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Ideas to shoot & kill your Instagram

Marketing in 2022

Instagram has become one of the most important platforms for all of us to be in.

No matter what your niche is, no matter what your industry is, it’s highly likely you’ll find your audience on Instagram.

So it makes a ton of sense to not be posting or engaging randomly. Like anything else about marketing your business and growing your brand, you need to be strategic about it.

We're sharing here ideas that will shoot and kill your Instragram account.

In other words, the biggest mistakes we see our clients make (before they start working with us 😉) and how to avoid them.

Growing an Instagram account, one that actually gets you business results, takes a lot of time, a lot of hard work. And even when things seem to be going well, they change something in the algorithm, and now all of a sudden we need to rethink the whole strategy to get things back on their feet. It’s frustrating at times.

Yet, killing everything can happen super quickly just with a couple of common mistakes!

Are you walking around with a loaded gun?

Pay attention to these mistakes that will shoot and kill your Instagram!

Out of our own experience, and what we’ve been helping our clients with – these are the 5 most common mistakes that will send your Instagram account into a spiral downwards so fast that you won’t even know how it happened.

Are you guilty of any of these?

1. Posting just for the sake of posting.

Be strategic with what you’re doing on Instagram. Every brand touchpoint should have its purpose.

2. Going quiet for weeks.

You’ve been building for months and you stopped posting? Don’t expect that your entire audience will be there waiting for you, they won’t. 

3. Inconsistency.

If you’re posting randomly throughout the week and month, this isn’t going to work. Be consistent. Even if it’s just two times a week. Let it always be two times a week.

4. Trying to sell. Every time.

Social media is to build relationships first, selling second. Rushing to the sale will only get you a bad rep. We’ve been doing 80/20 – 80% is giving all we have to give, 20% is asking for a sale.

5. Pivoting abruptly.

If you’ve started on one thing, and now you’re switching to something else, that’s fine. Just make sure if you should drop that account and start a new one, or if your current audience matches what you’ll be doing and you can announce the pivot seamlessly.

Coming back from a dead account will be super hard.

In most cases, it’s just easier to start a new one. What’s even easier is to not commit any of these crucial mistakes at all!

Have you started your journey on Instagram? How’s it going?

Let's keep the conversation going?

Joel Sousa
Brand Identity Designer

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© 2023 GrowingDesign. All rights reserved.

Go Boss Yourself

Illustration

~ intro ~
Joel is a brand identity & graphic designer passionate about helping businesses (re)create their brands the right way. 
He also helps frustrated creatives become confidently independent freelancers, and he wrote a book about it.
 
“Go Boss Yourself” is not your 0-to-10k a month bullshit eBook. It’s free, it’s awesome, and it shares a lot of random stuff you need to know right now.
 
Joel challenged me to create illustrations to go along with the content, which I happily accepted.
~ the problem ~
Every year 26,000,000 mamas experience maternal mental health conditions.
Anne & Ann are committed to reducing this number and helping as many women as possible.
 
Their purpose is amazing, but unfortunately, Canopie’s visuals didn’t translate the message or the energy it deserves. They had a lack of graphic cohesiveness, mostly because they were doing everything by themselves, using clipart-based images, without any structure, or the help of a professional designer.
 
After a consultation session, we agreed in setting a harmonious visual style and develop a group of illustrations that communicate the sense of stillness, comfort, and positiveness across all the sections of the app.
~ concept & solution ~
Based on the mood board, we established the basics for the illustration style:

Flat, geometric shapes combined with simple outlined elements. Human connection is very important to Joel, so we made sure to include human characters wherever they fit. We followed a monochromatic color palette, coherent with his personal brand feel – lots of blue.
~ the outcome ~
By combining this valuable written content with the illustrations we provide a better experience to the readers. We keep them engaged by breaking the flow with visual content.
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GrowingDesign © 2014-2023

Media with Dee

Website Design & Development

Dana helps passionate skilled individuals turn their ideas into content, and their content into impact & revenue.

Dana already had a strong brand presence on Instagram when she came to us looking for a website.

The goal for this new brand touchpoint is to strengthen her overall online presence and brand experience.

She now has a place online she can call her own.

"My goal is to provide you with the knowledge, tools, and inspiration so you use social media in an impactful positive way to grow your business and help others while doing what you love."

- Dana Soueid

The project was divided into easy-to-follow phases and the complete process included:

  • Research and mood boarding
  • Content auditing and wireframing
  • Full website design and development (on WordPress)

Services page

Free content page

Mobile version

We spend most of our time on our phones. Having a mobile-friendly website is an absolute must. Especially when most of the traffic is going to come from social media!

Built-in link in bio

No need for third-party apps or services, when you have your own website use it to host your unique link in bio for your marketing purposes.

Established entrepreneurs need their own website.

Visit it today and meet
Media with Dee

When I decided it was time to have my own website, I confidently chose Joel to work with on this project. After connecting with him on social media, I was sure he would be the right person to help me build not only an aesthetically pleasing website, but one that would actually get more eyes on my business and help me grow. And he did exactly that!
Dana Soueid
Dana SoueidFounder of Media with Dee
Work with us
Thank you!

GrowingDesign © 2022

Pedro Custódio

Motion Designer & 3D Render

I’m a 3D animator and creative director with more than 5 years of experience, working with both musical artists and big companies from all around the world.

