TKOL Designs

One of the things I ask my clients is, "What are some of your inspirations?" More often than not, people have an idea of some way they want to showcase their brand, their mission, their business, their identity. It could be that they like a retro design. Or maybe they like bold colors. Perhaps they like minimal designs. Rarely do they say, "I don't know." But how do I, as a designer, find inspiration? That's easy, I keep my eyes open. For example, this is a selection of postcards and mugs from a rest stop somewhere in France. I went inside to get myself some caffeine and here they were next to the check out. When this happens- be it passing a store, seeing logos when I'm running errands, or simply getting gas, I whip out my phone, take a photo and review it at a later date to identify what caught my eye. My suggestion to you when you are looking to elevate your design presence is look around and keep an open mind. You never know where you'll find your next bit of inspiration.

It's all about the color. Color has a powerful psychological impact on the human brain. Color can: ?? Communicate Action. ?? Speak to your Target Audience. ?? Convey Emotion and Tone. So how do you choose the right color for your brand? Well, it's all about what action you want to trigger within your audience. Let me explain... The graphic below shows the most popular colors chosen by small businesses on their websites. On it's own it just looks like a lot of people choose blue. But when you look deeper at the color psychology you'll find that people associate blue with things like success, trust, and security. Red on the other hand inspires action because we associate red with speed (Big shout out to Ferrari ?? ). Color is intentional and when chosen correctly and utilized well can be hugely impactful. It can help people CTA buttons, or perceive your brand as being refined and elevated. If you choose a color that you assign as YOUR signature color, it can even help people recognize your brand without reading anything. A color that when people see it they immediately think of you. Now, if you've been to my website or seen my branding you're probably thinking, "But Kristy, you use black and white." Correct. But that was a deliberate decision. I have chosen a monochrome palette because what I do isn't about me. It's about my clients and showcasing their work. I am simply here to help people show up at their best. With their best colors. So, what do your color choices mean to you?

A little more behind the scenes of some of what I get up to at TKOL Designs. Prepping social content for the Harder Not Smarter Podcast. Finding the parts of an episode that are juuuust right for a social clip comes down to a combination of good judgment and gut instinct. Add in some magic. Package it. Post it. - - It’s not just about the design. It’s about the mission.

Consistency is key. You've heard it. I've heard it. But why does it matter when it comes to design elements in your business? Because showing up consistently on the platforms you choose to be on can help increase your revenue by 23%. How? Because brand consistency = greater brand recognition = greater trust from your audience = them more likely to purchase from you or work with you. It can be as simple as: Using the same color background. Using the same font. Speaking in the same way. Your audience is out there and they want to get to know you. Make it easier for them by being consistent.

The Vet Collective is teaming up with veteran-owned businesses. Nothing gives us more satisfaction than getting to promote our fellow Vetrepreneurs and see their brands grow. Check out this awesome group of veteran entrepreneurs: > Justin K. Moore with Agoge Protein > Mikah Sellers with SGT SUDS SOAP > Chris Beres with Humble Brands, Inc. > Cassidy Nolan, with Mach 1 Hot Sauce LLC > Michael Klemmer with Aerial Resupply Coffee? > Erica P. with Mississippi River Flavor Company, LLC. And here's a chance to try their stuff. For free. While also taking a huge step towards starting a business of your own. We've created welcome packages for the next 5 entrepreneurs who sign-up for the annual plan at the Vet Collective, joining the community of veterans supporting one another growing their businesses. You'll get: > Mach 1 Hot Sauce > Sgt Suds SST or BOB soap > Aerial Resupply MOAB Coffee > Humble Black Spruce Deodorant > Agoge Vanilla or Chocolate Hemp Protein > Mississippi River Gettin' Piggy With It Spice This is over $75 worth of veteran-made products. Support veterans entrepreneurs. Join a network of veteran entrepreneurs Fast track to starting a business of your own. Win - Win - Win. ?? ?? ?? Don't forget, it's Monday! Which means there's a new: Harder Not Smarter Podcast episode Monday Morning Vetrepreneur article Follow both to never miss a release.

As a designer, I can help bring your vision to life. But you have to have some kind of idea of what you're looking for. Coming to me and saying "I don't know, I just need something" is a bit like someone walking into a tattoo parlor, asking for a face tattoo and then telling the tattoo artist to decide on the artwork. - Spend some time getting clear on your values and your identity. - Understand your target audience. - Take a look at others in your market and figure out what you like or dislike. Then we can move forward together in a direction that makes sense.