Do you ever find it hard to be inspired as a designer? Yes, there's the internet - design portfolios, digital magazines, Dribble, and Pinterest (oh, the joys and drool-worthiness of Pinterest!), and yet... sometimes it's hard to really get the juices flowing! In this episode, Esther and Jen talk about what inspires them both within the industry AND outside of it and discuss how to keep being on the hunt for different ways to bring a unique design perspective to the world.Links Mentioned:Branding with Bre from Rowan MadeThe Brand Gap by Mary NeumeirFont Inspiration:Fonts In UseTypewolfWebsite Inspiration:MaxiBestOfAwwwardsSite InspireCommerce CreamBrand Design Inspiration:Identity DesignedInspiration GridSephoraTargetCreative Magazines:Communication ArtsReal SimpleInbox Question: How do you prevent new brands from having an identity crisis? (I'm working with a startup)" — Keith TalusigSpecial thanks to our producer Jon from Wayfare Recording Co.Connect With Us:Our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/betterbranddesigner/Podcast Website: https://www.betterbranddesigner.comPodcast Resources Page: https://www.betterbranddesigner.com/resourcesPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterpodcast/Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/betterpodcast

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 NotebookInbox 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 ChapmanSpecial thanks to our producer Jon from Wayfare Recording Co.Connect With Us:Our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/betterbranddesigner/Podcast Website: https://www.betterbranddesigner.comPodcast Resources Page: https://www.betterbranddesigner.com/resourcesPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterpodcast/Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/betterpodcast

Welcome to Season 5 of the Better Podcast! We are officially welcoming Esther Knox-Dekoning as our new co-host! In this episode we get to hear Esther's story and her experience as a designer in the corporate advertising world and how she transitioned to owned her own design studio, Sereth Design.Guest Information:Guest Name: Esther Knox-DekoningGuest Business Name: Sereth DesignGuest Website: www.serethdesign.comGuest Instagram: @sereth.designGuest Pinterest: @serethdesignLinks Mentioned:Design Biz Mastery with Morgan Rapp https://morganrapp.com/design-biz-masteryCassie Gudmunsen from Reux Design Co https://reuxdesignco.com/sbaSquarestylist https://www.squarestylist.com/Branding with Bre https://www.rowanmade.com/branding-with-breInbox Question: "I just started offering brand and web design... I am looking for courses and resources to build my branding skills and confidence." — Brooke AnglinSpecial thanks to our producer Jon from Wayfare Recording Co.Connect With Us:Our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/betterbranddesigner/Podcast Website: https://www.betterbranddesigner.comPodcast Resources Page: https://www.betterbranddesigner.com/resourcesPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterpodcast/Patreon: https://patreon.com/betterpodcast

A message from Jen:Hey Better family - I'm honored to post two episodes that Giselle and I recorded together last summer 2020  (episodes 1 and 2) and one episode that I did (episode 3) to comprise a short but very sweet season 4. I encourage you to listen to our memorial episodes, Celebrating Giselle: Podcast Community and Celebrating Giselle: Friends & Family. Enjoy these episodes, I know Giselle is with us when each one is heard <3Brand strategy is the foundation upon which meaningful brand identity design lives. It's important for brand designers to understand the "why" behind brand strategy so they can use it to improve their design work and sell it to their clients as a package with design or standalone service.Today Jen chats with Melinda Livsey all about Brand Strategy. Melinda is a brand strategist and online educator from Southern California. She currently helps graphic designers become brand strategists so they can develop entire directions and personalities of brands. Her courses Brand Strategy Bootcamp and How to Sell Brand Strategy can be found at https://www.marksandmaker.com.Inbox Question:“How do you help, or should you help your clients find the answers to brand strategy questions (eg. What does your ideal customer value?) A question like this may come up in a brand discovery session but is it expected that clients know answers to such specific questions?” - Monica ChoiLinks Mentioned:Melinda's videos on The Futur's YouTube channel: tinyurl.com/5y8kr6dkMelinda's website: marksandmaker.com/Melinda's course, Brand Strategy Bootcamp: marksandmaker.com/brand-strategy-bootcampMelinda's Brand Strategy Resources: marksandmaker.com/brand-strategy-resources"The Brand Gap: How to Bridge the Distance Between Business Strategy and Design" by Marty Neumeier: amzn.to/3eFVoMg"You Are A Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth" by Jen Sincero: amzn.to/3FS3sWcConnect With Us:Our Free Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/betterbranddesignerPodcast Website: betterbranddesigner.comPodcast Resources Page: betterbranddesigner.com/resourcesPodcast Instagram: instagram.com/betterpodcast