Putting imagination to the test is what I do every day. 3D gives people an all-new world of possibilities on what they can achieve for their brand, from the most dramatic and out-of-this-world creations to the more realistic and minimalistic of results.

Create 3D that has meaning, that’s one of my mottos. Creating 3D is one thing, but bringing it to life is another. I always help my clients see that, have the company’s essentials represented in every design or animation we do together.

I’ve started doing graphic design in 2013 and right away, motion design caught my eye! At first, doing 2D animation, but felt restricted in what I was doing. So the only logical way was to start doing 3D, which I did for 1 year in a studio based in Lisbon, always keeping my freelance gigs.

Let’s see what we can achieve with your brand? Shoot me a message.

Send us a message

Patrícia Oliveira

Graphic Designer & Illustrator

I’m a graphic designer focused on helping meaningful & nice-people-managed startups stand out by providing custom and appealing brand visuals.

My journey started with product design, but I soon found out that graphic was the way, when I realized that I had more fun creating the communication assets for my products than designing the products themselves.

Along with 4+ years of freelancing, I had the opportunity to help more than 20 (now a bit happier) business owners from all over the world.

They define the experience as reliable, enjoyable, and smooth.
Keep learning is a must, so, some of my time is invested in it, to make sure I’m always updated and ready to come up with creative solutions for any new challenges.

Let’s meet each other! 

Message me about your project or with any questions about my process. If your project seems like a good fit, we can schedule a call to discuss further details.

Send us a message

Manuel Silva

3D Modeler & Illustrator

Ahoy! My name is Manel da Selva. I am a 3D Artist and Illustrator shaman based in Portugal with more than five years of experience!

Since the start of my art shaman path, I’ve shared my 3D modeling, illustration, and graphic design powers.

I’ve graduated from Esad CR and IPCA and for the past 5 years, I’ve been sharing my soul with great clients including the Boom Festival, Mythic Figurines, and Reflare Models. I’ve also had the honor to win 1st place at Esdica Comic Contest!

When I’m not working as a 3D artist I can be found on the Lusitanian forests making ancestral rites and bike riding.

Are you in need of 3D characters or props for print, design, animation, or games? And also looking for something transcendental? I’ll bring your ideas to the realm of the living just as you imagine!

Contact us today!

Send us a message
Jérémy Gabon

Brand design

Focusing on prospecting through LinkedIn, Jérémy Gabon is a coach who accompanies entrepreneurs in their use of social media networks for the development of their business.  

Jérémy Gabon

Calm, helpful and professional.

To have the most positive impact on people's lives so that they can achieve their goals and inspire them to do the same.

We have also chosen important brand values that we'll translate, and manifest in the visual outputs.

Freedom

To live in complete freedom and without professional and/or monetary obstacles

Listening

Jérémy Gabon will listen to you and analyze all your concerns and needs

Preeminence

Thanks to intensive work and appropriate investments, we can take a place above our competitors

Helping

Jérémy Gabon shares his knowledge and experience with his audience every day

Helping entrepreneurs developing themselves.

Working with you allowed me to clearly define the values I wanted to put forward with my brand. Thanks to you, I now have the tools, the templates, and the structure to develop my project. What I appreciated the most with you were your understanding, attention, and responsiveness. I would recommend Joel to anyone who needs to define, structure, or improve their brand image so that it reflects their values.
Jérémy Gabon
Jérémy GabonCoach
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GrowingDesign © 2014-2021
The Sancho Law Firm

Brand design

The Sancho Law Firm is a full-service boutique law firm specializing in real estate transactions, entity creation and maintenance, and estate planning.
The Sancho Law Firm
Experience is our Superpower.

We take pride in guiding our clients through the entire transaction by providing a customized solution that directly benefits their individual needs.

We have also chosen important brand values that we'll translate, and manifest in the visual outputs.

Innovation

21st-century law firm that features the latest technology and safety advances to ease our clients

Dynamism and Dedication

The firm is flexible and can adapt to the needs and requirements of the client while staying true to the rule of law

Approachability

Clients are treated like family as the firm becomes 100% invested in their Real Estate transactions from start to finish and beyond

Trust and Fidelity

The Sancho Law Firm, not only wants to earn their client’s business as a one-time occasion but instead, wants to become their partner of choice

From contract to closing!
We were looking for a logo redesign initially but after speaking with Joel, we realized that we would be better off with a rebranding. We and our clients loved the work as it captured our vision. We were most appreciative of Joel’s passion for the work he was doing with us. He really listened and then delivered incredible results to every one of our requirements. We recommend Joel because he impresses as a professional with knowledge about a lot of areas but best of all he is very resourceful. Thank you for the great work and we look forward to working with you again!
Dania Sancho & Yonet Garcia
Dania Sancho & Yonet GarciaThe Sancho Law Firm
Work with us
GrowingDesign © 2014-2021
Beanism

Brand design

Beanism is a coffee brand that offers healthy and sustainable direct-to-consumer products with a strong message about the importance of mental, physical, and spiritual health.
Beanism
Body, Mind, and Bean.

Mission

Beanism wants to bring awareness to the importance of Mental, Physical, and Spiritual health while offering healthy and sustainable products directly to the consumer.

