I once saw a meme that said, “I thought Ariana Grande was a font.” And honestly… same. 😂 But that got me thinking—if you were a font, what would your name be? Typography has personality. Just like fonts can be bold, elegant, quirky, or dramatic, so can you! So let’s play a little game and find out your font name and personality! What Your Font Name Says About You Your font name isn’t just for fun—it reflects a little something about your personality and style! Whether you’re a bold Grande, a charming Serif, or an adaptable Variable, your font alter ego might just be spot on. January → Grande You're bold, dramatic, and unforgettable February → Serif You're are timeless and full of charm March → Display You love to stand out in a crowd April → Script You're creative, and always expressive May → Sans You're modern, clean, and effortlessly cool June → Grotesque You're a little quirky, but in the best way July → Black You're strong, confident, and makes a statement August → Rounded You're soft, approachable, and full of warmth September → Condensed You're efficient, sharp, and always on point October → Oblique You're mysterious and effortlessly stylish November → Gothic You're classic with a bold presence December → Variable You adapt to any situation like a pro 💬 Drop your font name in the comments—I’d love to see what you get! And if you’re as obsessed with fonts as I am, you’ll love my freebie: The Essential Guide to Choosing the Right Fonts – Find the perfect typeface for every design project!
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This storefront isn’t just any store—it’s my childhood home 🏡💕. Both my parents were educators, but I like to say, that I get my creativity from my mom and my side-hustle drive from her too. Alongside her career, she loved exploring hobbies like crafting and making chocolate candy 🍫—a passion that eventually grew into a small garage store. What started as a fun project in our garage blossomed into a thriving candy and chocolate supply business that eventually took over our entire home. Their hard work and dedication, combined with this side hustle, helped put three kids through international college—all at the same time! It even funded my design degree, laying the foundation for my creative career. This business will always be part of my story because it’s what brought me here: doing the work I love for people I admire. This logo is especially dear to my heart because it was one of the very first design projects I ever worked on.. I created it for free because 👉🏼 you don’t invoice your mom! And while I now teach my students in The Brand Design Academy not to work for free, I always remind them that exceptions apply when it’s for someone you love. This logo even went on to win a 2020 Graphic Design USA Award 🏆—a proud moment for both my mom and me. After COVID and the heartbreaking loss of my dad, the store had to close. It was a deeply emotional time, but it reminded me just how much this home, this business, and my parents’ entrepreneurial spirit shaped who I am today. I carry their lessons with me every single day—in how I approach my work, how I guide my students, and how I strive to build something meaningful in my own career. Their story is a reminder that creativity and resilience can overcome even the toughest challenges and that the foundation they gave me is one of my greatest gifts. Though the store is no longer open, its legacy lives on in everything I do—and I hope to honor it by inspiring others to create their own meaningful journeys too. ❤️ I'm getting ready to hit the road to go see my mom for the holidays and I'm not going to lie. I'm already a little stressed about the holiday drama…. and of course, the sadness of celebrating another Christmas without my dad. It's not going to be perfect, and that's okay. That's not what it's all about. There's so much good that comes with gathering with loved ones and that's what I'm trying to focus on most. 🥰 In general, I think perfection is overrated. Over on Instagram, I've been posting some of my work in a 12 Days of Brand Identity Challenge. I'm sharing the stories behind my designs and the sometimes imperfect process behind the scenes. People really seem to relate to the “progress not perfection” aspect of my story and I think that's because we ALL feel the pressure to get everything right every time! I've seen a lot of brands over the years—some polished, some still finding their way, and some that feel like they've been thrown together in a rush. And guess what? No judgment here. Every brand tells a story, and that story is not about perfection. It's about being you. ☺️ If there was a “perfect” method to brand a business, we would all just do that and life would be VERY boring. That's why my approach is simple: I listen, I guide, and I never judge where you're starting from. Because for me, what matters most is where you're going! When you're thinking about your brand, it helps to come at it from a place of intention. Here are some questions to ask yourself if you're feeling a little bit judge-y about your own brand: 💠 What's one word you want people to associate with your brand? 💠 If your brand were a person, what personality would it have? 💠 What's your “why” behind your work—and is it shining through? 💠 What do you want people to feel when they see your brand? 💠 What colors, fonts, or images make you light up—and are they in your brand? Whether you're starting fresh or refining your existing brand, remember—it's not about being perfect; it's about being you. And if you want to work with me to bring that to life, just hit “reply” and we can chat through ideas and timelines! I wish you the happiest of holidays! I hope they're filled with meaningful moments—whether they're loud and lively or quiet and cozy. And may you feel so loved! 🎄🎁💞 It's my birthday! 🥳🎂 Well, it's my birthday in the United States. But here in Australia, I've been 39 years old for about 24ish hours already! As my own “World’s Best Boss,” I get to enjoy some pretty amazing perks, but I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned taking a semi-spontaneous birthday trip to Australia. 🇦🇺🎉 Last year, I reflected on “38 Lessons in 38 Years” during my birthday month. This year, I’m focusing on something even closer to my heart—gratitude. There’s so much to be thankful for, and I want to share just a few things filling my heart right now:
💗 This business. I sometimes have to pinch myself that I get to design for a living. It’s been a long journey, and I don’t take a single moment of it for granted. 💗 My amazing clients. Your trust and collaboration mean the world to me, and you allow me to do the fulfilling work I love every day. 💗 YOU. Whether you’ve booked my services, attended a workshop, mentioned my name in a room of opportunities, or even just liked a post—you’ve been part of this journey, and your support means everything. 💗 My parents. They taught me that hard work pays off and always gave their best. My dad in heaven continues to guide me, while my mom here on earth is my unwavering cheerleader. 💗 This beautiful birthday experience. From cuddling koalas to feeding kangaroos and watching penguins waddle by, I’m soaking up every magical moment. None of this would be possible without the freedom my business has given me, and I’m so deeply grateful for it. But most of all, I’m grateful to share these moments with my son, Lennon. Showing him what’s possible when we believe in ourselves makes this experience even more special. How We Ended Up in Australia A little backstory... Lennon and I met Silvia and Kristen (aka the Traffic Ninjas) last year at a retreat in Mexico. When we found out they were from Australia, Lennon had two immediate questions: 🕷 “Are the spiders as terrifying as YouTube makes them seem?” ✈️ “Can we come visit you sometime?” Fast forward a few months (and a new award-winning brand identity for them later), and here we are! Tomorrow, we’ll be flying from Melbourne to Sydney to meet them, and they’ll be hosting us. 😊 Kristen and Silvia are incredible Shopify experts. I saw their magic firsthand in September at their first live event in Dallas. Their impact on Shopify business owners is inspiring, and I can't recommend their work enough. They're bringing another live experience to the US next year—definitely check it out HERE. Now it's your turn—tell me about your most spontaneous (or semi-spontaneous) birthday celebration you’ve ever had? I’d love to hear your story! Share it in the comments or reach out—I always enjoy hearing from you. 💗 Oh, and if you have any genius tips for keeping an 11-year-old occupied on a long return flight, please send them my way! 🙏🏼 I put myself out there a lot online (sometimes too much?) because I think it’s important to just be a human. There are enough people out there acting like they have their “ish” together! With that being said, this story *might* make me seem a little unrelatable. But I’m going to tell you anyway because I think there’s a good lesson I can leave you with at the end. Lennon and I were at H-E-B and they were giving out samples of a new kind of boxed mac and cheese. As soon as he tried it and I saw his face, I knew what was coming next: “Mom, can we get this? Please? (cue puppy eyes) 🙇🏻♂️ It’s really good!” Of course, he said this right in front of the sample person so I had to say yes. 😆 But when I went over to the shelf to grab a box, I saw that it was $8. Yep. $8 for mac and cheese… in a BOX… that you have to make YOURSELF. I’m all about those little splurges because they remind me that some things are worth taking a chance on, even if they seem unnecessary — or a little risky — at first. Just like buying that $8 mac and cheese, choosing to invest in yourself and try something new can feel daunting. When I decided to go full-time with my business, it was a big risk. But taking that leap led to opportunities I never could have imagined, like the freedom to prioritize what truly matters. 💗 For example, I recently made a quick decision to drive to my hometown in Mexico to check on my mom because she had been unwell for two days. (Moving to San Antonio after my dad passed was a choice I made to be closer to her.) The ability to just pack up and leave without asking anyone's permission—to put my family first—is a freedom I’ve worked on creating. Moments like these remind me how priceless it is to have time and location freedom. 🙏🏼✨ I want to help you create that kind of freedom for yourself! I’m inviting you to join my free master class called Design Your Way to Freedom. It’s your chance to dip your toes into the world of brand design, without the financial commitment. In this master class, I’ll share the secrets to becoming a successful brand designer, how to make good money (even with little experience), and some tough lessons I've learned along the way. This is your opportunity to treat yourself to learn about a new skill set that can open doors to the freedom you’ve been dreaming about! 🦋 And if this is not for you, I would greatly appreciate it if you share it with someone who you think can benefit from it! 🫶🏼 So tell me… would you buy $8 mac and cheese from the grocery store? Either way, I hope to see you at the master class on November 12th at 1pm EST. It’s going to be super fun! |
AUTHOR
Karla Pámanes is an award-winning designer, branding expert, and mentor who helps businesses elevate their brands through strategic and impactful impactful visual design. Based in San Antonio, TX, she lives with her son, Lennon, and their two quirky cats, Teodoro and Paquito. ARCHIVES
April 2025
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