Phewww, it feels really good to be back in your inbox, I’m officially ready to dive into season 3 of The Design Download! Sooo let's catch up! The past few months have been full in the BEST way. See for yourself what I've been up to. Lots of designing, lots of launches (for clients & my other biz) and lots of creativity flowing... if you're also a multi-passionate person, I know you get me.
I closed the year on a high (with some verrrryyyy necessary down time) and continuing with that passion and excitement for what’s coming… this year is about momentum. No more sitting on ideas. No more imposter syndrome.
No more waiting for the right time. Because that’s the thing about time, I think we can all agree that we don't have enough of it, and it goes too fast! SO, we’re hitting the ground running (please say you're with me)! Okay, I know I can't force you to feel as excited as I am for a fresh start. But I can share a few inspiring projects from the past few months, to get you thinking about your OWN business & dreaming up the possibilities for yourself this year.
And I simply haaave to highlight these amazing women and their businesses. They truly deserve all the love and recognition!
Client transformations that have been lighting me up creatively
A brand rooted in preserving the crafts and trades passed down through generations. Sewing, crocheting, home-making… not just hobbies, but a slower, more intentional way of creating. The Grandma Skills brand feels nostalgic, purposeful, and inspiring for every season of life. You already know my crafty, vintage loving heart felt so connected to this project! It was truly an honor to bring Michelle's vision to life.
Loon Lake Candles with Dre Clean, cozy, mood-lifting candles that are safe for your home. No chemicals, just clean scents and really good vibes. The brand reflects that calm, grounded, up-north feeling while still feeling elevated and modern. Another one that completely spoke to me, as someone who loves lake and cabin life! This was a Brand Intensive (with a few add-ons), a quick brand-in-a-week and Dre was on her way, up and running with her new look & back to doing what she loves!
MN Bucket List Mom with Nicole Helping families discover the best spots across Minnesota without the stress of planning. From weekend getaways to small town day trips and seasonal events, we created a brand that feels approachable, trustworthy, and full of connection. This was so fun, bright, and summery... I was totally leaning into my auntie vibe with this one. I LOVE Nicole's content and she has almost 40 fun MN playgrounds on her site, organized by region with clickable Maps links. Just an all around great resource whether you're exploring the site or following her on socials.
The Wandering Tourists with Rachel Story-driven lifestyle and portrait photography centered on connection and presence. Less posing, more real, in-between moments. We leaned into Rachel’s adventurous spirit and warm energy to create a brand that makes her clients feel comfortable and truly themselves. We first designed her branding years ago before she was even doing photography, and recently refreshed her website and added fun brand icons to match this current season of her business.
Working with these women has been such a beautiful reminder of why I love what I do so much. Every business is different, but the intention behind them is always deeply personal.
It’s never just a logo design or a website for me. It’s about the heart behind your ‘why’, and I always make sure we infuse that into every layer of your brand and website.
I feel incredibly grateful to be part of these journeys, and I don’t take that role lightly! At the core of it all, I care about clarity. About creating space for your ideas to breathe, grow, and actually move forward. And that idea of clarity has been showing up in my own life lately too. I don’t know if it has to do with getting older (as I’m slowly approaching another trip around the sun…pisces gal here) but I can’t even THINK unless there’s less noise around me. But not literally. I’m talking about the stuff in our homes, on our devices, in our vehicles. Lately that’s meant decluttering my home, donating bags of stuff that no longer serves me, reorganizing closets, and creating systems that actually work for me. It’s wild how much lighter everything feels once the physical clutter clears. And it got me thinking… the same thing happens in our businesses. Sometimes it’s not a lack of ideas holding us back. It’s digital clutter we don’t even realize is there. So here’s a little checklist of things you can work on this month to set yourself up for success this year, and move forward feeling like everything is in order for your online presence!
VOL. 016: Digital Refresh Checklist for 2026
1. WEBSITE OFFERINGS
Over time, we add things, tweak things, test things… and suddenly your website is saying ten different things at once. Take a step back and look at your offerings with fresh eyes. Are they still aligned with the work you actually want more of this year? Or the products you want to sell? If you’ve outgrown an offer or an audience, it’s okay to let that evolve. Your website should grow with you and reflect where you’re at today.
Remove or deactivate old, sold out, or no longer relevant products or services
Reorder collections so what you want to sell most is front and center
Make sure your homepage reflects your current season (or where we're headed... right now, people are thinking spring).
