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 Sales Page

The Design Minimind Waitlist

Thuro Design

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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

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

The Win Without Pitching Manifesto

Inbox Question:

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

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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

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

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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