You know the quote, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”? Some people will say this is a debatable statement (you know, because you shouldn’t “judge a book by its cover”), but in the world of design that first, visual impression really is everything. 

​Don’t believe me? Let’s play a quick game. Take a look at these images:

Be honest: was it hard for you to answer these questions? I’m guessing your answer is no. 

​Now go back and look at the images a little closer. What do you notice? 👀

Many people assume brand identity is only about the logo. Logos are definitely an important piece of the brand design puzzle, but in the images above both logos in each pair of images are exactly the same! 😮

So where did your decisions and assumptions come from? The surrounding visuals. Brand identity and design is so much more than just a logo and the game above proves my point. 

In my brand identity design process document that I share with my clients, I note that it only takes seven seconds for people to gain a solid impression of who you are and what you represent. Some research even suggests a tenth of a second is all it takes to start determining if someone or something is trustworthy. 🤯 

Making sure your brand identity reflects your brand in an accurate, professional way that resonates with your audience helps build that TRUST. 

If you want help with designing a comprehensive, memorable impression that appeals to your audience click here to book a call with me. 

In the meantime, comment below and let me know if you answered (BAAB) to the images above and what you thought about that game experience. 

Love, 
Karla

​Can you believe we're almost halfway through 2021?!

It has been a crazy and chaotic first six months. Many people were hoping things would go back to “normal,”  but it didn’t quite happen that way. People probably found themselves in a place where they thought they’d never be. 

Jobs were lost, priorities were reevaluated, and goals were adjusted. 

Speaking of goals, one of my goals for this year was to honor and follow through with my “word of the year.” 

If you remember my word is CELEBRATE, so I want to take a minute to stay true to my goal and share some of my mid-year wins with you! 


🌟 Had my first graphic design magazine feature (and was a winner - see my winning designs here) 


🌟 Served at a local non-profit in Connecticut through AIGA CT - check it out here


🌟 Celebrated the opening of Roux, the dream restaurant of my friend and client, Stephanie Civitillo.


🌟 Added a new designer to my team (and you’ll learn more about her very, very soon! Stay tuned!)


🌟 Getting into the routine of going to bed before midnight *most days!* (sleep is essential!) I even made myself a badge of honor!


🌟 Worked with my dream client Brit Morin of Brit + Co and designed the marketing campaign for her entrepreneurial course called Selfmade.

I have a few more wins, but you can check them out over on my Instagram soon.

I would love to hear about what wins you have had so far this year. So go ahead and comment below and tell me all about them. No matter how big or small your wins might be, they are completely worth celebrating and I want to celebrate with you! 🤗

Love,
​Karla

One of my all-time favorite Tony Robbins quotes is, “Life doesn’t happen to you, it happens for you.” 

When I found myself unemployed (AGAIN!), I really took Tony’s quote to heart. I decided to go all in with my business, take control of my life, and make things happen for me. There was only a tiny problem...how was I going to do this and what were my next steps? 😧

Enter Brit Morin’s Selfmade entrepreneurial program. 💫

I was terrified to spend more money on my business, but it was honestly the best money I have ever invested in myself and my business to date. While participating in Selfmade, I made more money in my business in 10 weeks than all of 2020! 😍

Not only did I gain clarity in what I wanted to do, I also got advice from Brit herself and from a handful of coaches who helped me rewire my mindset, push through blocks, and provided steps on how to reach my goals. I also got to learn from industry leaders like Gwyneth Paltrow, Bethany Frankel, Melissa Bernstein (Co-Founder of Melissa & Doug), and more. 

It's an experience I'm eternally grateful for and if you are ready to take the leap with your business, I highly recommend you check out Selfmade. 

I've also learned that accountability is key to make the best out of your investment. If you choose to sign up with Selfmade, I also will provide you with weekly accountability as a bonus for signing up through my affiliate link. 

If you're interested in learning more, check out my full review of the program HERE.

I can’t wait to see your business soar! ✨


Love,
Karla

Are you familiar with the phrase “less is more”? This advice can be used across all walks of life, including brand identity. 

Last year I had an amazing opportunity to speak with over 50 people and got the chance to audit their brands. 🔎

Do you know what the most consistent problem I noticed was? 

Fonts. 

Most of the brands I audited were using too many fonts. Many of them included more than three styles, which is too many. I also recognized fonts that did not represent their brands properly or in the way they were wanting to present themselves to the world. 🌎

Every font has something to say beyond the words on a page or device. That's why it's important to think about your message and choose a font that fits best. 

You should also think about where your brand is being seen. Some fonts are better for print-based projects like magazines or newspapers. Others are used because they are easier to read digitally on computers, smartphones, or tablets. 

I know this whole font talk might seem a bit overwhelming. So I would like to extend an invitation to you for a FREE 15 minute brand audit: https://www.karlapamanes.com/brand-design-audit.html

Let’s take a look at what you have and how we can improve it! It’s important to put your best font-foot forward to represent your brand in a way that is authentic, original, and impactful. 🌟

​Love,
​Karla

I still can’t believe it's been a year since the pandemic started and all of my Facebook memories remind me of how little I knew what was going to happen.

I first lost my job, but then I lived the hardest journey of my life, losing my dad. 

But (there is always a *but*), I also gained a stronger sense of purpose & gratitude.

 ⭐️ I’m grateful I got to be a full-time mom during a time when working parents also had to be their children’s teachers & their work wanted them to do “business as usual.” 

 ⭐️ I’m grateful I was able to travel to Mexico for 6 months and be present with my dad during the last months of his time on this earth & be present with my mom to support her during that time. 

 ⭐️ I’m grateful for the friendships I made & all that I learned at my job prior to being laid off. 

 ⭐️ I’m grateful for the time and presence I was able to have with my son, Lennon, while all this chaos was going on. 

 ⭐️ I’m grateful for life reminding me, once again, to follow my heart and do the things I know I’m destined to do even if it feels scary at first.  

In all the ways these events could have unfolded, I can’t think of another way in which I would have wanted it to happen. One of my favorite Tony Robbins quotes is, “Life doesn’t happen to you, it happens for you.” I truly believe life is what you make it and if you look for the silver linings, you will find them.

I took my layoff as an opportunity to work in my own business. I’m currently working on this logo & brand identity redesign for an amazing client.

If you’re interested in learning what goes behind the scenes of producing a logo, click HERE.

What kind of silver linings have you come across over the past year? If you feel up to sharing, hit “reply” to tell me more. I love hearing from you. 

Love,
​Karla