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One thing I notice all the time when I look at DIY brand identities or graphics done by small businesses is the lack of white space. And no, it doesn’t actually have to be white. White space, or negative space, just refers to the “breathing room” around your text, images, and design elements. It’s the quiet part of your design that actually lets your message shine. It’s the space that makes your designs feel intentional, professional, and easy on the eyes.  When you’re creating your own graphics, it’s tempting to want to fill every inch. You want your design to feel like it’s “full” and you want every corner to be doing something. I get it, because it feels like if you don’t fill the space, it’s wasted. But in reality, overcrowding your design can make it harder for people to focus on it. Your message ends up getting lost, and your design looks more DIY than you want it to. White space is about balance. I actually spend a lot of time thinking about the gap between the logo and tagline, the margins around blocks of text, the space between lines or letters, and even the breathing room around buttons or images on a website. Total nerd alert, I know. 🤓  But the reason I spend so much time thinking about this is because those little pauses give your design so much more clarity and professionalism. Subliminally, that negative space guides people’s eyes exactly where you want them to go. A lot of DIY designers forget that space should be part of the design, not just leftover canvas. Here are a few ways you can start using white space more effectively if you’re going to attempt to DIY your own logo or other branding materials:
Good use of white space is all about confidence. You don’t need extra elements for a strong brand. When everything has enough room to breathe and your spacing is consistent and intentional, your design looks polished and confident. Trust me, people notice it, even if they don’t realize what they’re noticing. 😄  If you’re ready to create a brand that feels clear, professional, and totally “you,” I would love to help. Let’s chat about how we can design your brand identity so it stands out, connects with your audience, and actually works for your business!
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This probably won’t come as a major surprise, but people don’t typically slide into my DMs or my inbox and tell me exactly what they need. It’s rare that I get a message that says, “Karla, I need a rebrand” or “I think it’s time for a new website.” Instead, what usually happens is that people will reach out to me because something feels “off” with their brand identity. Their growth has slowed down, their website feels a little meh, or their visuals don’t really match the level of work they’re doing anymore. They’re not sure what’s wrong, they just know that something isn’t clicking.  If that sounds like you, you’re not alone. I’ve even been there with my own brand! The good news is, once you know what to look for, it’s so much easier to decide which path makes sense. So grab your coffee ☕ and let’s break it down together. What Does a Rebrand Actually Mean? First, we need to go over what a rebrand is and what it entails. A lot of people think it’s just a new logo, but it’s a bit more than that. My rebrand process includes taking a step back and deciding how you want your business to show up in the world NOW, versus how you are currently showing up. For example, when I walk clients through a rebrand, we’re looking at:
Think of a rebrand as a reset button. If your audience has shifted, your services have evolved, or your price point has increased, a rebrand will really help you show up as the business you are becoming and who you want to be (and serve) in the future.
How to Know When a Website Refresh is Enough Sometimes the bones of your brand are strong, but your digital storefront (aka your website) just isn’t keeping up. Maybe the visuals are fine, but the layout is clunky. Maybe your offers have changed, but your copy hasn’t. Or maybe your site just feels a little outdated and hard to use. Here are some signs a website refresh could be what you need:
It can also help ensure that your execution is consistent. Your visitors should see the same brand identity on printed materials, social media, and your website. This cohesiveness is something that a lot of people who go the DIY route struggle with, and it can unintentionally make your website and overall presence seem a little amateur.
How to Know Which Design Service You Need If you’re sitting there wondering, “Okay, but which of these design services should be my next move?” don’t worry. I’ve got you. I know that this is where so many business owners get stuck, but the easiest way to figure it out is to take a good, honest look at your brand and your website. Doing this will usually point you in the right direction.  Let’s Work Together on Your Brand!