For service providers, double check that your offers are clear, easy to understand, and speak to the clients you want now. It's a good time to revisit this!
This page gets neglected way more than it should, and people absolutely read it!
Your About page isn’t just your story, it’s where trust is built. It’s where someone decides if they feel connected to you, your values, and your way of doing business. It's where you get to talk about what makes you human!
Read your About page out loud. Does it still truly sound like you? (Tip: Think of having a conversation with a friend.. it should sound like how you'd talk to them while catching up at a coffee shop).
Which leads us to... make sure your personality comes through. People want to work with you, not a polished robot!
Swap in a more recent photo you actually love
Need a little more help in this area? Five easy ways to make your brand and website feel more aligned, intentional, and true to who you are as a creative business owner
3. SOCIAL BIOS & LINKS
Your bio is often one of the first impressions, and broken links or outdated info can quietly turn people away without you ever realizing it. And the majority of people aren’t going to message you to say your link doesn’t work.
Click every single link in your bio and make sure it works
Make sure your bio still matches what you’re currently offering
Remove anything confusing, outdated, or unnecessary.. keep it clear and to the point! Simple is best!
4. EMAIL LIST
I’m putting a little bug in your ear to let this be the year you finally start using your email list.
At the very least, your website should have a clear place for people to join your list. Even if you only send one email between now and summer, you’ll be glad you started building it now instead of putting it off. Here are the big two things to check:
Is there an obvious place to sign up on your website?
Does it work and actually connect to your email platform?
You don’t need a perfect system. You just need a starting point. And if you need help with all of that, or creating an email newsletter template that gets the ball rolling and you can confidently send it out each month, just say the word and I’ll get you set up!
5. WEBSITE PHOTOS
If you feel bored of your website photos or like you don’t have enough photography for your site, you’re not doing anything wrong and this is totally common.
It’s completely normal to outgrow images as your brand evolves. And yes, you can absolutely use stock photos that still feel intentional and on-brand.
Remove or swap out photos that feel dated or no longer fit your vibe
Look for images that support your brand mood, not just fill space
Mix stock photos with your own content to keep things personal
Photos don’t need to be perfect, they just need to support the feeling you want people to have when they land on your site.
When the backend of your business feels organized and refreshed, everything else gets easier. You show up more confidently. You share more freely. You put yourself out there knowing what people land on actually reflects the current version of you and what you offer.
If you’re feeling that nudge like “okay… it’s time,” here are a few ways I can support you this season:
✦ Brand Intensive > Perfect if you want a beautiful brand buildout fast. One focused design day with discovery the week before, and you walk away with a beautiful brand that finally feels like you. This is ideal if you know the vibe you want and are ready to make confident, in-the-moment decisions.
Here’s what Dre from Loon Lake Candles, had to say about her Brand Intensive:
"Everything looks better than I ever could have imagined. I just want to thank you for your creativeness, your help, and overall being a light on this earth. You crushed this project and I cannot WAIT to show all the Loonies what's new and in store to come. It feels surreal even to have a direction when it comes to branding, and without you I'd feel so all over the place still. I am just over the moon with how this all came together."
✦ Brand Clarity Session > Not ready for design quite yet? This 90-minute 1:1 video session is like a reset for your brain. We’ll get you unstuck, dial in your direction, and you’ll leave with a clear plan you actually feel excited to follow through on.
✦Brand + Website Design> Ready for the full transformation? This is for you if you’re ready to be fully up and running with a brand and website that feel totally you. We’ll create a beautiful, custom site that helps you show up confidently, connect with the right people, and turn visits into sales.
✦ Creative Resources for Designers & Biz Owners > I recently launched Driftly, a hand-drawn, nature-inspired font that’s bold, organic, and perfect for branding projects that need that handcrafted feel. I also have my Honeybook Proposal Template, which seriously transformed my client journey and helped me confidently book higher-ticket projects. But if you're not using HoneyBook yet.. it's such an amazing tool for service-based businesses. Here's 30% off your annual subscription! I’m currently booking late February & March projects, so if you've got something in mind, I'd LOVE to hear about it...let's chat! Cheering you on always!
Designing dream brands & igniting creativity
(and I love supporting other small business owners!) Meet Naomi. A Minnesota-based brand and website designer known for bold, modern, and artistic designs. My passion lies in crafting captivating brand narratives and inspiring others to pursue their creative dreams! Let's get creative together!
