Idealist Branding + Design Studio

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Idealist Branding + Design Studio

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branding + graphic design for visionaries

Our mission is to guide fellow idealists toward identifying the heart of their work and bringing their bold visions to life through their brand and visual identity.

18/04/2023

💖✨for all my small business babes out there ✨💖

18/04/2023

I started a blog!

I only want to create content that’s helpful, so I started with a general guide to ✨the rebrand ✨

The word “rebrand” tends to evoke an emotional response. Maybe you’re excited about the idea of a new, more modern brand image. Maybe some of your team is attached to the existing brand, or the people who helped to create it. Or maybe you love to talk about rebranding but committing to such a major change is anxiety-inducing.

I get it! I know I don’t even like to change my hairstyle unless I’m feeling ready to shift into that new version of myself. So how do we know it’s the right time to rebrand and why do we need to do it at all?

Think of this post as a general guide to the rebrand. What is it, why should we do it, how do we know it’s time, and how do we get started. Save it or bookmark it to reference later! When the process is overwhelming or intimidating, go back to the basics of why you’re doing this and what the next step is.

Let me know what you think! ⤵
https://idealistdesigns.com/2023/04/17/a-guide-to-the-rebrand/

07/04/2023

It’s been a minute since I’ve reintroduced myself on here! Since I’ve just passed my 1-year anniversary as a business owner, here’s a little about me and Idealist Branding + Design Studio:

I chose the name of this business, Idealist, as a way to reclaim the word as a strength and an asset. To me, an idealist is someone who has the hope and audacity to strive for something better, to believe we can solve problems together, learn, grow, and be better humans to each other. It’s a refusal to silence our voices to make others more comfortable or downplay our ideas to protect the status quo.

My radical idealism led me to an early career in the nonprofit industry where I earned my master’s degree and led teams in marketing, fundraising, and program development. I committed myself to empowering youth and women and making our community a better place to live. In that time, I built my skills in branding and design, and helped organizations create their own voice and identity. Pivoting to branding + graphic design full time is a pivot back to myself, to the work that moves me most deeply.

Idealist Designs is my platform to empower fellow idealists to change the world by bringing the core of their missions to life with a strong brand and visual identity. My designs and brand strategy have helped organizations:

✨ increase their online following,
✨ create a unique brand identity and strategy,
✨ and stand out among their peers.

Tell me about your bold visions, and I will help you bring them to life.

Check out my updated portfolio to see some of my work! https://idealistdesigns.com/home-2/portfolio/

02/03/2023

The challenge: help a small history museum with a dated reputation for elitism to show their community that they are actually BOLD, INCLUSIVE, and REVOLUTIONARY.

Working with this client was an exciting challenge. They wanted to honor their history while looking to the future. They are housed in beautiful historic buildings, but they want their community to see how much more they have to offer.

These are 2 of the different visual brands I created for them to show their community a more accurate picture of who they are. The first uses colors seen in their buildings but elevated to their brightest tones. The font is simple and modern, with a nod to their past in the slanted, serif “m”. The ampersand emphasizes their past AND their future, history AND culture.

The second version uses a muted red that slowly becomes more vibrant and more bold, a nod to their progression toward their new identity. The word mark looks both current and vintage, emphasizing their history and relevance. The illustrations of their historic buildings create instant recognition in their community styled to appear more contemporary.

Which version would you choose?

13/02/2023

Coming out of a longterm posting hiatus because some things are too great not to share ✨

I’m so proud of the logo and visual branding I created for First Drafts STL, an exciting new St. Louis business you should be paying attention to!

First Draft’s mission is to curate events and activities that provide people with opportunities to give back to the community, connect with others, and enrich their lives. The brand is geared toward older millennials who love good beer and their hometown of St. Louis. They’re welcoming and ready to explore new connections and activities together. This company is going to make a major impact, so make sure you’re following them!

Working with Mel Weber, the creative genius behind the new business, truly affirmed that I made the right choice a year ago when I quit my nonprofit job to start this design business. I love being part of making someone’s dream come to life and working alongside other creative entrepreneurs.

