From DIY to Dazzling: The Power of Brand Strategy and Creative Direction in Building a Thriving Business

When starting a business, it’s easy to think, “I can do this myself,” if you don’t have the resources to invest in outside support. I’ve had several clients try to be financially prudent by hiring a designer through a freelancer platform like 99designs. Now, I’m not knocking on these platforms. However, it can be overwhelming if you don’t know how to get what you need from the designers or how to art direct them. That’s where I come in…

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Monique Johnson
Leap Into Your Zone of Genius

Recently, I had the privilege of reading Gay Hendricks's The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level for Anne LaFollette’s Creative Business Mastermind. Full disclosure: it’s a bit life-changing.

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Monique Johnson
Learning From the Mastermind

I’m proud to share that I’m a Founding Member of Anne LaFollette’s Creative Business Mastermind. I had the privilege of joining this remarkable new program from Anne, a long-time client near and dear to my heart. 

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Monique Johnson
Sociology of Branding: How Marketing Has Evolved

So much has changed in our society since the advent of smartphones and social media. They’ve irrevocably altered how we interact with those around us and with the world at large. Every industry has had to undergo a metamorphosis, especially brand marketing (and I would know a thing or two about that).

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Monique Johnson
Should Classic Brands Lose Their Classic Logos?

A few months ago, Fast Company published a piece about multiple brands dumping their classic script logos. This includes Eddie Bauer abandoning its simple, elegant cursive wordmark in favor of a sans-serif font with a goose next to it. Johnson & Johnson also ditched its gorgeous, swooping letters for, you guessed it, a sans-serif font.

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Monique Johnson
Treat Your Brand Like a Project

If you’re a solopreneur, chances are you drag your feet when it comes to working on your brand. You’re not getting paid to fine-tune your business, so why does it matter? So, you treat giving your business the attention it deserves as a “job” instead of the priority it should be. 

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Monique Johnson
An Artist’s Preferred Canvas

It’s World Sketchnote Day! As artists, we’re expected to have the most expensive, high-end sketchpad on the market to fill with our drawings. After all, the hallmark of a creative person is their tools, and for sketchers, in particular, you can almost always expect them to carry a sketchpad. 

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Monique Johnson
It's a Family Tradition

The holidays bring about a host of fun traditions. They’re how we reconnect with loved ones because, let’s face it, life often gets in the way. Chances are you have some of your own, whether passed down in your family or self-made. As for me and mine, we’ve got a handful of traditions that make the holidays – and Christmas in particular – even more special.

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Monique Johnson
Finding Magic in the Macrame

As we near the end of the year, I want to highlight a project from 2023 that means a lot to me. That project is Corda, a jewelry line with gorgeous, handcrafted macrame jewelry. You’ll find everything from bracelets and necklaces to earrings and cuffs.

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Monique Johnson
Building an Empire: Why Anne LaFollette Is an Entrepreneurial Force of Nature

For National Entrepreneur’s Day, I’d be remiss if I didn’t spotlight one of my favorite clients (and mentors), Anne LaFollette. Anne is a creative entrepreneur who helps other creatives grow their businesses. She offers various services, from a minicourse called From Doodles to Dollars that shows creatives how to transfer their “doodles” onto products to The Pattern Design Academy, an online coaching program for aspiring Surface Pattern Designers. She even has a mentorship program for creative entrepreneurs called Anne’s Atelier. 

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Monique Johnson
Curiosity, Exploration, and Learning Are the Fuel That Lights Creativity

If you’ve visited my About page (and if you’re here, you probably have), you know this much about me. At my core, I am an explorer. That translates into a love of the outdoors and the mountains. You’ll usually find me snowboarding, hiking, camping, backpacking, and mountain biking. I love visiting National Parks. That desire for exploration, that longing for adventure, is a wellspring for creativity. 

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Monique Johnson
When Clients Come Back for Round 2

It’s a great feeling when a client wants to work with you again, whether for a spin-off from their original company or a new business entirely. You already have an established relationship from the first project. You have a collaborative back-and-forth that flows seamlessly (well, hopefully). In honor of these special working relationships and National Women’s Small Business Month, I want to spotlight three women-owned businesses that are repeat clients.

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Monique Johnson
What is AI's Place in the Creative Space?

You’re probably at least familiar with ChatGPT and its function. You might be even more familiar with the several AI apps that have spawned over the past year, which create different themed images based on photos of you. Maybe it’ll transform you into an 18th-century painting or a fairy in a fantasy novel. All this to say, AI is on the rise in the creative space, whether we like it or not.

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Monique Johnson