LOGO: This client came to us with a clear idea of what she wanted her logo to be. Her site is all about reviving the tradition of Sunday dinner with family-friendly recipes and stories. She wanted a badge-style logo that demonstrated some of the kitsch of days past, while retaining a slightly modern edge and a homey, warm color scheme.

WEBSITE: Given the mission of the site, the design also had to create a warm, homey feeling among readers. This was achieved with typography, a warm, but neutral color scheme playing off the logo and natural textures that would compliment close-up food photography without competing with it.

RECIPES: As the main purpose of the site is to share recipes, the client wanted some custom functionality. She wanted a simple way to input and organize recipes, along with a way to allow readers to print just the text of a recipe, rather than a whole blog post. This was achieved with a combination of WordPress plugins and creative shortcodes and CSS.

The site was designed for the Thesis theme/framework for WordPress. VISIT THE SUNDAY DINNER REVIVAL.

LOGO: Differently is a clothing company Hibiscus Creative founder Jennae Petersen started with her husband. The company offers t-shirts with environmentally, socially, politically and personally conscious messages, all printed on organic or recycled cotton. The logo needed to be unique and identifiable, but simple and versatile enough to be endlessly adapted to t-shirt designs. The result is a logotype that clearly illustrates that Differently is not your average clothing company.

NOTE: Jennae is also responsible for all the t-shirt designs.

WEBSITE: The Differently website is much more loud and boastful than the logo. It has a dark, urban feel that pairs well with the sassy messages on the t-shirts. The home page features large, detail images of several designs above the old in a slide show, with thumbnails of more designs below the fold.

The site was designed for the Thesis theme/framework for WordPress. VISIT DIFFERENTLY.

LOGO: Complete Organizing Solutions is a full-service organizing business that helps their clients get their lives in order, either via in-person or virtual consultations. The logo is designed to simulate clear delineation and order.

STATIONERY: To coordinate with the logo, the client also received a customized set of icons to symbolize various organizational endeavors. The business card and letterhead make use of those icons to demonstrate the range of services offered in an interesting visual way.

The site was designed for the Thesis theme/framework for WordPress. VISIT COMPLETE ORGANIZING SOLUTIONS.

LOGO: As the name might imply, Unsophisticook is a blog that features simple recipes for any cook, particularly for busy moms who don’t have time to create gourmet meals every day. The logo was designed to be fun and whimsical, and not take itself too seriously. The “U” in the name was used as a pot.

WEBSITE: In contrast to the bold, fun logo design, the client wanted a site design that would allow her recipes and food images to be the focal point. We took a clean, uncluttered approach, with a simple, gray background pattern and a muted color scheme that would enhance, rather than clash with, the clients food images.

The site was designed for the Thesis theme/framework for WordPress. VISIT UNSOPHISTICOOK.

LOGO DESIGN: New Gen Apps is exactly what it sounds like: A developer of mobile and desktop apps for the new generation on a variety of platforms, including iPhone and iPad, Android, Facebook and more. They needed an identity to match the vision they have for their future. I created a simple icon that features an “n” in negative space. However, when rotated to the left, the positive space (the gradient) is a “G.”

WEBSITE DESIGN: Similarly, New Gen wanted a new look for their website to match the standard set forth by the new logo. The site design is bold and forward-thinking, making use of rotating elements on several pages to keep the overall look uncluttered. Each page features a different background color, all pulled from the color spectrum used in the logo.

The site was designed for the Thesis theme/framework for WordPress. The site is currently under development by New Gen.

LOGO: Rumi Design is an up and coming interior design firm that aims to educate their clients about why creating beautiful can improve their quality of life. They specifically requested an orchid in their logo. Rather than creating a photo-realistic flower, I instead went with a more abstract approach, with a modern chair forming the inside of the flower.

LOGO SYSTEM: Skimbaco is a company run by Katja Presnal, a dynamic web publisher and social media maven whom I also count as a great friend. Her brand, Skimbaco, is build on the idea of “living life to the fullest.” There are several branches of this company: Skimbaco Lifestyle and Skimbaco Home, which are currently live, along with Skimbaco Travel and Skimbaco Food, which are coming soon. The logos have a very clean, Scandinavian-inspired style that pays homage to Katja’s origins in Finland with a subtle cross from the flag appearing in the “A.” This style is easily translated to all the Skimbaco web properties, which are then identified by color.

BLOG NETWORK DESIGN: The blogs in the network maintain the clean look set forth by the logos, and they are identical in layout and style. However, each site features a background header pattern and color scheme to differentiate it from it’s sister sites. All of the sites are built on the Thesis theme/framework for WordPress. Visit Skimbaco Lifestyle and Skimbaco Home.

LOGO: My client is an amazing writer who lends her services to businesses who need brilliant marketing copy. She needed a logo that was both dynamic and professional — one that depicted a effective and efficient writer who is also not afraid to take risks to get the job done. I used quotation marks to create a flame emanating from the word “incite.” Visit Write to Incite website.

BUSINESS CARD: This design takes full advantage of the bold color scheme for eye-catching, memorable effect with the flame icon front and center.

FACEBOOK PAGE: The client came back to us a few months after we did her branding work for a Facebook page design to maximize “Likes” and engage with existing and potential clients in a meaningful way. The Facebook page was designed with a welcome video and newsletter signup form to maximize email capture. Visit the Write to Incite Facebook page.

BANNER ADS: This series of banner ads was created for eco-friendly fashion retailer Gretchen & Grace. The ads were created for targeted audiences for the sites on which they were placed, with coupon codes tailored to match. While we chose a softer approach for the ads targeting parents, we went with an edgier design for the ads targeting adult women.

LOGO: The client wanted a logo that would rise above the value branding that many remodelers target. They wanted to appeal to a higher-end client with a larger budget, and primarily target women. Because of that, I went with a softer, more sophisticated and monotone approach that is appropriate for a higher-end market. The ornaments surrounding the name are designed to be reminiscent of the ornate detail you’d find in a large, expensive home.

WEBSITE: The site design had to match the high-end appeal of the logo, so we kept a color palette of muted grays to match the logo with red as an action color for clickable items. This approach allowed photos of my client’s beautiful handiwork to be the main attraction. The site is built on the Thesis theme/framework for WordPress. Visit the site.