Brand values

Health
Being healthy is the absolute core of the brand.
Self-care
Practicing self-care and seeking well-being is part of the main message.
Compassion
Recognizing that there are people suffering and the need to take action.
Communication
Strong and clear communication.
Community
Moved by a group of people with a common goal.
Gratitude
Appreciating all the people involved in this movement.
For your Physical, Mental & Spiritual Health.
Beanism

The brand goal is to spread the message and importance of overall well-being but mainly in the three categories of mental, physical, and spiritual health.

Beanism will achieve this with products that perfectly align with these three categories, and a strong and constant content creation and sharing across multiple platforms.

Healthy choices made simple.
We were looking for a logo redesign initially but after speaking with Joel, we realized that we would be better off with a rebranding. We and our clients loved the work as it captured our vision. We were most appreciative of Joel’s passion for the work he was doing with us. He really listened and then delivered incredible results to every one of our requirements. We recommend Joel because he impresses as a professional with knowledge about a lot of areas but best of all he is very resourceful. Thank you for the great work and we look forward to working with you again!
Dania Sancho & Yonet Garcia
Dania Sancho & Yonet GarciaThe Sancho Law Firm
Work with us
GrowingDesign © 2014-2021
Tiny Leopards

Brand design

~ intro ~
Katrina is a dedicated mom and founder of Tiny Leopards. They are focused on creating clothing for eczema-prone babies that provides structural support to compliment an eczema skin management routine, all while keeping the babies looking cozy and stylish.
 
But they are not just another cute clothing brand. Katrina’s mission is to help parents protect their babies from their skin struggles, create awareness for this kind of challenges and build an online community to support the families that go through it.
 
She wanted a brand identity that would stand out and resonate with the brand vision while keeping a kid-friendly yet sophisticated and hip look.
 
My task here was to translate that mood into meaningful visuals.
Let’s find out how!
Before diving into colors and shapes, we set a session to chat about the brand. You’ll get a simple brand identity questionnaire, and, based on your insights, we’ll develop a mood board. With this, I can fully understand your goals and sense of style that will help us follow the right creative path and ensure we end up with satisfactory results.
~ concept & solution ~
logo
The Tiny Leopards logo exhibits a resting closed eye leopard and reflects the positive outcome the products will have in babies’ lives. It enhances the sense of comfort, relief and protection felt by babies when wearing these special clothes.
The arched typography transmits a sense of playfulness but also protection.
The tiny leopard is comfy, relaxed, and well-accommodated under the rainbow.

color palette

Warm, trendy & cozy:
The color palette gathers gender neutral, hip and warm pastel tones.
social media assets + icon set
Following the brand vision, Katrina wanted to transmit comfort and sleepiness on Tiny Leopards’ social media channels. So, we developed a set of templates containing organic shapes, patterns inspired by leopard spots and light color tones.
The selected typography has nice curvy details that match the overall feeling of the brand.
Remember the brand identity questionnaire I mentioned before?
It helped us create this beautiful brand identity, plus, at the end of the project, all the information was compiled on a Brand Style Guide. This document contains the most important details about the brand, as well as logo usage guidelines and overall visual style, to make sure anyone who works with it, does it cohesively.
I had an incredible experience with Patricia - she translated the vision for my brand into the perfect logo and a well-designed collection of social media templates. She's highly intuitive, creative, and delivers quality, timely work. Will work with her again!
Katrina Frolov
Katrina FrolovFounder & CEO
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GrowingDesign © 2014-2021
Sophie Chastanet

Brand design

Sophie Chastanet is a self-development coach, who focuses on real-estate professionals to improve their mindset and prospecting processes. She was looking for a way to meaningfully start building her personal brand.
Sophie already had a following on LinkedIn when she reached out, but felt that brand-wise she didn’t had any focus, defined strategy, goals or clarity on how to do it.
By the end of a 3 months project working with us, Sophie now presents herself to the world in a way that not only makes sense to her and her audience but that also makes her proud, confident and unique!
Accueilir. Accepter. Agir.

Mission

Through training and individual sessions, Sophie Chastanet helps real estate agents to become aware of their true value and therefore to better sell themselves.

Brand values

Health

Essential ingredient inherent to each human being to succeed in life.

Boldness

We get what we want when we’re willing to take action and do what is out of the the ordinary.

Love

Love because with love we can do anything and this is the secret to succeed.

Perseverance

We can be bold and talented in what we do, but if we’re not hard-workers we may not really succeed.

Authenticity

If we want to work on ourselves, we must be true to ourselves. 

 

Caring

The best ability to be kind and generous to others.

L’humain et le business.
The project being a personal brand, we decided to work on a monogram logo that captured the flow and 360º approach Sophie provides her clients with.

The brand goal is to help individuals develop their "raison d'être", their self-esteem so that they can succeed professionally.

Stationery

A stationery that fully represents Sophie and her brand was created. Her supporting communication materials are now in-tune to her communication style and main brand goals.

L’art de la raison d’etre.

Printed booklet

Sophie's new brand identity can now be easily translated into any sort of marketing material. Always consistent, always visually engaging.

Brand guidelines book

The final step, is the Brand Guidelines Book - easy to understand and follow guidelines to implement the new brand in the most coherent and aligned way.

