a graphic + web + print design studio
I’d like to offer some free advice based on 10 years of experience as a graphic designer/business owner. I want to teach you how to find the RIGHT designer to brand your business. (And no, it may not be me!)
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When Hurricane Harvey hit this past fall, Houston came together in a remarkable way. As soon as the water receded, neighbors began cooking food for first responders, organizing donations at churches, and tearing down drywall in the homes of strangers to mitigate flood damage. I, however, remained holed up at home with an infant. As I scrolled through Facebook, I searched for a way to help. Eventually, I came across a thread on Tuesdays Together in which fellow creatives expressed concern about booking clients in the coming months: "Now that so many people have lost everything, will they have any disposable income left to spend on us?" "How will this affect local business?" "What can we do?"
I promised that I would give back by offering a discount to the small business community when I returned from maternity leave. Well, friends, guess what...I've decided to take it one step further and give away a FULL BRANDING PACKAGE to an inspiring creative. I have never, EVER done this before and I really hope it works out.
First, let me be clear that this giveaway will not be awarded to just anyone. It will not be a random drawing, and applicants will have to meet certain criteria. (In that sense, I guess it's more of a contest than a giveaway.) Our goal is to find someone who is not only a great fit for Akula Kreative, but also someone whose work will inspire the community.
Basic Branding Promo valued at $1000:
Full Branding Package valued at $2500:
Branding Promo: Limit 1 per quarter. Open to everyone.
$250 deposit required. Balance due at project completion.
Full Branding: Limit 1. Open to Houston area residents only.
$500 deposit required to go towards print work. *
* WAIT. Why are you requiring a $500 deposit for a giveaway?! I designed this project so you can walk away with not only a beautiful brand, but stunning, show-stopping business cards as well. (Think: luxe letterpress, painted edges, the whole nine yards.) If you're tight on cash, then printing a business card that will do your work justice can be tough. Soooo, now you can put all of that hard-earned money towards printing the card of your dreams!!! Plus, requiring a deposit tells me you're SERIOUS about this process and you have some skin in the game. If you reeeally want to apply but only have, let's say, a $300 print budget, we encourage you to apply anyway and leave a note about budget concerns in the comments section. :)
Want to learn more about our Branding Packages? Click here.
The Full Branding Package will come with a minimum of 3 custom Logo Designs plus Color Palette, Signature Pattern, Style Guide, Business Card Design, and more! After your discovery session, we'll talk about your business goals, vision, and everything in between. Then we'll work together to build a brand you LOVE!
It's been MONTHS in the making, but v. 2.0 of the Branding Workbook launches today! To celebrate, we're giving away an amaaazing prize pack:
What is the Branding Workbook? The NEW Branding Workbook combines our two most popular formats—booklet and wire-o binding—in a refined, portable package. Thanks to feedback from actual workbook owners, the content has been updated with new graphics, more examples, and access to extra downloads.
Designed for creative entrepreneurs and small business owners, this interactive workbook contains over 40 full-color pages of info, exercises, and tips for crafting a unique, thoughtful, and relevant brand identity.
If you've already purchased the workbook, simply leave a comment on social media and we'll give you 5 entries!
UPDATE :: The winner has been selected and notified via email. Thank you for your participation! Follow us on Instagram for the chance to win another giveaway very, very soon.
Congratulations to KRISTY of Looseleaf Editorial & Production for winning a copy of our Branding Workbook!
Kristy, a small business owner in Utah, provides quality editorial and production services to individual authors, publishers, businesses, and scholars. When asked how the Branding Workbook would help her, she explained:
I am preparing to focus my efforts specifically to fiction authors this coming year. Up to now I have been casting a very broad net for clients, but my schedule is now very full (I'm a stay-at-home mom and I'll soon be managing .33 acres of garden and chickens as well), so I want to select for quality over quantity when it comes to clients.
I want to focus my branding (and probably rebrand) to attract fiction writers, as they are the clients whose work I enjoy the most and with whom I feel the most collaborative spirit.
However, I have NO branding experience. I built my website myself and did all the logo creation, but I have little design background (I think it shows). I was able to get some professional input on my rebrand, but I don't feel like I have a good enough direction yet for myself, let alone for someone else to help me. A workbook would help me ask the right questions and formulate solid answers so I can give myself a better idea of how to brand Looseleaf appropriately.
Kristy: the Branding Workbook sounds like a great fit for this little predicament, so we are more than happy to give you a boost. Good luck, best wishes, and stay in touch!
Happy Thanksgiveaway Week! To kick it off, we're giving you a chance to win a booklet copy of our new pride and joy :: A Branding Workbook for Small Businesses.
40+ full color pages of info, exercises, and tips for developing a unique, lasting brand identity.
Creative professionals who want to get the most out of their investment in small business branding.
To get organized, define your brand, and HAVE FUN with the creative process.
GIVEAWAY Terms, Conditions, Rules, and Regulations
Giveaway starts November 24, 2014 and ends December 7, 2014 at 11:59pm CST.
To enter, fill out the form below. No purchase necessary.
One winner will be selected based on the following criteria: quality of response and social media interaction. We're looking for creative small business owners who want to gain valuable insight into the branding process. If you follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest, you'll get extra brownie points.
Limit one entry per person. Multiple people from the same business may enter individually on behalf of that business.
Winner will be chosen the week of December 8, 2014 and announced on Facebook. Assuming we have a valid mailing address, we will ship the booklet within 5 business days of the announcement.
This giveaway has no cash value.
By entering this giveaway, you hereby grant us permission to publish your name, business name (if applicable), and any other business-related details you include in your submission. We will NOT publish your email or mailing address.
Akula Kreative has the right to change the rules or cancel this giveaway at any time. (We have no intention of doing this, but we have to protect ourselves.)
The giveaway has ended and we've announced the winner HERE. Thanks for your submissions!
It's been MONTHS in the making, but my Branding Workbook is finally on press!
44 pages of exercises, tips, and guidelines for crafting a unique, thoughtful, and relevant brand identity.
Topics include: Branding 101, Typography, Logo Development, Finding Inspiration, Color, Style Guides, Pattern, and Choosing a Designer.
Creative professionals and entrepreneurs who...
First and foremost, I want to share my creative process with small business owners. I also want to prove to them how, with the right information, preparation, and hard work, they can HAVE FUN building a powerful brand without a "big business" budget.
This is not a book about getting anything for free; however, I provide lots of tips about how to work with a small budget! It's all about organizing your thoughts and understanding your business so you can communicate quickly and efficiently with your designer. My goal is to give you the confidence and know-how to invest wisely and create something meaningful.
This first run is VERY limited, so if you're interested in getting your hands on one, you can reserve a workbook during our PRE-SALE. Workbooks will be ready to ship by mid November (if not sooner).
P.S. Our shop is brand new, so please contact us if you have any technical difficulties. We did our best to iron out the kinks!