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welcome to the brighten made blog
2025 graphic design trend report
To kick off the new year, my team and I decided to do something fun and new! We’re predicting seven major trends we think will be big in 2025. From bubble letters and bold, custom fonts to primary colors and the most maximalism, here are our design trend predictions for graphic design + branding in the new year.
The Ultimate Gift Guide for Every Girly on Your List
From homebodies and eco-friendly girlies to the girly girl, the minimalist, and the plant obsessed, we’re rounding up gift ideas from our favorite small businesses for every girly pop on your list!
A Case Study: Jenna Overbaugh
In this branding and website design case study, we share how we helped Jenna Overbaugh create a cohesive and impactful brand that helped her feel fully confident in herself and her business.
3 Tips to Stay On-Brand During the Holidays
Here’s the fact — people buy from people they know, like, and trust. Having consistent visuals reinforces that trust factor, therefore creating brand loyalty. So, how the heck do you promote a holiday sale or share something festive? No worries, I’ve got you. I’m sharing three tips to nail holiday content this year without abandoning your brand guidelines.
Business Tools I Use as an Entrepreneur
If you’re an entrepreneur you already know it can be a wild ride. When I started my business 7 years ago I was doing all the things solo and it was DRAINING. I quickly realized that I needed to find tools to help streamline my business or I was going to lose it. That paired with hiring a team (more on that in this blog post!), was a saving grace. Now, I still swear by these business tools as my ride-or-die way to get more done in less time.
what the heck is brand messaging
We’re covering what the heck brand messaging even is, why it’s important for your business (of any size!), and how you can create it on your own. Plus, the complete package that is dynamite brand messaging and killer branding. The result will be a brand you feel FULLY confident in. One that showcases your offerings and deeply resonates with your target audience on multiple levels.
How to Stay On-Brand on Social Media & Use Canva Templates
The beauty of premade Instagram templates is that they’re less time-consuming BUT it’s easy to end up with random elements that don’t resonate with your audience. SO how do you make Canva template work for you!? We’re sharing all our tips and the biggest social media mistakes we see in this blog.
A Case Study: Farmhouse Bath & Body Co.
In this branding and website case study, we share how we created a timeless and cozy brand for Farmhouse Bath & Body Co. to set their owner up for long-term success across various platforms and feel confident as she marketed her business.
Return on Investment: Will a Rebrand Pay for Itself?
It’s the age-old question: will rebranding be worth it for my business? I’m talking a new logo design, new color palette, new fonts, and maybe even a new business name. From the ground up, creating a new brand design for your business. The short answer is yes. The return on investment will come! In this blog post, we share specific examples and testimonials from past clients who have had rebranding success!
How to Optimize Your Website Content
Impressions are everything. In this day and age optimizing your website isn’t something to just put on the back burner. Instead, every business owner should invest time and money into it. With 34% of shoppers shopping online at least once a week and the number of online purchases continuously growing year after year, having a strong website design AND strong, optimized website content is crucial to a business's success.
8 Tips to Follow When Providing Feedback to a Designer
There’s a special kind of magic that comes from collaborating with clients which is why getting strong, accurate feedback is of the utmost importance! It can be overwhelming to put your thoughts and feelings into words after receiving a design proof. That’s why we’re sharing 8 tried-and-true tips to help you feel confident giving design feedback.
The Evolution of My Design Style
As years go on, and trends come and go, it’s natural for your design style to shift and change. I think if we’re not changing, we’re not growing. Evolving design styles are a positive sign of creative growth. Here’s how my style has evolved over the years both professionally and personally.