Better: The Brand Designer Podcast
Jen Davis
Better: The Brand Designer Podcast, founded by Giselle Field of Wander Design Co. and Jen Davis, was founded on the belief that designers need community. We find that the branding world often feels secretive, competitive, and sometimes just plain old confusing. When we realized that our honest, soul-chat-level convos could potentially help other designers, we realized a podcast was only natural! Better: The Brand Designer Podcast was officially born.Giselle passed away during a climbing trip in Peru in summer of 2020. We encourage all listeners of our podcast to listen to our two Celebrating Giselle episodes. Giselle's adventurous, kind, funny, and supportive presence is missed every day—each and every episode that we record is dedicated to her legacy and her vision for this podcast. It is our honor to continue recording episodes in Giselle's memory and we know that she is with us every time we sit down to record.In winter of 2022, we welcomed Esther Knox-Dekoning from Sereth Design as a new co-host. Esther brought an incredible and fresh perspective to the pod—her transition from agency to design studio as well as her love for web design, sustainability, and world change brought new guests, ideas, and amazing episodes to our listeners. She departed the pod in spring 2023 to dedicate more time to her studio's growth, and will be greatly missed!Now, Jen runs the podcast solo and is beyond excited to continue interviewing guests, having interesting conversations, and sharing the behind-the-scenes of running her design studio.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 21, 2020 • 41min
S2 E12: Answering Your Inbox Questions #2
Wow, another season in the books! We're wrapping it up with an episode full of answers to your inbox questions. Jen and Giselle cover a wide range of topics for brand designers, including process, value-based pricing, dealing with indecisive clients, and more. Listen in then tell us your answer to our question for you in our Facebook group. Can't wait to hear it!Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/betterbranddesigner/Website: https://www.bettebranddesigner.com/Better Resources Page: https://www.betterbranddesigner.com/resourcesLinks Mentioned:Better Resources Page: https://www.betterbranddesigner.com/resourcesGet our Diagnostic Call (and future freebies!): https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5fb20acd07f9a37b1e828789Olive Garden Rebrand: https://thedieline.com/blog/2014/3/10/before-after-olive-gardens-new-logo Paula Scher Citi logo: https://medium.com/@nedwin/the-1-5m-napkin-abd2702927d0 Amplify Shopify Course by Morgan Rapp: https://www.amplifyshopify.com/
Apr 14, 2020 • 55min
S2 E11: Designer Day Rate with Jamie Starcevich from Spruce Rd
What's a Designer Day Rate? Why would designers replace client retainers for this? And what are the benefits to this service? Join us as Jamie from Spruce Rd describes how this premium one-day design service has empowered her brand design studio, what she's learned, and what she recommends! We also get into a bit of her client psychology and her signature Zero-Revision process. Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/betterbranddesigner/Website: https://www.bettebranddesigner.com/Better Resources Page: https://www.betterbranddesigner.com/resourcesLinks Mentioned:Jamie's Website: https://www.sprucerd.com/Free Zero-Revision Training: https://sprucerd.lpages.co/zero-revision-design-presentation-method/Shareworthy Course: https://shareworthydesign.com/Free #BrandSelfCare Challenge: https://sprucerd.lpages.co/brand-self-care/
Apr 7, 2020 • 41min
S2 E10: Unlock Your Inner CEO with Jane Scudder from The New Exec
Are you scared to call yourself a CEO, despite you being the business owner of your independent design gig? We were too, until Jane gave us the low-down on how to unlock our inner CEO and transform our business as a result! In this episode, we talk about what our initial thoughts are on the word "CEO" and the benefits of stepping into this mindset. We also discuss CEO days, why they're important to work ON your business and not just IN your business, and how to start implementing this time into your work week.Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/betterbranddesigner/Website: https://www.bettebranddesigner.com/Better Resources Page: https://www.betterbranddesigner.com/resourcesLinks Mentioned:The New Exec Website: thenewexec.com Jane Scudder Website: janescudder.comJane's IG: @thenewexec @janescudder Jane's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenewexec/LinkedIn (Jane): https://www.linkedin.com/in/janescudder/LinkedIn (The New Exec): https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-new-exec/
Mar 31, 2020 • 46min
S2 E9: Rebranding Your Design Business with Amber D'Ambrosio from One 11 Studios
When it comes to rebranding ourselves, why is it SO HARD despite us brand designers? We have Amber D'Ambrosio (formerly Amber Hukari) tell us all about her rebrand process since she transformed into One 11 Studios. We go over when you actually need to rebrand, valid reasons for rebranding, and what to avoid. Join us!Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/betterbranddesigner/Website: https://www.bettebranddesigner.com/Better Resources Page: https://www.betterbranddesigner.com/resourcesLinks Mentioned:Amber's Website: www.one11creativestudios.comAmber's Instagram: @one11creativestudios
