November Design Studio (2026)

08/09/2022

My three-year-old started preschool this week. In my reflection on our life together so far, I’ve realized that she’s taught me what creativity really means.

Creativity in practice.
Creativity every day.
Creativity as an action word.
Creativity as a lens through which to see life.

My daughter made me a better artist. Not because I made her–and she’s perfect, if I do say so myself–but because her way of seeing the world is endlessly inspiring.

She reminds me of the artist I want to be: Forever open to new experiences, seeing the beauty in everything, and knowing with certainty that the goodness she shares with the world will come back to her. As a creative, a designer, and a leader, that’s a powerful thing. With such a perspective, you can understand where people are coming from and align with their vision–you can meet them where they’re at.

Here’s a few thoughts to bring childlike wonder (and the inherent wisdom of a three-year-old) to your business and your everyday: (continued in the comments)

02/09/2022

Thoughts after staying up pretty late working on something pretty exciting last night:
12 a.m. was made for artists.

Visionaries.
Creatives.
Makers.
Romantics.
Wanderers.
Over-thinkers.
Lovers.
Seekers of reckless abandon.

You call it the witching hour; I call it thinking, dreaming, and brainstorming at its best.

Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, what inspires your greatest ideas?

01/09/2022

This email gave me goosebumps:

“As a business strategist and agency founder, I have had the opportunity to work with hundreds of female founders in the creative space. When I met Marisa, I was in the process of transitioning the level of clients that we work with and I needed our website to reflect this. November Design Studio is thorough, responsive, detail oriented and an absolute joy to work with. I have zero hesitations in referring Marisa and her team to anyone in my network or my clients.” –

CHILLS.

The good kind. 😊

The kind that confirms you were part of something special—something that doesn’t happen every day.

Notes like this never get old.

And if you’ve been wondering what it could be like to work together, then let this be just a hint at what’s to come. Ready to start dreaming with us? Link in bio to send us a note.

30/08/2022

Just the other day, my business coach and I were chatting about what we look for when hiring an expert.

What do you look for? Here’s our two cents:

We don't want someone to just smile and nod and tell us we are doing everything perfectly. That’s what friends are for. 😏 In that case, we would wonder why we hired them in the first place. Do they really know what they're doing?

Instead, we’d want our expert to be honest with us. They should challenge us to think differently, to try things a different way, to put ourselves out there, and to trust their knowledge and advice. Life and business work best when we do that.

We're leaning more into beliefs like these at November Design Studio. Like an honest friend or a strong cup of coffee, we won’t hesitate to give that kind of course-correcting, oh-so-valuable wake up call that every entrepreneur needs once in a while. (Sprinkled with love, of course).

Each project will start with a branding audit, to determine what's working and what needs refinement. Long story short? We give the brand you’ve outgrown a resonant direction. Each member of our team is a specialist in their field and a master of their craft.

My conversation with Jessica reminded me of something I heard on the SeanWes podcast a while back:

You wouldn't go to a world famous pizza restaurant with your own jar of sauce.

You'd come in, grab a slice, and enjoy, knowing that the chefs are doing what they do best. 🍕

Count on our multidimensional creative team to elevate your brand presence and deliver the best results. The first step is to design your strongest brand identity, which guides the design for all of your brand touch-points.

Consider this your invitation to take your business to the next level with us.

17/08/2022

There’s a reason we don’t jump into design right away.

It’s a process that should be intentional and considered at every opportunity. Sure, the final product is always pretty—but your brand is so much more than that.

It’s about more than just scroll-stopping logos and perfectly curated color palettes. In our process, we dig deeper.

Who’s the human behind the brand? Who are we striving to connect with? What do they need to hear right now? Does this sum up all of the goodness you bring to the table, beyond the nuts and bolts of what you offer? How do you want to make people feel? How are your values represented in the brand? Where do your ideal client’s values come in? Do you value the same things?

We love the "pretty" just as much as you do, but we love making an impact even more. Turns out, there’s more to it than what meets the eye–it’s all of the above. Our brand excavation process gives us the space to uncover all of the juicy goodness before we craft an intentional, tailor-made brand identity.

