In this episode, I’m chatting with Katie Higginbotham, previous minimind student of mine, designer, studio owner, creative director, and mom of three. We talk all about what it really looked like to make the leap from her established agency job to running her own studio.

With Mother’s Day just behind us, this convo feels especially timely. Katie shares how she knew it was time for a change, how she prepped for the transition, and what it’s been like balancing client work, a part-time role, and mom life all at once. We also dive into the honest truths, like mom guilt, chaotic schedules, and learning to protect the time that matters most.

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Katie Higginbotham

Guest Business Name: Katie Higginbotham Design

Guest Website: katie-higginbotham.com

Guest Instagram: @katie_higg_design

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The Design Minimind

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

Branding Bestie Chit Chat is back and in this episode Lauren and Jen share honest examples of when things didn’t go quite as planned in their client projects from unclear direction to challenging feedback and how they navigated those moments. It’s a candid supportive conversation full of lessons learned growth moments and a few laughs as well.

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Lauren Braier

Guest Business Name: Elby Creative

Guest Website: elbycreative.com

Guest Instagram: @elbycreative

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Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

In this episode of Better: The Brand Designer Podcast, we sit down with Joy Warren, the creative force behind Joy Warren Creative — a full-service brand and web design studio known for its playful simplicity, vibrant use of color, and custom illustrations. Based just outside Raleigh, NC, Joy shares how she launched her business after relocating from Indiana and built a studio that celebrates and supports small, female-owned businesses.

We kick things off with a quick story time about how Joy’s business began, and then dive into a foundational concept for any designer: the offer suite. What is it, and why does it matter? Joy walks us through how her own suite of services has evolved — including a major shift away from her once-popular Mini Brands offer. She opens up about the mindset behind pivoting, how to stay responsive to your audience’s needs, and why flexibility in your offers is key to long-term success in the design industry.

Whether you’re a seasoned designer or just starting out, Joy’s thoughtful approach to building and refining your offers will leave you feeling inspired and ready to adapt.

Have you re-evaluated your own offer suite lately?

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Joy Warren

Guest Business Name: Joy Warren Creative

Guest Website: joy-warren.com

Guest Instagram: @joywarrencreative

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Tags:

designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design