Mar 24, 2020 • 48min
S2 E8: All About the Design Process with Steph Wharton
Having a strong, clear design process is SO important to your branding business - but what should that look like, and why is it so key? Brand designer and strategist Steph Wharton breaks down a typical brand design process in a roundtable discussion with Jen & Giselle.Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/betterbranddesigner/Website: https://www.bettebranddesigner.com/Better Resources Page: https://www.betterbranddesigner.com/resourcesLinks Mentioned: The Design Experience Shop: https://www.stephwharton.com/Steph Wharton’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephwharton_ *Flux Academy 10k Website Process Course: https://learn.flux-academy.com/?affcode=244534_fwqbizdl *Affiliate link: using our link helps support our podcast at no cost to you
Mar 17, 2020 • 52min
S2 E7: Crafting a Growth Mindset with Avani Miriyala
What are those limiting beliefs you keep telling yourself? “I’m not good at [blank].” “[Blank] is hard for me.” What if you could turn that around? What would your life look like? Well, we’re super excited to announce today’s episode because our guest Avani is a master of releasing freelancers from their limiting beliefs! In this episode, we go all in on what it takes to be a successful freelancer, a fixed vs. growth mindset, and how you can implement small practices today to become the person of your dreams!Avani's Breakthrough Sessions: https://avanimiriyala.com/breakthroughLinks Mentioned:Avani's Podcast Episode on Mindset: https://lc3.shatrk.com/r/e/R1glHlWOM7CvKq3P?r=https://avanimiriyala.com/005-mind-gym/Calm meditation app: https://www.calm.comHeadspace meditation app: https://www.headspace.com/Morning pages overview: https://www.chriswinfield.com/morning-pages/Neuro-Linguistic Programming overview: https://inlpcenter.org/what-is-neuro-linguistic-programming-nlp/Get in Touch!Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/betterbranddesigner/Website: https://www.bettebranddesigner.com/Better Resources Page: https://www.betterbranddesigner.com/resources
Mar 10, 2020 • 42min
S2 E6: Parenting While Building Your Design Business with Becca Levian from Skye High Interactive
Are you raising kids while also building a design studio - OR are you trying to live your best life while also working from home? Becca Levian from Skye High Interactive chats with us about her transition from agency life to being an entrepreneur, asking for support, the myths of work/life balance, and cultivating a forward-facing mindset while also living your life to the fullest applies both to parents and to people without kids as well. Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/betterbranddesigner/Website: https://www.bettebranddesigner.com/Better Resources Page: https://www.betterbranddesigner.com/resources
Mar 3, 2020 • 41min
S2 E5: Creative Ways to Get Clients
Getting more clients is at the top of every new brand designer's to-do list - but it can feel overwhelming in the beginning. We chat about some outside-the-box ways we and other designers have gotten clients. Get the ball rolling on that referral train!Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/betterbranddesigner/Website: https://www.bettebranddesigner.com/Better Resources Page: https://www.betterbranddesigner.com/resources
Feb 25, 2020 • 49min
S2 E4: Strategically Diversifying Your Income with Alex Cottles from The Routine Creative
Relying on one source of income as an independent design studio owner an be a slippery slope - Alex Cottles of The Routine Creative and Brand Mentor chats with us about why it's important to diversify your income, and how he achieves that in his own studio via multiple types of design clients and passive income like digital products and courses. Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/betterbranddesigner/Website: https://www.bettebranddesigner.com/Better Resources Page: https://www.betterbranddesigner.com/resources
Feb 18, 2020 • 40min
S2 E3: Typography, Typography, Typography!
Typography is one of the most fun (if not challenging) parts of our jobs as brand designers. We go over the vocab, resources, and chat about our favorite foundries and fonts.Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/betterbranddesigner/Website: https://www.bettebranddesigner.com/Better Resources Page: https://www.betterbranddesigner.com/resourcesLinks Mentioned:Giselle’s favorite font books:Thinking with Type* The Elements of Typographic Style*Just My Type* Our favorite foundries:Hoodzpah Design: https://hoodzpahdesign.com/fonts/Pizza Typefaces: https://typefaces.pizza/VJ Type: https://vj-type.com/Type resources:Abstract: The Art of Design on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/80057883 TypeWolf: https://www.typewolf.com/Find my Font: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/find-my-font/id1224842785Myfonts: https://www.myfonts.com/What the Font tool: https://www.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont/What Font Chrome extension: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/whatfont/jabopobgcpjmedljpbcaablpmlmfcogm?hl=enRightFont organizer: https://rightfontapp.com/*Affiliate links: using our link helps support our podcast at no cost to you
