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Kalie Berkey

Strategic branding and web design studio for entrepreneurs and small businesses in creative industries.

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The Women’s Collective Pittsburgh

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When working with a new branding/logo client it's When working with a new branding/logo client it's after our initial discussions, my research into their audience, competitors, and inspirations and we have our strategy in place, that the actual creative process begins. I like to pull out our strategy and brain map some of the keywords we discussed. The terms or phrases that came up over and over or that made the client most excited. 

From there I start thinking about how to visually represent those phrases. Does the word mindful have a color? If it were a photograph would it be full, busy, and teaming with energy or serene, still, and minimal? Do the words we've carefully chosen lean towards being formal or casual, youthful or mature, playful or elevated? And how do I evoke those feelings? 

This is where a moodboard comes in. On it, I place images not just from the client's particular industry but images from a range of places, times, and disciplines. I look at images from the art world, fashion, design, and architecture. After the process of collecting these inspirations, I usually have hundreds of images that I then go back through and refine and organize. 

From there it's a bit of an intuitive process. I can start to see a direction forming that I then tinker with until I have an aesthetic that I feel represents the brand and stands out from the competition. It's this final moodboard that I present to the client so that we can discuss it. It's only after approval on this visual direction that I put pencil to paper and actually start designing a logo set. 

So the next time you are in a creative rut try looking outside of your usual spots. Take a peek at a fashion magazine or architectural digest. Inspiration can come from anywhere.
Introducing..... Fig & Thistle An eclectic vintag Introducing.....

Fig & Thistle
An eclectic vintage Instagram shop

This is a passion project I get the pleasure of sharing with my fabulous pal Valerie.

We find genuine joy in a good search for a deal, collecting, and decorating our spaces, and finding new homes for the items we love. Now we are sharing that love with others and enjoying every minute of it. 

Our current obsessions include Mid Century Modern decor, brass, colorful glass, vintage books, and the occasional kitschy, fun, quirky, thing. 

To check out our finds visit our online shop @figandthistlevintage
So what exactly is branding?​​​​​​​​
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Your brand is how people perceive your company.​​​​​​​​
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Branding is the actions you take to build a certain image of your company.​​​​​​​​
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And your brand identity is the collection of tangible elements that together create one brand image. Things like your logo, color scheme, and typography selections, that's where I usually come in to help. ​​​​​​​​
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I specialize in building robust brand identities with mix-and-match elements, that my clients can utilize for their websites, printed marketing, and social media. But did you know that we can also include custom brand photography? Photos are a giant part of your brand identity. Let's approach them with the same strategy and intention we give the rest of your branding. Check out the link in my bio to see all the ways we can add custom photos to your brand and to see more of the chic brand identity of @babbandmackdesignco featured here.​​​​​​​​
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After every overseas trip, I make a small photo bo After every overseas trip, I make a small photo book to remember the experience. We haven't traveled much over the last few years so thumbing through our books has had to fulfill that wanderlust. But we recently booked our next adventure! We fly out in February, but I am already daydreaming about our itinerary. What destinations are on your travel bucket list?
I'm more of a behind-the-scenes girl. I prefer the I'm more of a behind-the-scenes girl. I prefer the viewfinder side of a camera but I know showing the personality behind the name is important. It's important because I am asking you to trust me to interpret and describe your business, your living, your passion in a way that you may not be able to. When I am designing a brand I get to know all the ins and outs of your business. I ask you a million questions and challenge you to dig deep for the answers so it's only fair that you get to know the woman behind the curtain a little better.

My day-to-day isn’t just about choosing color palettes and fonts: it’s about learning, problem-solving, and looking at things from a new perspective. It’s about delving in and revealing what makes your business tick.

But what lights me up?
Caramel coffee. Photo walks. Popcorn in a dark movie theater. Minimal typography. Sending postcards. Antiquing. Intimate gatherings. Muted tones. Road trips. Slow mornings. Tiramisu. Stamps in my passport. Vintage books. The rare lover of winter.

The design process doesn’t have to be scary. It can be accessible. It can be personal. It can be invigorating. My business model is not about quantity, it's about working with unique individuals who are excited about the design process and have a thoughtful approach.

Current client wishlist:
Restaurants / Cafes
Breweries / Wineries
Homeware / Clothing Boutiques
Bakeries

Now that you have a little more insight into my inspirations, let's build something beautiful together.

Photo by the amazing @hotmetalstudio
Congratulations to @BenjaminO'Leary on the launch Congratulations to @BenjaminO'Leary on the launch of his new brand.

Benjamin is a full-service real estate agent with a professional background, and accounting and advisory experience. He wanted his brand to feel classic and traditional yet still casual. He wanted a clean minimal feel that was friendly and professional. So together we built a logo system and coordinating elements that feel elegant but still approachable to clients of all budgets. It balances luxury with comfort and masculinity with femininity. The result is polished but approachable. I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next for Benjamin and how we can continue to build his visual identity.
Client Spotlight: @randalladvocacy provides servi Client Spotlight:

@randalladvocacy provides services to parents of students having difficulty in school to help them successfully navigate the process with the school to address the issue.

Together we built out a set of logos, a new color palette a tagline and signature graphic, a typography system, and a set of hand-drawn icons. We then built out her website, business cards, and a set of social media graphics. Visit the link in my bio to see the whole brand.
This time of year I always find myself asking what This time of year I always find myself asking what's most important to me, what's a priority, what should I re-evaluate? Most people feel this way with the start of the new year or during the renewal in spring. But there is just something about the doldrums of winter that begs me to realign. So I’ve been absent doing just that. 

This week's reflection included future travel destinations. So I am letting my mind wander back to my last big trip. Prague. 

#wheretogonext.

             

Pittsburgh, PA | Kalie Berkey © 2023