I was not aware of the importance of building a DNA until this path led me to Joel, we met through LinkedIn, I contacted him and we've "connected", common values and it was off we go. First of all, a wonderful experience, a passionate person, involved, anxious to understand you to transcribe and create what you are, what your business is! I appreciated everything, I would say his involvement, his concern to achieve the best for you is what I appreciate the most! I recommend Joel with my eyes closed, it is a pleasure to collaborate with people like him!
Sophie Chastanet
Sophie ChastanetCoach Humaniste
Work with us
Thank you!
GrowingDesign © 2014-2021
Able Academy

Brand design

Able Academy is the place to learn about, and get a content marketing strategy that converts untapped audiences into clients.
Filipa, founder of Able Academy wanted to start a new Instagram account for her brand and business.
To start this new journey, we needed to gain business and brand clarity to then build awareness, and with that showcase her services.
Tired of hearing crickets?
Mission

Business owners often feel overwhelmed and confused about their content marketing efforts due to the lack of results. Able Academy teaches you how to create and distribute content that converts across different platforms effectively.

Brand values

Education

At our core, we want to teach everything we know.

Transparency

Being honest and straightforward at all times.

Teamwork

An addition to your team, much more than another hire.

Altruism

Contributing to society by supporting meaningful charities, causes and foundations.

Responsability

Feeling responsible for your success.

Dedication

Always aiming for the best results we can deliver.

Plan. Create. Distribute.
Able Academy already had an existing logo, we gave it a refresh and completed the family set with new variants.

As business owners, creating and distributing content across different platforms is overwhelming. Filipa and her expertise give Able Academy students the necessary structure to do so effectively.

Colors

Typography

Stock Imagery

Icon Set

Slide Deck Template

For Able Academy to produce long-form content autonomously, we also created a slide deck template.

Social Media Templates

We designed and prepared new social media post templates for Able Academy.

These templates are easy to use and fit the brand and business needs for Able Academy to build awareness.

Tired of creating content and hearing crickets?
I expected excellent design work given Joel's portfolio. However, what I got was so much more than design... The experience, the collaboration, and the support were more than I could ever have anticipated. And the results I got in such a short period (engagement, leads, and brand association) prove how investing in design and branding pays off... Especially if you choose to work with Joel!
Filipa Canelas
Filipa CanelasFounder of Able Academy
Work with us
Thank you!

GrowingDesign © 2022

Persona

Website Design & Development

We’re here for those who share our belief that life is full of colourful and beautiful moments when you’re able to express exactly who you are. Instagram isn’t the only place where you can show the colourful, fun and quirky side of your personality!
At the time Persona contacted us, they already had a website online.

But things just weren’t clicking.
After a brand audit that put several ideas in place, we designed a refreshed website and gave Persona a new direction to follow.
How fun is your sock drawer?

"At Persona, all of our luxury Egyptian cotton socks are bright, bold and colourful, just like you, so that you can live life colourfully and just the way you want. Before the status quo speaks up again – colours can be luxurious!"

- Prem

The project was divided into easy-to-follow phases and the complete process included:

  • Branding audit
  • Research and mood boarding
  • Content auditing and wireframing
  • Full website design and development (on Wix)

Before

After

Egyptian cotton

About page

Mobile version

We spend most of our time on our phones. Having a mobile-friendly website is an absolute must. Especially when most of the traffic is going to come from social media!

Have you ever felt like everyone wants you to act a certain way?

After our engagement, Persona has seen an increase in sales, and brand awareness. An on-brand online store is a crucial brand touchpoint to the success of a product-based business.

How colorful is your sock drawer?
Persona

I got a great-looking website, which not only expresses Persona’s personality but also takes users on the journey they need to go through to be able to connect with the brand. Most importantly, I now have a website that reflects my personality and one which I am PROUD to have. Apart from technical knowledge and skills, I recommend GrowingDesign for the all-around development of your business, it's not just a design project but a general business development project. You'll also find people who will collaborate with you and challenge you to really understand whether your ideas are being done because they are the right ideas or not, great people who you can relate to and will treat you like another person, rather than a customer or client!
Premesh Nathwani
Premesh NathwaniFounder of Persona
Work with us
Thank you!

GrowingDesign © 2022

Good Bites

Illustration

~ intro ~
Hong Kong has a huge food waste problem. Over 3000 tons go to the landfill daily, and much of it can be saved.
Alex is a concerned citizen that wants to fight this problem and help society. He reached out to me with the Good Bites App concept.
 
GoodBites is a pick-up-only app that connects Hong Kong-based vendors and customers to sell about-to-expire meals at discounted prices. Vendors will be able to reduce waste and protect their profits (recovering costs) by selling otherwise wasted food.
 
They aim to help society by preventing waste, promote food education and raise awareness about the food waste issue.
~ the problem ~
A strong brand identity is essential for any business because it allows the company to effectively communicate its values, beliefs, and personality to its audience. 
 
Alex already had a solid brand identity, so our challenge here was to create something that visually represents all the App features at a glance and in a clear way.
 
We decided to create some illustrations!
 

Skecthes based on the brand identity style.

~ concept & solution ~
“Great taste. No waste.” – it’s Good Bites’ motto.

