Paper Heart Design Co.

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Paper Heart Design Co. Paper Heart Design is the studio of artist, graphic designer, and creativity coach, Annie Stout. Annie is a multi-passionate creative entrepreneur.

Our mission is to create with purpose, amplify storytelling, and cultivate community.

✨ logo design + visual identity
✨ storytelling for heart driven entrepreneurs + nonprofits
✨ color inspiration + creatives community

Learn more: paperheartdesign.com Annie grew up in metro Detroit where art was her passion from a very young age. Growing up, it was always clear that she was meant to create. She studied art at Central Michigan University, where she graduated with cm laude honors in 2007. She earned both her Bachelor of Applied Arts, as a double major in Graphic Design and Sculpture, with a minor in Art History, and her Bachelor of Science in Art Education, with a minor in Industrial Education. As her arts education progressed she wanted to take every class, obsessed with knowing as much as possible about creating. A jack of all trades, Annie is constantly learning new skills and expanding her base of knowledge. Paper Heart Design was founded by Anne in 2008. It is full service graphic design studio specializing in small business branding. She also offers creativity coaching, sells her own art, and runs a creative lifestyle blog with an online creatives community. She is passionate about helping small business owners craft a polished and professional look through modern design, encouraging artists of all kinds to get out of their own way to live a more creative life, and creating opportunities for connection. Annie prides herself on taking big picture ideas and breaking them down into manageable smaller steps. She does not shy away from challenges and loves that her varied work gets to be a small part of others achieving their own big dreams. Annie’s motto comes from Elsie de Wolfe, “I’m going to make everything around me beautiful- that will be my life.”

Being part of Public Arts Midland has been a great way for me to feel like I contribute to and feel more connected to Mi...
10/12/2026

Being part of Public Arts Midland has been a great way for me to feel like I contribute to and feel more connected to Midland. 🎨🤓

“What a privilege it is to be exhausted by an ambition of your own choosing.” I met with a few of my entrepreneur friend...
10/08/2026

“What a privilege it is to be exhausted by an ambition of your own choosing.”

I met with a few of my entrepreneur friends today for our monthly Brave meeting. It was just three of us, which was lovely. We chatted and worked on things together. I needed that break. 

I was asked how things were going, and I admitted I was a bit overwhelmed today. I came home and thought about all I’ve done in since the calendar flipped to October, and my feelings make a lot of sense. In the last seven days I have…

- Hosted a Brave meeting for entrepreneurs
- Met with a logo design client
- Scheduled a meeting for an album cover design client
- Sent one client email newsletter and drafted a second one for another client
- Set up a Slack channel
- Attended a committee meeting
- Designed a presentation for a client event
- Installed a plaque on a mural
- Published 20 pieces of content on social media (21 if you include this)
- Scheduled 28 pieces of content for the month for multiple clients
- Designed 5 flyers
- Published 2 blog posts
- Created 3 Events
- Made a handful of website edits for clients
- Helped prep for a community event
- Approved 30 events for the community calendar
- Brainstormed about an art installation
- And so. so. many. emails.

I also helped my daughter get ready for homecoming, visited my parents, went golfing with my husband, read a book and a half, participated in the Public Arts Midland Art Drop, visited Dahlia Hill, took a walk in the beautiful fall weather, and watched some movies… so I’m busy, but it is good. I’m so grateful to do the work I do. 💙

✨Logo Reveal: Brightland Environmental✨I recently had the pleasure of creating a new logo and visual identity for Bright...
09/22/2026

✨Logo Reveal: Brightland Environmental✨

I recently had the pleasure of creating a new logo and visual identity for Brightland Environmental, a woman-owned environmental consulting firm specializing in transnational due diligence and brownfield redevelopment for renewable energy and land development projects nationwide.

This was a new industry for me, and one of the best parts of the process was getting to learn from the founders, Rebecca and Lindsay, about their work, their expertise, and the values behind their business.

They wanted a brand that felt professional and trustworthy while still standing out with a little feminine flare. Taking inspiration from the sun and sunflowers, we created an icon that brings together organic and geometric forms, reflecting the relationship between nature and technology.

We paired the logo with a nature-inspired color palette and modern complementary typefaces to create a visual identity that feels polished and approachable.

It was a joy to help bring their vision to life, and I am excited to see how Brightland Environmental grows into the future.

Sometimes art is deep and meaningful, and other times it's a giant Walkman. 🙃💙🎶
09/01/2026

Sometimes art is deep and meaningful, and other times it's a giant Walkman. 🙃💙🎶

Dolly forever. 💙
08/26/2026

Dolly forever. 💙

Shout out to the world’s laziest coworkers on ! 💙(Also the world’s cutest coworkers… 🐱🐱)
08/08/2026

Shout out to the world’s laziest coworkers on ! 💙

(Also the world’s cutest coworkers… 🐱🐱)

‘Athens of the South’Digital collage from photos I took at the Nashville Parthenon and its golden Athena statue in 2023....
08/07/2026

‘Athens of the South’

Digital collage from photos I took at the Nashville Parthenon and its golden Athena statue in 2023. Created in Adobe Photoshop.

Did you know in addition to being the goddess of wisdom and war, Athena was also considered the goddess of skilled crafts? It made me laugh to think of a myth where Athena is teaching people to knit.

I just needed to make something for fun and not for work today. Which version do you like best?

It's sunflower season in Michigan! 🌻✨The perfect time to find some color inspiration.
08/05/2026

It's sunflower season in Michigan! 🌻✨

The perfect time to find some color inspiration.

I’ve had a couple people ask me recently if I was still working, and the answer is yes. I am still booked up several mon...
08/04/2026

I’ve had a couple people ask me recently if I was still working, and the answer is yes. I am still booked up several months out. Even though I’ve ramped down my social media presence, rest assured, I am logging in almost every day to my computer and creating things from scratch in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Procreate, with pencil and paper, and yes, in Canva for clients.

I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to all my clients. I am incredibly grateful to have enough business to keep me as busy as I want to be with graphic design work in this day and age. I am grateful to work with so many wonderful people on so many different kinds of projects. I am grateful to be able to use the skills and talents that I have to uplift the good work of others through art and design.

I haven’t been sharing as much work lately, but it’s been happening. ✨

A logo is only one piece of a brand.When Freeland Community School District reached out, they already had a well establi...
07/13/2026

A logo is only one piece of a brand.

When Freeland Community School District reached out, they already had a well established icon, the Freeland Falcon, but they did not have specified fonts, colors, or layouts of their logos. What they needed was a complete visual identity system that would bring consistency across district communications.

Together, we established a cohesive brand guide with standardized colors, typography, and design elements that make it easier for every department, school, and staff member to communicate with one clear visual voice. Whether it’s a flyer, presentation, social media graphic, or district publication, the Freeland brand now feels unified and instantly recognizable.

From there, we developed a communications strategy centered on the people who make Freeland special. Their social media plan highlights dedicated teachers, accomplished alumni, and graduating seniors, in addition to sharing day to day updates, recognizing accomplishments, and updates on their larger strategic plan.

This people-first strategy creates opportunities to build connection, foster school pride, and strengthen relationships throughout the community.

The strongest brands aren’t built with logos alone. They’re built through visual consistency, intentional storytelling, and a shared sense of purpose.

I am grateful to have partnered with Freeland Community School District to help bring all of those pieces together.

Address

713 Ashman Street
Midland, MI
48640

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 3pm
Tuesday 9am - 3pm
Wednesday 9am - 3pm
Thursday 9am - 3pm
Friday 9am - 3pm

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