A message from Jen:Hey Better family - I'm honored to post two episodes that Giselle and I recorded together last summer 2020  (episodes 1 and 2) and one episode that I did (episode 3) to comprise a short but very sweet season 4. I encourage you to listen to our memorial episodes, Celebrating Giselle: Podcast Community and Celebrating Giselle: Friends & Family. Enjoy these episodes, I know Giselle is with us when each one is heard <3Episode Description:Imagine an easy, slow morning: you wake up, have breakfast with your family, do an activity with your kids or explore a hobby on your own, work for a couple of hours, then have the rest of the day to yourself. This reality is attainable, but more importantly, you don't need to sacrifice income when you make shifts to get to a more aligned schedule. Today Giselle & Jen chat with Kelsey Kerslake all about her journey from *needing* to make some quick cash to pay her bills to owning and running a 7-figure business.Kelsey Kerslake is a multi-passionate CEO of two companies: Pinegate Road, and the Aligned Business. Kelsey has been helping entrepreneurs and businesses build their brands and market their online presences for over a decade. She is a business strategist, coach, and mentor for service-providers, coaches, and educators looking to scale their online businesses in complete alignment with the lives they want to live and the values they hold. She deeply believes that everyone has the potential to make their dreams reality and her businesses help online business owners define their future vision and literally bring it to life through coaching, strategy, design, and websites.Inbox Question: "How do you get the client to agree the project is finished?" - Jessica RobinsonLinks Mentioned:Kelsey's Instagram: instagram.com/kelseykerslakeThe Aligned Business Academy: pinegateroad.com/academyThe Aligned Business Mastermind: pinegateroad.com/mastermindKelsey's Website: pinegateroad.comKelsey's resources: pinegateroad.com/grow-your-bizConnect With Us:Our Free Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/betterbranddesignerPodcast Website: www.betterbranddesigner.comPodcast Resources Page: betterbranddesigner.com/resourcesPodcast Instagram: instagram.com/betterpodcast

A message from Jen:Hey Better family - I'm honored to post two episodes that Giselle and I recorded together last summer 2020  (episodes 1 and 2) and one episode that I did (episode 3) to comprise a short but very sweet season 4. I encourage you to listen to our memorial episodes, Celebrating Giselle: Podcast Community and Celebrating Giselle: Friends & Family. Enjoy these episodes, I know Giselle is with us when each one is heard <3 Episode Description:Welcome back to Season 4 of the podcast! Giselle and Jen come back with an updated "Day in the Life" episode in a casual conversation going through each of their average work days. The first one they recorded was back in season 1 - and a lot has changed, especially since Jen became a mom (and surprisingly, some things have stayed the same!) Giselle and Jen also catch up in general, sharing about new developments in their lives and chatting a bit about the future as well.Links Mentioned:Typeform: typeform.comMorgan Rapp: morganrapp.com1% For the Planet: onepercentfortheplanet.orgInbox Question: "How do you keep client projects on schedule? What incentives or consequences do you give your clients for their deadlines like getting feedback to you by a certain date? How do you communicate that you need to stay on pace and wrap up their project so you can accommodate other clients? Any tips would be amazing!" - Haley SiebeConnect With Us:Our Free Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/betterbranddesignerPodcast Website: betterbranddesigner.comPodcast Resources Page: betterbranddesigner.com/resourcesPodcast Instagram: instagram.com/betterpodcast

