The Unapologetic Designer Podcast

Right now, I could take an entire year off from my design business, and it would continue paying me as if I was working full time. I know many freelancers hesitate to take the leap, fearing there's no financial security in running their own business so today I want to share how I've been able to do this as a solo designer with no team or digital products. How Minimalism Changed My Life ⁠⁠Join Soci...

Alyssa is a successful designer and DBA University graduate. In this episode, she opens up about the internal challenges she’s faced, how she shifted her mindset to overcome imposter syndrome, and the journey to landing high-ticket clients after her design work went viral online for all the wrong reasons. This is a raw, powerful story of resilience and growth. Follow Alyssa ⁠⁠Join Social Butterfly...

"High value" often gets mistaken for "high price tag" but being a high-value designer is about crafting an exceptional experience and delivering results that truly stand out. It’s not the price tag that defines value; it’s the impact and the quality of what you bring to the table. ⁠⁠Join Social Butterfly Club (Marketing Membership For Designers)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Brief Collective Design Biz Academy...

With just $800 left from her last paycheck, Veronica transformed her mindset and landed her first $5,000 client, unlocking a newfound confidence and stepping into the role of the expert she was always meant to be. In this episode, she breaks down the game-changing shifts that took her from struggling with $200 clients to confidently booking high-ticket clients in just a few months. Follow Veronica...

With zero formal design experience and a background as a chiropractor, Erica made the leap into the world of full-time design, niching down in the health & wellness space. In this episode, she shares her journey going from making $3K a month to having her first $25K month within the same year! If you've ever doubted your ability to pivot or dream bigger, this is the story you need to hear. ⁠⁠J...

Your mindset might be the very thing standing between you and booking high-ticket clients or scaling your design business. Today, Coach Marisa and I are diving into the most common mindset blocks we see holding designers back—and, more importantly, how to overcome them so you can increase your revenue and business growth. ⁠⁠Join Social Butterfly Club (Marketing Membership For Designers)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Sometimes content feels like a second job and although I've turned social media into my #1 lead generator, I know it's not everyone's cup of tea. That's why I'm excited to share my content ideas with other designers inside Social Butterfly Club - a monthly marketing membership exclusively for designers. Listen to find out all the deets! ⁠⁠Join Social Butterfly Club (Marketing Membership For Design...

Emma, a Design Biz Academy graduate, transformed her business from $600 logos to landing a $6,000 branding project in just 8 months. In this episode, she shares her journey into design, the unexpected twists she encountered, and the key strategies that helped her break into high-ticket projects. Follow Emma Designer Pricing Guide ⁠⁠Join Social Butterfly Club (Marketing Membership For Designers)⁠⁠⁠...

Brand messaging and positioning are challenges almost every designer faces. In this episode, I'm chatting with Jen from Hello June Creative and the Better Brand Designer podcast about how to finally nail your brand messaging so clients are eager to work with you! I personally hired Jen to refine my own brand messaging, and she was worth every penny. If you're feeling lost about who you're speaking...

While we often hear stories of designers leaving their 9-5 to dive into full-time entrepreneurship, it's less common to hear about those who choose to return. In today's episode, we're sitting down with Tiff to discuss why, after building a successful design business, she’s decided that going back to a 9-5 aligns better with her long-term goals. Follow Tiff ⁠⁠Join Social Butterfly Club (Marketing...

Michelle jumped into VIP days when they became the latest trend, but after completing nearly 40, she found herself burned out and facing some hard truths about the service. Now, she's on a mission to reposition herself as a full-service experience designer. This episode explores how various service offerings can meet your needs in different seasons of life, helping you choose the right fit as your...

This year challenged creative business owners, including The Brief Collective, in ways we never expected. We faced tough lessons in leadership, made really BAD big investment decisions, and learned how to be more intentional with our time. Ultimately, we realized that while caring about others is essential, it doesn’t pay the bills. In this episode, we're getting real and reflecting on the misstep...

For the first time ever, we get to hear from a client's perspective - where her design vision turned into a high ticket nightmare. This episode explores the complexities of client relationships, communication, and the critical role of discernment in the design process. If you're looking to hire a designer or are a designer yourself - this episode is a MUST LISTEN! Follow Katrina ⁠⁠Join Social Butt...