What do you think of First Draft's new look??

01/08/2022

I love when I have the opportunity to add some illustration to a design (even if it doesn't necessarily ~need~ it).

This invitation and program booklet for Greater St. Louis Area Council, Boy Scouts of America's Annual Dinner was a fun opportunity to add some watercolor effects and line art to the organization's existing brand colors and fonts. I got to take an outdoorsy, masculine aesthetic and dress it up for a fancy dinner, keeping the signature blue and focus on nature. :)

Plus, working with some old coworkers is always a pleasure 💖

Do you like incorporating illustrations into your visual branding?

18/07/2022

Authenticity is one of my greatest values and the reason I felt the calling to develop my own business, but sometimes it’s hard to do when you’re still learning (and feeling like a fraud).

This business is young; I just launched in February. I started strong and put myself out there, and it really paid off. I’ve done everything from creating the brand strategy for a think-tank to designing merch for influencers and even leading a rebrand for one of my favorite St. Louis attractions (coming soon ☺️). But for the last couple months, I’ve been pretty quiet on my socials and not promoting myself.

The truth is, I’ve been saying yes to everything and have felt overwhelmed and a little lost from the path I originally laid out for myself. Unplugging is the easiest way for me to get some of my time and energy back to refocus. I’ve had to rethink what I want to prioritize and where I want to go.

This is a turning point for Idealist as I focus in on the work that energizes me. As I risk stability for authenticity to my values and my goals.

I hope you’ll follow along as I start sharing some of my recent work as well as some projects I hope to do. Thanks for all your support! 💖

29/04/2022

A floral illustration timelapse to kick off your weekend 🌼🌱✨

15/04/2022

Vulnerable post alert!

The reason I want to work with entrepreneurs and visionaries on developing their brands (and not just producing designs) is because I want to help them find their voice. And because it took me so long to find mine.

Most people on this platform will not know that I was an extremely shy kid with severe social anxiety. I would literally not use my voice all day at school unless forced, and even then, the words sometimes would just not come out.

It took me years and a lot of emotional labor to learn to identify my own thoughts, values, and needs (and not just what others wanted or needed from me). And as I started using my voice, I found that many people liked the version of me that didn't have one, and they tried to silence me.

Doing the self-reflection work to identify your voice and identity as both a human and as a business is not a skill that people look for on a resume. But I do know that the deep listening, the empathy, the self-awareness, and the emotional intelligence that I offer to my clients (and my friends, family, and self) is valuable and unique.

I hope that you can work toward finding your authentic voice as a human first and as a business and brand. Your voice matters.

07/04/2022

Some new illustrations for a client to build up their visual branding on social media!

The client’s target audience is mostly moms and hopeful-moms in their 30’s and 40’s. We’re building up their brand to be wholesome, family-oriented, supportive, and safe.

Do these illustrations match that goal?

I’ll create individual versions of each element they choose in their color palette so they can be easily dropped into any design they make. Using template graphics is fine when you don’t have the time or budget to do design work. But your brand will be more recognizable upon a glance when you have your own unique visual assets that you use consistently in your communications. Your audience will know whose post they’re looking at without even thinking about it!

Do you need some help creating your unique online presence? Contact me at [email protected]. 💖

01/04/2022

Doing your graphic design work in-house to save some cash? I get it!

Here are some free resources you can use to help you along the way:

1. Pexels.com: my favorite site for free stock images that don't look too "stock photo-y"

2. Freepik.com: life changing. You don't have to be an Adobe expert to download free vector and psd files to be used in your designs!

3. Behance.net: Adobe's design community where you can search by industry for inspiration and design trends.

4. Adobe Color: generate color palettes from an image or search for trending palettes. Helps make sure your colors are complementing each other and not clashing.

What other resources do you use?
Share in the comments!

28/03/2022

🦋 ~ Unapologetic ~ 💫

At Idealist, we believe in being unapologetically you. Your brand should be authentic to who you are as a business. The moment you start to water it down to please a broader audience, you start to lose impact.

You are not for everyone, and that's okay! There are people out there who want exactly what you have to offer.