Your brand is the foundation of your business, and your website is one of the main places where you get to show it off. If your messaging and visuals already feel solid but your site isn’t landing with the right people, a website refresh is usually the answer. But if your whole look, vibe, and voice need an upgrade, then you are going to want to do a rebrand first. A new website can always come later, but once you plug in your new brand identity, you might find that the website is a lot better than you even realized! It’s amazing what can happen when everything is aligned. Doing things in the right order saves you a lot of time, money, and stress. You end up with a brand and website that actually work together instead of feeling like your business is having an identity crisis (no judgment, we have all been there at some point). 🙃 I love helping clients figure this out. If you’re feeling stuck or unsure, let’s chat. We can map out the next steps for where your business is headed and put together a timeline that works for you and your budget. Sometimes just knowing what you want to do and when can bring a lot of clarity (and peace) to the situation. I would love to help! About a year ago, I had the chance to speak to a group of graphic design students at a local university about my journey as a freelance designer. Then just recently, I met someone curious about how I got started—and I found myself sharing the same exact advice. These are the 10 biggest lessons I’ve learned so far from building my freelance business. Whether you’re still in school, working full-time, or dreaming of doing your own thing, I hope these help light the path for you the way others did for me.  1. Be a good human 💗 This sounds simple, but it’s everything. No one likes working with a jerk—no matter how talented they are. Be kind. Be respectful. Smile at people. Relationships matter more than you think in this industry (and in life!).  2. Know your numbers (and save!) 💰 I’ll admit it took me an embarrassingly long time to really understand my finances. Know how much you need to survive, thrive, and save. If you’re planning to go full-time freelance, aim to have 3–6 months of living expenses saved up. It’s the cushion that will help you sleep at night. 😴  3. Believe in yourself 👏🏼 This was one of the hardest lessons for me. I didn’t grow up around entrepreneurs—let alone anyone in a creative career. But once I started believing this dream was possible for me, everything started to shift. If you struggle with this too, I highly recommend diving into personal development books. They can change your mindset, one page at a time.  4. Surround yourself with people who believe in you 🎉 Even if you’re not sure you believe in yourself yet—borrow someone else’s belief in you. And spoiler alert: these cheerleaders might not come from your closest circle. Some of the most supportive friends I’ve met came from online communities and mastermind groups. Find your people. ✨  5. Find a mentor 🤓 There are people who’ve already walked the path you’re dreaming of—and learning from them can save you years. A mentor doesn’t have to be someone you meet in person. They can show up in books, YouTube, podcasts, or programs. If you’re able, invest in 1:1 mentorship. Success leaves clues—follow them.  6. Create personal projects 👩🏻💻 Want to design for a specific type of client or industry? Start by making the work you want to be hired for. Personal projects are powerful portfolio pieces, and they show initiative, creativity, and direction. Don’t wait for a paid project to start building your dream work. 💡  7. Tell everyone and their mom 📢 Seriously—tell people what you do. The more people who know what you do and who you help, the more opportunities will come your way. People can’t refer you if they don’t know you exist! People genuinely love to help, especially if you’ve followed tip #1. 😉  8. Grow your network 🌱 It might sound cliché, but your network really is part of your net worth. Building relationships, putting yourself in new rooms, and meeting new people has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey. Be brave enough to show up, even if you feel like the least experienced one in the room. That’s where growth happens. 🌻  9. Open a business bank account 💳 This is one of those not-so-glamorous but really important tips. Keeping your business and personal finances separate will make tax season so much easier. It’s one small move that will set you up with a solid foundation from the start.  10. Talent is not enough 🙊
This one’s a little tough love: There are people out there with less talent than you, doing the work you want to do and getting paid well for it—because they took action. Don’t wait until you feel 100% ready. Start now. Start messy. Take action. I believe in you. 🙏🏼 If you’re just starting out or thinking about going full-time freelance, I hope these 10 lessons serve as both a guide and a gentle push. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to start. Have a question about freelancing or want to hear more about my journey? Feel free to reach out—I love connecting with fellow creatives! 💬 I don’t know if you remember this as well as I do, but 10 years ago, Steve Harvey accidentally crowned the wrong Miss Universe on live television. It was mortifying to watch but as a designer, I can now tell you that it wasn’t really his fault.  