We’ll be working with them on their branding and website.

We were surrounded by like-minded women who want to use their talents to make the world a better place. It was humbling and encouraging to hear the stories of what these women have accomplished and how they are making a difference in the world. Among the speakers were Sarah Dubbeldam from Darling Magazine, Hannah Brencher, the founder of More Love Letters, and my favorite designer, Promise Tangeman. We took a ton of notes and have lots of ideas swirling around in our heads. It was great to think through some new ideas and dream about what’s next!

Each Monday during our weekly meeting, one team member shares something from within their area of expertise. This is a time for us to exchange inspiration, practical knowledge or whatever has been on our minds. We appropriately call this time “Exchange” and have adapted a recent segment to share with you here.

When working on page layouts or other compositions for clients, designers can easily go on autopilot. We know the rules of good design and make choices accordingly, but it often becomes second nature.

This is great until we present the work to the client and they begin asking why we made certain choices. We love a good design conversation with a client. But sometimes we set ourselves up for failure because we haven’t consciously reminded ourselves of why the design works.

So, grid it out! One of the best ways to explain layout decisions to clients is with a grid. Before you start designing, draw a diagonal line from the top left corner to the bottom right corner, either on a portrait or landscape orientation. Then draw a line from each other corner to join the previous horizontal line at a right angle. The point where the lines join are the areas of maximum attention. This is where your eyes want to look; this is where they’re naturally led.

A composition based on this layout leads the viewer’s eyes across the page. Test out this grid on other works, like ads in magazines or even famous works of art. You’ll find that most pieces work within this grid structure.

When it comes time to show the client your design solution, take a minute to explain the grid and why it works. Point out how it’s been used on art and design from well-known examples. Then present your concept through the lens of this method. Now you’ve found a way to present things objectively! And that makes for smooth sailing when presenting your work.

On Wednesday, April 9, we held our very first Brand Bat strategy workshop. Although this was the beta-test version of the event, we had a great time connecting with some passionate people looking to fine-tune their branding. We hosted a variety of participants ranging from leaders in business and nonprofits, to start-ups. In exchange for their feedback and willingness to share about the experience, our participants received the whole enchilada and are well on their way to creating their own brand strategy.

We’re in the process of reviewing all the feedback now and crafting an even better version of the workshop for our next event on Wednesday, June 4. If you and/or your team are looking to get a handle on branding for your organization, consider signing up for our next workshop.