3 QUESTIONS I ASK EVERY CLIENT TO MAKE SURE THEY FEEL SEEN FROM DAY ONE

Let’s be real for a second.

Branding is personal. Way more personal than most people expect it to be. Especially when looking for a designer. You’re sharing your story, your mission, your livelihood (this is your baby). Your hope is that someone else can help you translate it into something that feels true. And sometimes? Even with the best intention on both sides, it doesn’t land.

Maybe you’ve invested in branding or a website and walked away thinking, “Cute… but who this for!? Surely, can’t be for me!”

I know that feeling, and with full transparency, I haven’t always gotten it perfectly right. It’s not the best feeling, so just imagine how the client feels. This is a great lesson in dating your designer before marrying them! Because here’s the truth. This work is layered. It’s vulnerable. It’s a process. A whole journey, chile! And clarity isn’t always easy to pin down on a mood board or a questionnaire.

What I’ve learned over time, and what I’m committed to practicing every day, is that good design isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about care. It’s liberation in action. It’s about creating space for honesty, curiosity, and collaboration. And it starts long before we open up a design file.

That’s why, before anything else, I ask three questions.

Three questions that help us build trust, so you feel seen and supported from the very first conversation.

1. What feels most important to honor in this season of your work?

Everybody loves to talk about goals:

“How much do you want to grow?”
“Who’s your target audience?”
“What’s your five-year plan?”

And don’t get me wrong, those are important. But they’re not the first thing I care about. Because most of the time, when someone comes to me, they’re in the middle of something real.

A transition. A growth spurt. A season of letting go and stepping into something bigger.

I’ve worked with folks who were reimagining their business after burnout. Others who were ready to finally center their own voice after years of blending in. And some who just needed their brand to reflect the fullness of who they’ve always been (this is currently me right now. I’m truly leaning into the fullness of my entire personality and I love that for me.) So before we dive into strategy, I’m going to ask you:

“What feels sacred right now?”
“What’s asking to be honored in your work, your story, your presence?”

Because when we know that, we have a foundation that can hold everything else.

2. What has (and hasn’t) worked for you in past collaborations?

Let’s tell the truth.

Most of us have at least one story about a creative collaboration that left us feeling… less than excited. Whether it was a rushed process, a lack of communication, or just a vibe that never quite clicked, those experiences stay with you. I’ve been there myself—both as the client and the designer.

I’ve had projects where I felt like I needed to overcompensate. Times when I worried I was being “too much” or “too particular.” And yes, times when I looked back and wished I’d held more space for my own clients’ voices. That’s why this question matters. When you tell me what didn’t work in the past, you’re not being difficult. You’re giving us both a roadmap. A way to co-create something that feels safer, more transparent, and more supportive. And when you share what did work, we get to build on that, too.

3. How do you want to feel when you share this with the world?

Without fail, this is the question that usually makes the girls pause. Because it’s easy to talk about how you want your brand to look. But how do you want it to feel? When you launch your new website—when you send the link, when you post the first announcement. What do you want to feel in your body? Relief? Pride? Excitement? A sense of finally being seen? This is the part where I encourage you to let go of what you think you should feel. If you want your brand to feel soft, warm, and invitational… I’m here for that. If you want it to feel bold, grounded, and gives homegirl vibes… I’m here for that, too. When we name that feeling, it becomes the filter for every choice we make. It keeps us anchored, even when the process feels overwhelming.

And let me tell you… When I got clear on how I wanted my brand to feel to those who have had the chance to experience her (yes, my brand is that gworl), it became easier to show up for my business. How I feel about my brand is how I feel about my worth as the creator of the business. Give it my all or nothing at all.

And, And, And… Anotha thing!

If you’ve ever felt unseen or frustrated in a creative project, I want you to know you’re not alone, and you’re not too much. This work asks a lot of us. Vulnerability, trust, imagination. And nobody has it all figured out on day one. You don’t have to show up with a perfectly rehearsed pitch or a vision board that ticks every box. Perfectionism isn’t welcomed here. You just have to be willing to show up honestly. That’s where the real magic happens.

If you’re ready to build a brand that feels like yours, and not just something that looks good on paper, I’d love to hang out with you on a virtual call (or in-person if you’re local 👀)

Fill out my contact form [here]. No pressure. No pretending. Just real collaboration, from the heart.