Putting forward your best foot requires more work than you might think, but it’s worth the effort. Cross-my-heart.

08/08/2022

A season of abundance is ahead for our clients here at November Design Studio.

It’s thrilling to have open proposals, new clients on the books, and inquiries waiting to be answered. We are booked, busy, and so, so grateful.

At the same time, it’s bittersweet because our 2022 books will close soon for new projects.

Looking to start 2023 on the right foot with your branding, web design, marketing, and more? With autumn bookings nearly snapped up, now’s the time to reach out.

We can’t wait to dream with you!

Ready to get started? Send us a note — link in bio.

04/08/2022

With a Recession in our midst, how can you prepare your business for what lies ahead?

My advice is simple:
Be proactive, not reactive.

Now’s the time to get your ducks in a row. Or, to use another analogy – the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.

If you’ve managed to get by without a marketing plan (and the legwork required to make one), now’s the time to put everything to paper. For clients to feel comfortable investing in your offer during a recession, you'll have to prove your offer's value. Now’s the time to figure out what resonates with your audience like never before. Marketing your business is no simple task, with radical intention required for every color palette, font pairing, submark, and everything in between.

Now’s the time to brace yourself for impact. When you do, you’ll have everything you need to expect the unexpected – or you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you thrive.

Start now by establishing your business goals, fine-tuning your brand positioning, defining your ethos, and elevating your presence across every platform. Not only will you be prepared to weather any potential storms on the horizon, but you’ll connect with your audience more than ever.

Do you feel prepared? Anything that’s keeping you up at night? Drop a comment below with your thoughts!

Take heart — we are here for you. We are your source of comfort and clarity, strategic simplicity, and artful authenticity. If you're looking to step out rather than shrink back in your business, reach out to see how we can help.

03/08/2022

When building a brand, make the focus of your messaging, the appeal of your visuals, and the customer experience tailored to one person: your Client.

Ultimately, the brand that will resonate and leave a lasting impression with your ideal client is one that focuses on their needs. This is the epitome of human-centered branding.

How will you celebrate your client?
How will you help them look and feel amazing?
How will you liberate them?
How will your service or product help them reach success?

Your clients want to know. Show them with your branding. From colors, fonts, and imagery to messaging and web design–how will you make your ideal client feel like they’re the Only One?

Here’s a pointer for your brand presence that’s quick but powerful:

Consider how you want to make your client feel at every stage in their journey with you.
When they stumble upon your website or profile, what’s their state of mind? Look beyond what prompted the search for “interior designer in Portland” or “Santa Barbara yoga studio.” Think instead about what led them to search for you in the first place. Were they realizing their life was spinning out of control? Were they craving the kind of zen and together-ness that comes from a well-decorated home?

Actualize what you bring to your clients by going beyond the tangible item they get — speak to their deeper needs.

At the end of the day, your clients aren’t investing in interior design–they’re investing in loving where they live. They’re investing in peace at home. They’re investing in a living room gallery wall that’s so inviting, your guests won’t even notice that dinner is burning in the kitchen.

This is what inspires action and leads to higher conversion rates with your audience. Curious what this could do for your business? Reach out - link in bio!

29/07/2022

We'll keep today’s note short and sweet:

There’s just a smidgen of availability left on our calendar for new projects in 2022! If you’re looking to elevate your presence and have your story told, now’s the time–because your story is so worth telling.

If you’re more of the planning type (we see you), you can snag your spot on our books for Q4 right now. Whatever your timeline calls for, know this: We accept only a limited number of clients every season, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like us to steward your story.

Ready to get in touch? Send us a note. Link in bio. ✉️

29/07/2022

Every design studio has their own special sauce. A carefully cultivated blend of approach, experience, and results.

Regardless of what we offer in the way of marketing, branding, and everything in between, no two studios are the same.

When you work with us on your branding, here's what you can expect:

First, we start with strategy.

