! #branddesigntips #designwithclarissa #branddesignprocess
I didn’t accomplish all I set out to in ‘22, b I didn’t accomplish all I set out to in ‘22, but I DID do, learn, & grow. Did I set my sights too high? Haha not high enough (maybe I’m an overachiever… tbd). I try to be realistic. But also I hear you need at least one goal that’s kiiinda out of reach, to push yourself to be the best version of yourself and actually move the needle. I think I did that on a few goals!! That’s a wrap, and a win. 🏆 2023, here we gooooo!!! #designwithclarissa #branddesign #brandingtips #brandgoals
This was a LOT for me to accomplish in 2022. I hav This was a LOT for me to accomplish in 2022. I have another career I love (it’s still branding, just employed by a great company!) I have a family. I actually like to take time off and do things like build lego sets with my son or watch documentaries and eat ice cream with my husband or get outside or decorate my house. I’m so glad I did what I did, with the help of my family and others. It was hard. And I felt like a crazy person half the time trying to do it. But it was a great year as a… Blogger? Barley-A-Business Builder? Online Product Seller? Label it what you want 😆 But I learned a ton and am ready for 2023! 🫣✨🎨💕💡🤩🍯⚾️
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