The Design Diaries

If you're a brand designer that wants to start offering web design but doesn't know where to start, just press play—we got you! I sat down with Olivia from Olive St. Studio, the creator of Slayin' Showit (a course I just joined) and website wizard! In this episode, we talk how to start, choosing a platform, mistakes to avoid, pricing, and more!

Check out Olivia's socials and her course!

@olivest_studio

Slayin' Showit Course

Instagram is always changing, and it feels like as soon as we figure it out, it's been updatedagain. But fear not —I’ve got you covered! The Design Diaries is BACK — In this episode, I’m breaking down thesix key strategies you need to know to grow your brand, connect with your audience, and actually enjoy the content creation process, all based on what’s worked for me and what I’ve learned the hard way. 

From why quality matters more than consistency, to how micro-selling can help you land clients without feeling sales-y, this episode is packed with practical advice you can apply right away. Plus, I share my personal approach to using Reels, structuring your portfolio, and making sure your profile reflects the best of what you offer.

Time Stamps

• [00:00] Podcast Returns! —Why I took a break and what’s coming this season.
• [01:00] The Ever-Changing Instagram Game – Why your strategy needs to evolve.
• [02:00] Quality > Consistency – How to balance posting frequency and value.
• [06:00] Show, Don’t Just Tell– Why portfolio work matters more than ever.
• [09:00] Reels Strategy – Picking the right style for your personality & audience.
• [14:00] Repetition is Key – Why posting about your offers once isn’t enough.
• [18:00] Micro-Selling 101 – How to sell without being pushy.
• [24:00] Your Profile is Your Portfolio – Making your feed work for you.

Brand designer Alyssa Nguyen shares 3 strategies for booking clients after a slow period in your business that helped her go from slow quarters to booked out 2 months in advance.

Brand design studio owner & designer Alyssa Nguyen shares why professional liability insurance is essential for creatives and some tips on how to get it and what to look for.

Brand designer Alyssa Nguyen talks 3 key things to consider when approaching growth strategies for any part of your design or creative business. These tips will allow you to make actionable steps towards building a sustainable growth plan that won't overwhelm you.

Guest speaker and Business & IP Lawyer Ivy McNeill joins us to discuss legal strategies for assessing legal risk and avoiding legal issues. We discuss questions to ask your clients to minimize your chances of trouble and questions to ask a lawyer when considering hiring representation as a brand designer. This episode will help you understand what a designer-attorney relationship can do for you and how to take the first steps with forming one.

You can sign up for the FREE questionnaires that Ivy has provided us by opt-ing in to our mailing lists here!

You'll get:

These resources are only free and available to our listeners for a limited time, so sign up now before it's over!

Make sure to follow @legallyivy on Instagram and our studio profile @atnndesign for updates on our upcoming workshop: The (Must-Have) Legal Workshop for Creatives

Check out more of Ivy below:

What types of projects should I put in my portfolio? How many? What do I put on my about page? What do I put in the case studies? I'll answer all of these questions and more to help you build the best graphic design portfolio possible.

Figuring out if a client will be hard to work wit, if a contractor will be reliable, and if a coach will be worth it is hard! Here are 3 red flags that I look out for in each to maximize my chances of a good match.

Let's talk about finding a design style! In this episode, I break down the difference between a design style and a design aesthetic and then share my journey with finding my own. I'll tell you all about my strategies for figuring out your signature and give you 3 tips to start.

Let's talk about how lonely it is to be a self-employed creative...and then let me give some tips for finding community when you work by yourself! It's so important to take the time to connect with people in our industry, but it can be hard to figure out when, where, and how to do it. My best tips are in this episode!