After we finished their brand identity, Alex aimed to get a set of illustrations to be used on the website to easily help people understand the benefits they can get by using the app – for themselves, for vendors, and for the environment.

 

We selected the most important features and worked on custom illustrations for each one.

 

All the food bought through the Good Bites app is still fresh and it’s remarkably tasty.
By using the app, people will be getting meals at discounted prices and by that, saving money.
Food waste impact is normally not talked about. Good Bites wants to invert this situation and create social awareness around the theme, as well as promote food education.
Food waste is one of the causes of methane gas being released into the atmosphere. By being conscious about food consumption, we can reduce pollution and contribute to a better and liveable world.
Amazing work!! A++++ delivery and communication. Patricia was very organized and her interpretation of concepts is spot on! Highly recommended.
Alex HoCreator of Good Bites App
Work with us

GrowingDesign © 2014-2023

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Dr. J. Rodríguez

Personal branding

Dr. J. is a master educator and recognized expert in message development for ethical team building, diverse leadership presence, and inclusive audience engagement.
Dr. J. reached out looking for clarity and guidance about the building of his own personal brand. He knows his strengths and the value of his work, but he also knew those features and benefits weren’t being communicated correctly.
With the proper framework, we took a step back, dug new foundations, explored new ideas, and defined key business concepts every brand should have clarified before they show up to the world.
Bee seen. Feel seen.
Mission
Make people feel seen, recognized, and that they belong through moments of solidarity and meaningful connection provided in the form of group and one-on-one teaching.

Brand values

Openness and honesty
Dr. J. is and requires his clients to be fully honest and open to change.
Courage
It takes courage to recognize we’re in a difficult situation, and then decided to do something about it.
Community and solidarity
In his constant pursue in belonging, Dr. J. knows and values the importance of a strong community. Often described as a feeling of unity, solidarity is a vessel to Dr. J. work
Love and empathy
Dr. J. always seeks to connect with others through empathy from a genuine concern. His brand comes from a place of love and willingness to pursue a greater good.
Integrity
Fuelled by a strong sense of morality, Dr. J. expects his clients to be honest and equipped with moral principles as well.
Wisdom
The ability to look beyond bullshit and see with clarity so that you can act in alignment with the content of your character.
The eyes have it. The heart feels it. The soul knows it.
Dr. J. had already started an online presence, but he kept feeling his efforts weren’t getting him the results he deserved. He has now found his focus, his own path where he knows he’ll be appreciated and seen as the expert he truly is!
With the mind of a data scientist, the heart of a coach, and the spirit of a savvy strategist, Dr. J. talks the talk and walks the walk. He wants people to have a true sense of belonging, recognition, solidarity and above all, Dr. J. wants us to feel seen.

Typography

Colors

Brand photos

LinkedIn Profile

We’ve revised, redesigned, and re-wrote Dr.J.’s main brand touchpoint, his LinkedIn profile.

With a new banner image, a unique profile picture and the right messaging throughout, Dr. J. is getting new followers consistently.

Social Media Templates

We designed and prepared new social media post templates for Dr. J. These templates are easy to use and fulfill the brand and business needs to build awareness and capture new leads.
social media post templates


Visit Dr. J.’s LinkedIn profile

Connecting begins with you and ends with us.
In the business of branding, there are banal blowhards or exceptional experts who make marketing work for you. Joel is one of those truly outstanding pros, an actual diamond in the light of day. With a plethora of radiant possibilities at his disposal, he'll brand your business to life in ways that work for you. He did it for me, and my business will never be mundane because I am no longer just another someone. Thanks to Joel, I'm uniquely independent and authentically resilient, because my brand works for me.
Dr. J. Rodríguez
Dr. J. RodríguezCommunication Coach
Work with us
Thank you!

GrowingDesign © 2022

Riya Lalwani

Social Media Content Strategist
I’m here to guide you to more visibility and leads for your coaching business with the help of Instagram.
 
Through deep-diving sessions, we’ll uncover your brand and business’s “why”, to then create a strategy that works for you and gets you closer to your goals.
 

Having 4 years of experience in the social media space, I aim to grow coaching businesses through Instagram with strategic content and sales strategies.

Contact us today!

Send us a message
Cosmic Creative

Brand design

Cosmic Creative is a digital copywriting service for businesses in the career, finance, and tech industries.
Rebecca, the founder, reached out looking for clarity and guidance about the built of her new brand. She knows the importance of showing up online, and the importance of building a brand that stands out and resonates with her ideal customers.

With the proper framework, we worked on her foundations, explored different ideas, and defined key business concepts every brand should have clarified before they show up in the world.

Real words. Real connections.
Mission

Cosmic Creative is dedicated to providing psychology-based copywriting services to business owners who are committed to building strong and long-lasting businesses who value integrity, respect and empathy.

Brand values

Ambition and Commitment
Cosmic Creative values professionals who are ambitious not only about their own business ventures but also about making a positive impact on the world.
Respect and Empathy

Mutual respect for one another and being able to see the world from someone else’s perspective is highly valued by Cosmic Creative. 