We’ll start by diving deep into your business goals and your purpose as a brand. Then, we’ll turn our attention to your target audience. Who are they? What do they value? What problems can you solve for them?

Then, we design.

Here, we’ll set the tone for the aesthetic of your brand. We’ll create a mood board with imagery that captures the personality, promise, and position of your brand. From here, we’ll make aesthetic decisions regarding color palette, font styles, and overall creative direction.

Finally, we pull it all together.

This is where all of our hard work comes together–and it’s so much more than just a logo. For visual depth and layering, we curate a full color palette. By designing multiple logos, we ensure you have options, variations, and scalability. We create a small submark with big impact for circumstances with limited design space. We curate a font system to ensure a consistent look across multiple platforms. Our designs include bespoke patterns, handmade elements, and artistic touches. In the end, we package everything into a website, marketing assets, collateral, packaging, and more.

Most people only see the final step in bringing your brand to life, but there's so much more to it than what meets the eye.

All of this brainstorming and research will make you feel more at home in your brand than ever before. The best part? Your ideal clients will feel just as smitten as you are.

A win for all, no?

23/07/2022

It’s the summer of softening.

These days, I’ve been craving mindfulness and rest — that understated kind of slowness that fills your cup and feeds your soul without fail. Taking walks in the sunshine with my daughter, spending time on the coast, running barefoot through the soft summer grass... It’s healing after another gray winter in the PNW.

I’m allowing myself grace, letting go of unrealistic expectations, and celebrating every little victory along the way.

This summer, I’m softening my approach, my heart, and my compassion, preparing for the next moment when imposter syndrome will rear its ugly head. I’m softening my internal dialogue as I acknowledge successes, honor my ambition, and uncover what confidence looks like for me — because there’s too much to lose by playing small.

Embracing your passions, diving into your calling, and playing big will benefit everyone around you. Your family, employees, clients, friends, communities, the causes you care about...they all stand to gain from your confidence. Say it with me: There’s too much to lose by playing small.

In other words, we could all use a little softness. When we affirm someone, compliment them, praise their talents, or celebrate their accomplishments, we empower them.

It’s an honor to do this for our clients. Around here, we help our clients step out with confidence, ready to face the world in their own meaningful, powerful way. Knowing someone deeply enough to facilitate meaningful confidence takes a lot of trust. My clients' trust in our team is nothing short of sacred.

When all is said and done, I strive to extend the same compassion, encouragement, and safety to myself as I do with our clients. It’s a work in progress, but it’s worth the effort.

How are you slowing down this season? What does confidence look like for you?

16/07/2022

Let’s address the elephant in the room:

There’s plenty of designers, creative studios, and boutique agencies out there to partner with.

And from where you sit, that’s a good thing. Who doesn’t love options?

But here’s what really determines if a creative partnership is worth its salt:

Is the work of your designer truly distinct? Decidedly different? Worthy of your time, resources, and energy?

Let this quick checklist help you decide:

–The right partner in design and creative will come to the table with honesty and transparency. You hired them to keep it real, not to stroke your ego. If you're rocking bad design, the right creative partner will tell you without apology (well, maybe a little apologizing).

–The right partner in design and creative will fold you into every big picture discussion, but they’ll be honest about the fact that your perspective isn’t the only one that matters.

–The right partner in design and creative will steer the ship with you, but they won’t be afraid to tell you when the effort is taking you off course.

–The right partner in design and creative will be thinking in an entirely different wavelength than you do, channeling the world through color, form, and radical intention. They’ll challenge you to think in ways you’ve never considered before. At the end of the day, you’ll still reach similar conclusions–because you’re playing for the same team.

All of that ☝️ may seem like a tall order, but have you considered that it’s exactly what you deserve?

When you need a partner in design and creative who can do all of that (and more), get you a studio who does it all.

Let’s get to work.

November Design Studio

08/09/2022

02/09/2022

01/09/2022

30/08/2022

17/08/2022

08/08/2022

04/08/2022

03/08/2022

29/07/2022

29/07/2022

23/07/2022

16/07/2022

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