Amanda & Cass at Foxtrot Branding reveal why those $20K projects, while impressive, aren't always as profitable as they seem. In this episode, they break down the hidden challenges behind big-ticket clients, offering insights into why sometimes, less can be more when it comes to profitability. Follow Them ⁠⁠Join Social Butterfly Club (Marketing Membership For Designers)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Brief Co...

In light of a significant event this week involving two prominent designers, I felt compelled to make this episode. Whether you're building a brand, fostering a community, or sharing your experiences online, this episode is a must listen. I'll be sharing what it truly means to be transparent in a responsible way and how our actions online can impact the lives of others. ⁠⁠Join Social Butterfly Clu...

Asia booked $18K worth of design projects after enrolling in Design Biz Academy University at The Brief Collective. In this episode, we discuss her design journey, how she attracted graphic design clients, and the mindset shifts she had to make in order to get here. If you’re a designer wanting to grow your brand & website design business, this episode is for you! Follow Asia ⁠⁠Join Social But...

Elizabeth McCravy shares details about her design journey, transitioning from the glamorized corporate design world to discovering her true calling in freelancing. In this episode, we unpack the misconceptions about working for others, challenge societal views on 'work,' and explore why your career doesn't have to be something you dread. Follow Elizabeth ⁠⁠Join Social Butterfly Club (Marketing Mem...

Last year, I invested $5,500 into a Pinterest manager, hoping to start booking clients through Pinterest. I wanted to leverage Pinterest since it's less demanding compared to platforms like Instagram or TikTok. Listen to this episode to hear about my results 7 months after making that investment. ⁠⁠Join Social Butterfly Club (Marketing Membership For Designers)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Brief Collective Desi...

Whether you offer day rates or not, this thought-provoking episode explores the long-term impacts of marketing services based solely on speed within the creative industry. Follow Laur a ⁠⁠Join Social Butterfly Club (Marketing Membership For Designers)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Brief Collective Design Biz Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unlock Secret Podcast Episodes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Share Your Unapologetic Opinion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pod...

If you want to learn how to use AI to your advantage as a designer, chat about the sims, or simply sit in on a conversation where we revisit childhood creativity, this is the episode for you. Morgan's AI Mockup Workshop Follow Morgan ⁠⁠Join Social Butterfly Club (Marketing Membership For Designers)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Brief Collective Design Biz Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unlock Secret Podcast Episodes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠...

Lucy Eden Design discusses her experience building a design business and navigating challenges with unaligned clients. This episode is a good reminder that maintaining a structured design process and confidently turning down clients who don't align with your vision is important for success. Follow Lucy ⁠⁠Join Social Butterfly Club (Marketing Membership For Designers)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Brief Collectiv...

This episode serves as a powerful reminder that business comes with its ups and downs, and it's crucial to keep pushing forward during the lows to achieve the highs. Coach Marisa dives into money mindset triggers, shares her experience of growing up homeless, and discusses her journey to landing a $14k design project when she needed it the most. ⁠⁠Join Social Butterfly Club (Marketing Membership F...

Designers often times think they need a "viral video" or huge following to book clients but that could not be further from the truth! In today's episode, Bri a DBA graduate and designer, shares her experience building a design business that attracts dream clients while having LESS than 1200 followers on Instagram. Follow Bri ⁠⁠Join Social Butterfly Club (Marketing Membership For Designers)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠...

Radical self responsibility is required to build a successful business and in today’s episode, Kelsey from Coming Up Roses shares her tips for squiggly creatives, the dilemma of perfectionism, and the lessons she has learned transitioning from designer to coach.  Her private podcast Follow Kels On Instagram ⁠⁠Join Social Butterfly Club (Marketing Membership For Designers)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Brief Coll...

Learn how I attracted a $10K design client using the app Threads. This app is great for those of you who have trouble consistently posting video content and want to explore a different platform other than Instagram & TikTok! ⁠⁠Join Social Butterfly Club (Marketing Membership For Designers)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Brief Collective Design Biz Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unlock Secret Podcast Episodes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sh...