Openness
Cosmic Creative values safe and open spaces for productive discussions. Not only with clients, but online audiences as well.
Integrity
Cosmic Creative trusts their clients to stand by their values and is committed to doing the same. Building a strong reputation is one of Cosmic Creative’s goals.
Creative. Compelling. Cosmic.
“I know the importance of investing in myself. I also quickly realized that if I wanted my brand to stand out and resonate with my ideal customers, I needed some serious help.”

“He (Joel) helped me hone in on my vision and mission, took an in-depth look at my target audience (e.g. their biggest challenge, desires, and buying decisions), completed a competitive analysis, figured out what makes my brand unique, narrowed down my brand voice and values, and so much more.”

– Rebecca Scott, Cosmic Creative

Typography

Colors

Brand imagery

LinkedIn Profile

We’ve redesigned Rebecca’s main brand touchpoint, her LinkedIn profile.


With a new banner image, a unique profile picture and the right messaging throughout, Rebecca is getting new followers consistently.

Social Media Templates

We designed and prepared new social media post templates for Cosmic Creative. These templates are easy to use and fulfill the brand and business needs to build awareness and capture new leads.


Visit Cosmic Creative’s LinkedIn profile

Copy that is out of this world!
I know the importance of investing in myself. I also quickly realized that if I wanted my brand to stand out and resonate with my ideal customers, I needed some serious help. Sure, I had a name for my business, and I knew whom I wanted to attract as my customers, but I was stuck with how I wanted to attract them. I needed guidance because I didn’t know where to start and what steps it would take to make my vision become a reality.

That’s where Joel came in. He helped me hone in on my vision and mission, took an in-depth look at my target audience (e.g. their biggest challenge, desires, and buying decisions), completed a competitive analysis, figured out what makes my brand unique, narrowed down my brand voice and values, and so much more. Oh, did I mention that he also created the perfect logo for my company (Cosmic Creative)? We nailed down the messaging, the look, and feel of my business, so that I can confidently market my brand to the world. That’s what branding is — not just the logo and visual components of your business, but the messaging, the purpose, the story, and how everything connects together to resonate with your ideal customer.

I appreciate the time and knowledge Joel gave to me while working on my brand. The time he took during meetings (which sometimes lasted up to three hours because we had so much to go over), the time he took working on the project, and the knowledge he has about not only branding but freelancing (I learned A LOT, like the importance of asking questions of potential clients before you start working with them). Our meetings were value-packed!

You get more than your money’s worth working with Joel. He is kind, honest, authentic, and well informed. I recommend anyone who is struggling with their brand or even freelancing in general to connect and work with Joel. Best decision I made for my business!
Rebecca Scott
Rebecca ScottCosmic Creative
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Thank you!

GrowingDesign © 2022

Memories from Ireland

Brand design

~ intro ~
Keith is an Irish man who enjoys traveling across Ireland to relax and gain perspective. He shares his travel itineraries online to help others plan their trips and has started a project called “Memories from Ireland” where he creates custom digital maps based on people’s road trips.
 
The maps are designed to look hand-made watercolors, with paint brush stroke-style design and are printed on high-quality textured paper with premium paint. This gives the paintings a unique and authentic look, mimicking the traditional art of hand-drawn maps.
~ the problem ~
Keith had a logo that appeared cheap and unprofessional, contradicting the premium identity he wanted to establish for his brand. The logo was a detailed illustration with small text and too many details, making it difficult to recognize at smaller scales.

Additionally, there was no visual cohesiveness across his brand, meaning the elements used in the logo didn’t match the brand feel. These situations create confusion and dilute the brand’s message.

Before starting to work on the visual aspects of the brand identity, it is important to have a clear understanding of the brand’s goals and style. A brand identity questionnaire has proved to be a useful tool to gather insights into the brand’s mission, values, target audience, and desired image. So that was our starting point.

~ concept & solution ~
logo
The logomark concept is a shamrock, a symbol of Ireland, drawn in an organic and freehand style to give the impression of being hand-made. The strokes are designed to look as if they were made by a paintbrush, connecting to the aesthetic of the map and reinforcing the brand message of providing custom and unique maps for each client, just like their road trips.
 
The shamrock symbol is a simple, yet clear way to connect the brand to the Ireland and the organic, hand-made style of the logo gives it a personal touch. The use of paint brush strokes emphasises the brand’s attention to detail and the uniqueness of each client’s experience.
 

The typography selected has details reminiscent of the Celtic style, further emphasising the connection to Irish heritage and reinforcing the brand’s identity.

color palette
The color palette contains dark green, which represents the lush fields and beautiful landscapes of Ireland, gold, which is associated with premium brands and evokes the rich heritage of Ireland, and deep blue, which represents the ocean surrounding the island.
 
Together, these colors convey a sense of luxury and exclusivity while also capturing the natural beauty of Ireland, aligning with the brand’s message of creating personalised and unique products.
~ the outcome ~
Memories from Ireland now has a cohesive and unique brand identity that aligns with its core message and goals. The elements of the logo connect to Irish heritage and symbols, as well as the premium color palette, aligning with the custom and unique maps that Keith creates for each client. 
 
