Cre8iv - Strategic Design for Growing Businesses

05/15/2026

Read a wonderful article written by a colleague today about AI in the Branding & Design space! If you're using AI for any of your design, or considering using it as a quick route to your small business goals, take a few short minutes to read this first!

My DMs are open if you have any questions about your specific situation!

There’s no denying it — AI has changed the game. With a single prompt, you can generate logos, write copy, design visuals, and build out entire brand assets in minutes. What used to require specialists—designers, writers, strategists—now feels instantly accessible. And on the surface, that s...

05/11/2026

Where'd you land so far? I landed at Goodfella's and ordered the Hot Shot!

04/17/2026

Another great meeting of Chattanooga's rising tide of women! Join me again on the third Friday morning in May with https://www.standinginvite.com

04/17/2026

A little bit of Athens in Chattanooga at Arts Build tonight for some creative networking. Had some great conversations and a Tropicalia for nostalgia's sake.

04/15/2026

Idk what kind of business meetings you have today, but I got to meet Chip the box turtle from the Chattanooga Zoo At Warner Park with Ooltewah/Collegedale Chamber Council

I wonder if Chip needs branding strategy...

03/06/2026

As a solopreneur I take meetings and do work in some pretty strange places. Today it was the back deck.

02/28/2026

02/05/2026

I really enjoyed working on this project in January for a local photo booth!

01/30/2026

01/30/2026

How to Choose Brand Colors That Actually Work for Your Business

Most people choose brand colors based on what they like personally.

And that is exactly why so many brands end up confusing their customers.

Color is not just decoration. It is communication.

Every industry carries built-in expectations, whether we realize it or not.

For example:
• Law firms often lean into deep blues, charcoals, and neutrals because they signal trust, stability, and authority.
• Restaurants frequently use warm tones like reds, oranges, and earthy colors because they stimulate appetite and feel inviting.
• Wellness brands tend to use greens, soft neutrals, and muted blues to communicate calm and care.
• Creative businesses can get away with bolder palettes, but only when the colors still feel intentional and cohesive.
• Trades and service businesses usually benefit from high-contrast, practical palettes that feel reliable and easy to recognize.

This is why a Chattanooga restaurant needs a very different color strategy than a law firm, even if both owners love the same shade of teal.

Some common color mistakes I see locally:
• Using trendy colors that do not fit the business
• Choosing too many colors with no hierarchy
• Picking colors that look good on screen but fail in print or signage
• Ignoring contrast and readability altogether

Here is a simple framework to choose colors that actually work:
1️⃣ Start with what your business needs to communicate. Trust, energy, creativity, calm, or reliability.
2️⃣ Look at your industry expectations, then decide whether to align or intentionally break them.
3️⃣ Choose one primary color, one to two supporting colors, and a neutral.
4️⃣ Test your colors in real situations such as signage, social posts, print, and web.
5️⃣ Ask, “What does this communicate to someone who does not know me yet?”

Good brand color choices are not about what looks pretty. They are about what helps the right people recognize, trust, and choose you.

👇 What industry are you in?
Drop it in the comments and I will suggest a color direction you might want to consider.
(And yes, I will respond to every comment.)