Does your org have a strong voice for your mission or do you tip toe around the controversial issues? Can you describe exactly who your services/products are for or do you try to keep it more general?

Know who you are, and don't be afraid to own it.

Keep being you. 💖💖

23/03/2022

I loved working with one of my favorite "influencers" on this hand-lettered merch. 😍

reviews celebrity homes on Instagram and has created a clear brand that values iced coffee and large kitchens. 😆

He wanted something simple and hand-lettered with one of his most popular catch phrases, and I love what we came up with together. It will be available soon printed on t-shirts and embroidered on sweatshirts, hoodies, and bucket hats.

Reach out for all your hand-lettering needs 💖

18/03/2022

is coming up on May 5! Are you prepared? Here's my tips:

1. Incorporate the GiveSTLDay logo into your posts, but don't use the template graphics. You don't want your post to blend in with the hundreds of other posts that day.

2. Give people a clear idea of how their specific gift will make an impact. Example: $25 will fund 3 youth to complete our financial management training program. $10 will provide 100 diapers to mothers in need.

3. Make your fundraising goal clear and update your people on your progress throughout the day. When you show that you're just $250 away from your goal, people will come through to help you reach it.

4. Highlight your current donors, volunteers, or clients and the positive feedback they have about your organization. This will build trust in your org and help your posts get more visibility (tag the donors/volunteers if they're okay with that!)

5. Show your appreciation and celebrate your fundraising accomplishments! People want to see that they were part of a successful campaign.

Need someone to help you put together your GiveSTLDay social media campaign?
Contact us at [email protected].

https://idealistdesigns.com/

15/03/2022

✨Unapologetic Idealist💫

I chose the name of this business, Idealist, as a way to reclaim the word as a strength and an asset. To me, an idealist is someone who has the hope and audacity to strive for something better, to believe we can solve problems together, learn, grow, and be better humans to each other. It’s a refusal to silence our voices to make others more comfortable or downplay our ideas to protect the status quo.

Have you ever been discredited because of your idealism?

10/03/2022

At Idealist, we want to be part of your team and to see you succeed. Working with us means that you won't just get the design you need, but we'll also:

- Listen deeply to you
- Collaborate with you
- Believe in your vision
- Do our homework
- Create high quality designs

Reach out to [email protected] to gain a new advocate for you and your business.

https://idealistdesigns.com/

07/03/2022

Just your friendly reminder that the unique perspective you bring to the table has value.
Lean into what makes you different.
Listen to feedback, but don't let it crowd out your own voice.
Trust your experience and wisdom.
💖✨🦋

02/03/2022

PSA: If your org doesn’t genuinely serve or invest in BIPOC communities, then you shouldn’t be overusing their images in your branding. It’s just an attempt for dishonest diversity points.

01/03/2022

Managing social media shouldn't be a drain on your budget, especially when you're working with limited funds or donations.

Here are 4 of my favorite ✨free✨ apps to help:

1. Canva: the most intuitive drag & drop design app to make posts and stories. This may be an unpopular designer opinion, but you don't need Adobe Illustrator to make a compelling post.

2. Mematic: depending on your audience, memes can serve as engaging content that people love to share. Mematic makes it easy to plug in your content and find the trending meme templates.

3. Meta Facebook Suite: If you have an Instagram or Facebook, then you already have access to this free post and story scheduler. It also helps you reply to all your messages and comments in one place.

4. Buffer: If Hootsuite is outside your budget, try this app to manage post scheduling on all platforms (limited number for the free version). I especially like the automatic link shortening feature.

These all have paid account options to utilize more tools but enough of what they offer is usable on their free versions. Happy posting!

26/02/2022

From the portfolio: a visually intriguing report

The goal: Create a report to visually explain data and research to a broad audience and recognize participating companies (without looking dull or overwhelming).

Deliverables included: 30-page report with several infographics, graphs, icons, and other graphics, viewable digitally and in print.

Looking for someone to create your next annual report or donor update? Get in touch or visit our website at https://idealistdesigns.com/.

25/02/2022

Does anyone else have a hard time focusing on being "productive" when it feels like the world is unraveling?