Overall, this brand identity effectively communicates the brand message and visually represents the personalised and high-quality products provided.
I have worked with Patrícia on two occasions over the past 7 months; on both projects, she has taken an often loose brief and managed to deliver designs that we've proudly adapted. Patrícia is a clear and concise communicator, and her process for on-boarding a new client is both thorough and enjoyable. I would have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending Patrícia for any design projects, especially any that relates to brand identity. Thanks, Patrícia. A pleasure as always.
Keith O'Hara
Keith O'HaraFounder
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GrowingDesign © 2014-2023

View from 32

Brand design

~ intro ~
View From 32 is a business founded by Gabriella, Cassie, and Lindsay – 3 women who are passionate about beauty.
They have a strong background in the industry, having been educated by Sephora and starting their friendship at the Sephora headquarters in San Francisco.
 
They offer a wide range of services, including strategy, consulting, and advice, to help beauty brands reach their business goals and empower them to succeed. They aim to be thought partners for their clients, helping them to navigate the competitive beauty market.
~ the problem ~
A strong brand identity is essential for any business because it allows the company to effectively communicate its values, beliefs, and personality to its audience. 
 
A cohesive and impactful visual identity, including elements such as a logo, color scheme, and typography, can help create a recognisable and memorable brand that stands out in the market. It also helps to build trust and credibility with the audience, and convey the unique value proposition of the business.

My task here was to help them get a custom brand identity.

Before starting to work on the visual aspects of the brand identity, it is important to have a clear understanding of the brand’s goals and style. A brand identity questionnaire has proved to be a useful tool to gather insights into the brand’s mission, values, target audience, and desired image. So that was our starting point.

~ concept & solution ~
logo
When we started working together, the initial idea was to create a logo mark that combined elements of beauty products and a building to symbolise their origin story. 
 
However, as we explored different drafts for the logo, we ultimately decided to go in a different direction and chose a modern and feminine Greek-like style eye shape that directly connected to the company name. 
 
The chosen typography is bold, feminine, and chic, reminiscent of the logos of boutique businesses and modern yet friendly hotels. 
 
This choice of eye shape, simple and elegant, communicates the concept of “view” and the typography conveys a professional and chic touch, making the logo visually impactful and memorable.
message of providing custom and unique maps for each client, just like their road trips.
 
The name “View From 32” has two meanings.
 
Firstly, it refers to the fact that the founders met at Sephora, which was located on the 32nd floor of a building in downtown San Francisco. This location played a significant role in the start of their friendship and their journey in the beauty industry. 
 
Secondly, the name also represents the perspective and understanding that working at Sephora has given them of the beauty landscape. Being on the 32nd floor allowed them to have a bird’s eye view of the industry and be ahead of trends, which they can now leverage to help other beauty brands.
color palette
The color palette contains two pairs of contrasting colors, green and pink and yellow and purple. The orange comes as a neutral color that goes with both combinations.
The tones are pastel but saturated, making them bold but still chic and exclusive. 
 
This color choice is meant to evoke a sense of luxury and elegance, while still being approachable and welcoming. The use of contrasting colors also helps to create visual interest and a sense of balance
 
Together, these colors convey a sense of luxury and exclusivity while also capturing the natural beauty of Ireland, aligning with the brand’s message of creating personalised and unique products.
~ the outcome ~
View from 32 now has a cohesive and unique brand identity that aligns with its core message and personality. The elements of the logo connect to the modern, feminine, and chic traits of the brand, as well as the premium color palette, aligning with the custom and unique experience provided to each client.
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GrowingDesign © 2014-2023

Spelty Biscuit

Brand design

~ intro ~
Spelty Biscuit is a new sub-brand of Amavida Coffee Roasters. They specialized in baking traditional, homemade biscuits from scratch using the finest spelt flour and organic ingredients. The biscuits are made every day to ensure that each batch is as fresh as possible.
 
The company prides itself on using traditional methods and natural ingredients to create a delicious and genuine product, with the goal of providing customers with an authentic biscuit experience every day.
 
They offer a wide range of services, including strategy, consulting, and advice, to help beauty brands reach their business goals and empower them to succeed. They aim to be thought partners for their clients, helping them to navigate the competitive beauty market.
~ the problem ~
A strong brand identity is essential for any business because it allows the company to effectively communicate its values, beliefs, and personality to its audience. 
 
A cohesive and impactful visual identity, including elements such as a logo, color scheme, and typography, can help create a recognisable and memorable brand that stands out in the market. It also helps to build trust and credibility with the audience, and convey the unique value proposition of the business.

My task here was to help them get a custom brand identity.

Before starting to work on the visual aspects of the brand identity, it is important to have a clear understanding of the brand’s goals and style. A brand identity questionnaire has proved to be a useful tool to gather insights into the brand’s mission, values, target audience, and desired image. So that was our starting point.

~ concept & solution ~
The logo aims to reflect the traditional, genuine, and high-quality nature of the product.
​​​​​​​
The font used in the logo is thick, warm, and bouncy, it is meant to remind us of the traditional and homemade biscuit boxes that we find in our grandma’s house. 
 
The logo is intended to evoke feelings of nostalgia, warmth, and comfort associated with homemade baked goods, and at the same time, it communicates the traditional and genuine nature of the product. 
 
~ the outcome ~
With the new brand identity, Spelty Biscuit is now able to effectively communicate its authenticity and delicious biscuits to the public. It will be able to differentiate itself from the competition and establish a recognizable and memorable brand for its customers.. 
 