This summer, our design community, and the world, lost an incredible soul too soon during a climbing trip in Peru, our very own co-host, Giselle Field. In the first part of this two-part memorial episode, we heard many incredible things about Giselle from our design and podcast community. Now, in the second part of this two-part episode, we will hear from those who were closest to her - her friends and family. Because of Giselle, countless designers, and countless friends and family members, have found friendship, comfort, support, encouragement, and someone to turn to when they felt alone. A few months after Giselle passed away, Jen created a submission form to which anyone could submit either written or audio memories of their dear friend, podcast co-host, mentor, co-worker, and sister. These two special memorial episodes are where these memories will be forever available to whomever wants to hear how Giselle touched the lives of so many, and the wonderful ways in which she will be remembered. Thank you to everyone who submitted a memory - Jen hopes for these two episodes to be very small reflections and facets of Giselle's beautiful self, a tribute to her life and the impact she had on everyone she touched.In both of these episodes, Jen is joined by Ella Moyer, UX designer, photographer, past podcast virtual assistant, team member of Hello June Creative, team member of Wander Design Co., and good friend to both co-hosts. Ella has been integral in the success of this podcast, and there were many days where she, Jen, & Giselle would hang out in the Better slack channel together, dreaming about the podcast, and about meeting one day. Our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/betterbranddesigner/Podcast Website: https://www.betterbranddesigner.comPodcast Resources Page: https://www.betterbranddesigner.com/resources

This summer, our design community, and the world, lost an incredible soul too soon during a climbing trip in Peru, our very own co-host, Giselle Field. We will hear many incredible things about Giselle from our design and podcast community today, and in the second part of this two-part episode, from those who were closest to her - her friends and family. Because of Giselle, countless designers, and countless friends and family members, have found friendship, comfort, support, encouragement, and someone to turn to when they felt alone. A few months after Giselle passed away, Jen created a submission form to which anyone could submit either written or audio memories of their dear friend, podcast co-host, mentor, co-worker, and sister. These two special memorial episodes are where these memories will be forever available to whomever wants to hear how Giselle touched the lives of so many, and the wonderful ways in which she will be remembered. Thank you to everyone who submitted a memory - Jen hopes for these two episodes to be very small reflections and facets of Giselle's beautiful self, a tribute to her life and the impact she had on everyone she touched.In both of these episodes, Jen is joined by Ella Moyer, UX designer, photographer, past podcast virtual assistant, team member of Hello June Creative, team member of Wander Design Co., and good friend to both co-hosts. Ella has been integral in the success of this podcast, and there were many days where she, Jen, & Giselle would hang out in the Better slack channel together, dreaming about the podcast, and about meeting one day. Our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/betterbranddesigner/Podcast Website: https://www.betterbranddesigner.comPodcast Resources Page: https://www.betterbranddesigner.com/resources

In this solo episode, Giselle opens up about why and how she launched a digital course. What seems like a couple of months of preparation for the course was really three years in the making. Giselle spills it all to encourage those that dream about making digital products but hold themselves back for many reasons — just like she did to herself.Giselle covers: product ideation, goal-setting, prelaunching and launching, imposter syndrome, progress over perfection, Essentialism by Greg McKeown, business coaching, overcoming shame, mental health challenges, and future ideas for the course.From Giselle:First off, I have to give a huge shoutout to the women that impacted my professional and personal lives, my previous coaches and current friends: Avani Miriyala, Jane Scudder, and Kelsey Kerslake.I also wanted to address the importance of taking care of one’s mental health in this episode. My hope is that we as entrepreneurs can have the space to step back when our personal lives call for it and not feel ashamed nor lose the momentum we worked so hard to build for our businesses. It's ok to step back, it's ok to take care of yourself first. Plus, our community is built to support you in both the highs and lows.Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/betterbranddesigner/Website: https://www.bettebranddesigner.com/Better Resources Page: https://www.betterbranddesigner.com/resourcesLinks Mentioned:Avani Miriyala’s InstagramKelsey Kerslake’s InstagramDiana Martinez from Required ReadingClickUp*Clickup for Designers CourseEssentialism by Greg McKeown**Affiliate links: we receive a small commission to help support the podcast at no cost to you.

And thats a wrap! We’re finishing season 3 off with an episode packed with answers to your inbox questions. Giselle and I talk everything from contracts, whether we pricing on our websites, knowing when to grow teams, (and finding good contractors to work with), communicating value to clients, and more. We couldn’t be more thankful for our Facebook community and can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this episode!Our VA:Ella’s websiteElla’s photo site‍Ella’s Instagram: @ellamoyer.ux‍Our Editor:Stuart's websiteLinks Mentioned:‍All things legal episode Difficult client stories episode Our new website‍Jen on Clubhouse: @hellojuneGiselle on Clubhouse: @wanderdesignco