I've always been told to put my feelings aside, and just stop thinking about it, but I've never really understood that. Don't the tragic wars and oppression we're witnessing deserve our attention? Our grief?

Art has always been a remedy for me when the grief is too large to ignore. Instead of ignoring my feelings yesterday, I just let them fuel my energy to create and express in a way that feels right for me. I hope you can do the same.

That's my art therapy lesson for today. 🙃

23/02/2022

Do you know this term yet?

Chances are, you've contracted with or bought products from a mompreneur who is not only investing her energy and heart into her family but is creating and running a business at the same time.

At Idealist, we understand firsthand the struggles and joys of being a mompreneur, and we want to empower other women business owners to achieve their dreams without compromising on their values.

A beautiful and recognizable brand will help you reach your goals faster and make a stronger impact with your business. We work with entrepreneurs to cultivate a consistent and meaningful brand identity that will be recognizable across platforms.

Who are your favorite mompreneurs and what amazing services/products do they provide? Tag them in the comments!

22/02/2022

Just for fun :)

Something I love about making art just to make art is that you're allowed to experiment and try different ways of expressing something without the pressure of being perfect. It's good for the soul.

Font inspired by Bluey because I'm a toddler mom and it's all I think about 😆

18/02/2022

✨ Reminder ✨
You are worthy of your wildest dreams.

The vision you have for your life matters, and you are worth the energy, work, and support required to get there. 💖

17/02/2022

Branding is more than creating beautiful designs.

Our mission is to guide fellow idealists toward identifying the heart of their work and bringing their bold visions to life through their brand and visual identity.

We do this by
- listening deeply
- drawing connections
- creating innovative art
- keeping big-picture strategy in mind

Learn more on our website: https://idealistdesigns.com/

16/02/2022

From the portfolio: Fundraising Event Materials

The goal: create an updated look for the annual fundraising gala that will appeal to working women in St. Louis, while staying within the organization’s brand.

Deliverables included: event logo, sponsorship packet, invitation, programs, and social media/email graphics.

What I love about this design is the subtle incorporation of the St. Louis Arch within the sunrise shape. The tagline for the event was "Celebrating Hope on the HER-izon." This design emulates the hopefulness of a sunrise and incorporates the organization's location without looking like every other St. Louis logo. Plus, I incorporated a sunrise sky image as a backdrop in the other materials to extend the sunrise theme.

What do you think about this one?
See more of my designs in my portfolio: https://idealistdesigns.com/home-2/portfolio/.

15/02/2022

I’m excited to reveal my new website that I’ve been working on quietly for weeks. It’s a vulnerable but exciting feeling to reveal something so close to my heart. Starting Idealist is like coming home to myself, returning to something that’s been within me all along. I hope you’ll enjoy the art I’ll create and share on this page!

Visit idealistdesigns.com to view my portfolio and read more about my story and what this business is all about. 💖💫

15/02/2022

Hi there! 👋

I’m Sarah Hines, founder of Idealist Branding + Design Studio. Today is our official launch, and I'm so glad you're here for day 1!

Idealist Designs is an independent branding and graphic design company led by me, your resident unapologetic idealist.

We specialize in creating unique visual identities and materials for mission-driven organizations and businesses.

Follow our page for branding tips, design process vids, and highlights of local entrepreneurs and nonprofits doing big things.

✨ Let's change the world together. ✨
Learn more: https://idealistdesigns.com/

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A floral illustration timelapse to kick off your weekend 🌼🌱✨

Just for fun :) Something I love about making art just to make art is that you're allowed to experiment and try different ways of expressing something without the pressure of being perfect. It's good for the soul. Font inspired by Bluey because I'm a toddler mom and it's all I think about 😆

I’m excited to reveal my new website that I’ve been working on quietly for weeks. It’s a vulnerable but exciting feeling to reveal something so close to my heart. Starting Idealist is like coming home to myself, returning to something that’s been within me all along. I hope you’ll enjoy the art I’ll create and share on this page! Visit idealistdesigns.com to view my portfolio and read more about my story and what this business is all about. 💖💫

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