Let’s rewind... Back in 2015, Steve Harvey was standing on stage in front of millions of people when he opened the envelope and read the name "Miss Colombia" as the pageant winner. She came forward to accept her tiara and flowers but then a few minutes later, Steve came back onto the stage to say that he had read the wrong name on the card and that Miss Philippines was actually the winner. Needless to say, the internet exploded (as it does). Steve became a meme. And while everyone focused on the HUGE mistake he made, designers everywhere were saying the same thing: All of the blame should be placed on whoever made that card. The card Steve was reading from had no clear hierarchy, weird text placement, and the most important information (the actual winner!!!) was buried underneath everything else. Here’s how the card was laid out:  There were no bold fonts, no size differentiation, and no visual cues to guide the eye. Where the winner was listed on the card is exactly where he might have been holding the card, so he could have easily missed what was printed there. Basically, it was a recipe for disaster, especially in a high-pressure, live TV situation. If I had designed that card, I would've used clear visual hierarchy—bold type, varied font sizes, and smart placement. The winner’s name would be hard to miss, reading top to bottom, left to right—no confusion, even under pressure.  Good design is about more than looking pretty People think of design as simply decoration. But good design is actually communication. When done right, it helps people quickly understand what to do, where to go, and what matters most. On your website, in your emails, on a product label, or on a cue card, the way something is laid out can really impact what you notice and remember. You may not be announcing pageant winners, but your business is constantly communicating and design can either help or hurt that goal. Here’s what you want to make sure your design is doing for you: ✔️ Guiding people’s attention to where it matters most ✔️ Reinforcing trust with clarity and professionalism ✔️ Encouraging action with thoughtful flow and layout If your website or visual brand isn’t doing these things, it’s probably not converting the way it could be, which means lots of money potentially being left on the table. tl;dr: Don’t let bad design be the reason you miss out Design is more than pretty colors and a fancy logo. It’s structure, strategy, hierarchy, and intention. When it’s done well, it works for you, even when you’re off the clock! Are you ready to upgrade your brand so you can avoid Steve Harvey moments of your own? Let’s work together on a brand design identity or a rebrand! The other day, I opened my kitchen cabinet and noticed something that made me pause. Tucked away in the back (behind all of my favorite Trader Joe’s snacks) were my ashwagandha gummies. I used to need these almost every day to manage my stress. But when I saw them in the back of my cabinet, it occurred to me that I haven’t needed one in months! 🤗 I just haven’t felt all that stressed lately. It might not seem like that big of a deal, but it made me realize that I am living a reality I once wished for. I always wanted to feel a sense of peace and ease with my work. I wanted to be able to have slow mornings and choose the kinds of projects I wanted to work on. And more than anything, I wanted to feel like I could close my laptop and be present without having to “pay for it” later. Some days, it feels strange not to be hustling all the time. For a while there, I thought maybe something was wrong with me. 🥴 Did I lose my passion for entrepreneurship? Was I not disciplined enough to be doing this full-time? Am I bad at capitalism? But the truth is, I’d rather do exceptional work for a few wonderful clients, live a life I love, and be there for my son in a way that feels rich and intentional. That’s the true definition of success in my book.  Last weekend, we walked down by the lake — just me and my favorite +1 — and it reminded me exactly why I chose this path in the first place. This is the stuff that really matters. 💞
As we step into the heart of summer, I just want to soak it all in. My kiddo won’t be begging to do things with me forever, and I want to be present and make those memories with him! This season in life and business for me isn’t about hustle. It’s about honoring the peace I’ve earned, the freedom I fought for, and the future I’m designing for myself. I don’t have a multiple-six-figure business yet, but I’ve created consistent revenue every year. That alone is something I’m really proud of. I would rather grow a little more slowly, knowing that I’m still meeting the goals I need in order to provide a great life for me and my son (and my cats!). At the risk of sounding like a self-help author, I really just wanted to remind you that success is truly whatever you define it to be. ☺️ Maybe hustling and hitting some major metrics feels like the thing you want to focus on. That’s totally fine! I go back and forth between hustle eras and rest eras and I just happen to be in a rest era right now. Nothing against hustling if that’s what feels right for you! Basically, everyone’s story will look different (and will very likely change over time), and that’s what makes being your own boss such an adventure! Speaking of being your own boss, I recently got called out HARD by a strange man about my entrepreneurial habits. It was… pretty rude. 😉 Check out the video here if you missed it. What’s your version of success these days? I’d genuinely love to hear it. |