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GrowingDesign © 2014-2023

Canopie

Illustration

~ intro ~
Ann & Anne help expecting women and new moms deal with common motherhood challenges and feelings such as anxious thoughts, how to manage relationships, and dealing with feelings of shame.
 
They joined their talents together to create Canopie.
 
Canopie is a free app and an evidence-based digital program created to address maternal mental health conditions and close the enormous gap in care. It delivers clinically effective asynchronous care in humanizing, short, customized audio programs.
~ the problem ~
Every year 26,000,000 mamas experience maternal mental health conditions.
Anne & Ann are committed to reducing this number and helping as many women as possible.
 
Their purpose is amazing, but unfortunately, Canopie’s visuals didn’t translate the message or the energy it deserves. They had a lack of graphic cohesiveness, mostly because they were doing everything by themselves, using clipart-based images, without any structure, or the help of a professional designer.
 
After a consultation session, we agreed in setting a harmonious visual style and develop a group of illustrations that communicate the sense of stillness, comfort, and positiveness across all the sections of the app.
~ concept & solution ~
We based the illustration style on the aesthetic of their logo: flat, geometric, and vibrant colors.
 
We selected natural elements such as birds, flowers, and mountains, as an association with the senses of freedom, lightness, and calmness. Like a beautiful landscape.


We also included mama and baby characters with restful expressions to emphasize the mood and human connection.

~ the outcome ~
As a final result, Ann & Anne now have a better app interface built with on-brand illustrations that transmit the right energy. All elements and sections are well arranged and have space to breathe, providing an enjoyable and intuitive user experience.

 know more about the app & project at:
canopie.app

We absolutely loved working with Patrícia! She was flexible, open to feedback, produced lovely, high-quality work. She was great, and we can't wait to keep working with her!
Anne & AnnCreators of Canopie
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GrowingDesign © 2014-2023

Justice Is Now!

Brand design

~ intro ~
Justice Is Now is a non-profit organization that aims to combat the use of rape myths as defense tactics in courtrooms and increase the conviction rate for rape cases. The organization was created in honor of sexual assault victims and aims to end the practice of victim blaming and educate the public about the realities of sexual assault. 

Their goal is to ensure that future victims do not have to endure the injustice of rape myths being used in court.
 
The conviction rate for rape has gone from 6.5% to 3.5% in the UK. Research shows that too many people believe rape myths and victim blame, and these people are the same people who end up on juries.
~ the problem ~
The brand communication of Justice Is Now relied on volunteers that didn’t had the knowledge and expertise of professional graphic designers or branding specialists. The assets they created were confusing, weak and didn’t properly communicate the organization’s message.
 
A strong brand identity is crucial for any organization, and it is especially important for a non-profit like Justice Is Now. A cohesive and impactful visual identity can help communicate the organization’s values and beliefs to the public, make it easier for them to achieve its goals and make it easier for the public to understand and support its mission.
~ concept & solution ~
logo
The concept is inspired by the brush-written signs used in protests. 
The brush stroke represents the freedom of speech and the right to express one’s thoughts and beliefs through different means.
 
The logo features a J and an exclamation point (!) merged into a single logomark. The brush stroke style gives the logo an expressive yet accessible look, making it easy for anyone to draw it on a sign, t-shirt, or flag and show support for the cause.
 
The exclamation point in the logo is intended to convey a sense of urgency and the need for change. The word “NOW” in the logo concept emphasizes the importance of taking action right now.
 
color palette
The color scheme is intended to be provocative and vibrant. These colors are meant to grab attention and help to make the communication assets more visible, with the goal of bringing more attention to the cause that the organization is defending.
 
The use of bright, bold colors is also intended to convey a sense of energy and urgency, which aligns with their overall message. 
~ the outcome ~
With the new brand identity, JIN now has a strong and cohesive visual representation that will help them effectively communicate their cause to the public. The new logo concept, with its brush stroke style and expressive yet accessible look, serves as a symbol of resistance and protest.

The new assets will be a powerful tool for JIN to spread its message and inspire more people to join its cause.
know more at:
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GrowingDesign © 2014-2023

Joel Sousa

Brand & Graphic Designer

I’m a brand identity & graphic designer passionate about helping businesses (re)create their brands the right way. I work with business owners 1:1 to help them dig deep and uncover their business’s true purpose and the goals they want to achieve with their brand.

Many of our clients are established entrepreneurs who have been in business for several years. They know the value they provide and where they want their business to go. However, most have never done the groundwork to match their brand to that inner conviction.

And let’s face it: your brand is more than a logo. It’s in everything you show up: your values, your personality, your drive, your mission, your messaging. It’s in the way you start a conversation, how you engage with your network, and how you present yourself and your company to the world.

I’ve been a graphic designer for over a decade, but since 2019, I’ve focused my work more on helping businesses create their brand foundation, designing complete Brand DNAs, and creating brand-aligned visuals.

I’m the first point of contact at GrowingDesign, and I’ll hold your hand (figuratively) through the entire process. At GrowingDesign, you work side by side with a personal team of creative freelancers, and together we’ll create a brand for you that is strong internally and externally.

I studied Graphic Design and Multimedia at the School of Art and Design in Caldas da Rainha (ESAD.CR), and am fluent in English, French, and Portuguese.

Interested in talking?

Send us a message