“It’s only after you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform.”
― Roy T. Bennett
Hey there, Reader,
Welcome to the first (official) Humm House Newsletter!
With that, I thought I'd share more about my own branding (branding-inception!) and creative journey. It feels grounding to revisit where it all started, to remember the roots of this journey and the very winding path that brought me here.
And spoiler alert, it didn’t start in design school.
I started out with no guidebook, no formal training and heaps of imposter syndrome, chopping away at a path through a dense jungle of uncertainty. Every single decision felt like navigating uncharted territory. I often felt alone, unsure if I was doing things “right” or even if I could sustain this unorthodox, "create-your-own-adventure" career path.
the early days of Humm House
When I look back at those early days of Humm House, I don’t see a polished brand or a carefully mapped plan.
I see a lot of trial and error. I see myself figuring it out as I go. I remember the quiet, lonely moments, wondering if I was doing it right at all.
In my recent blog article, From Dirt to Design, I’m sharing the Humm House origin story, along with the lessons that only made sense in hindsight:
How finding my peoplechanged everything
Why intentional branding acts like a lighthouse
How clarity doesn’t show up before the mess, but because of it
As we barrel into this year, it feels grounding to pause and reflect on where this all began, and exciting to imagine what’s still to come.
If you’re building something of your own and still feel like you’re in the messy middle, this one’s for you.
How have you grown since your own beginnings? What challenges did you overcome, and how do they differ from your challenges now?
Hit reply and share some of your story!
MORE STORIES FROM THe SOUL:
→ 3 Ways to Make Your Brand More Human. Some brands look beautiful, but don’t feel alive. How do we infuse that unique humm, that spark of connection, warmth and presence into our brands, so people actually feel something? Here are 3 action-oriented tips to do just that.
→ Brand Positioning: Discovering Your Brand's Compass. Brand positioning provides clarity that guides your message, visuals and impact. We'll outline brand positioning as an adventure in alignment; discovering your story, defining your direction, and crafting a brand that humms with purpose and soul.
Resources & Articles:
→ In the AI era, growth depends on people, not tech(IDEO). Dig into five strengths people bring to creative projects, and ways leaders can set employees up to thrive through moments of technologic change.
The art shopis back up and running, with a new selection of tarot card themed artwork, both original block prints and digital prints available in multiple sizes and paper stock.
→ WINTER: Went on my first ever backcountry ski tour in the snowy Sierra Nevada. I hadn’t been on skis in over 20 years, and it felt like riding a bike (despite a few garage sales!). This reminded me of the beauty of trying new things, even as an adult, and being ok with looking like a noob.
→ MURDER MYSTERIES: To get myself back into a solid reading routine, I dove into some good ole whodunits, like Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. It's beyond classic in the best way. This book would make such a great murder mystery party idea!
→ NATURAL DYEING: Starting to dip my toes (or socks, rather?) into the world of natural dyes. Did you know that you can dye fabric with dandelion, avocados and fruit tree leaves and bark? There’s dyestuff all around us! Maiwa is such a great place to start. For really beautiful naturally dyed goods, hop over to Rusty Sagebrush for the most beautiful bandanas and wild rags (peep that website and logo design!).
I develop soulful, handcrafted brand identities for female entrepreneurs who are building something meaningful in the world, helping them share their mission authentically and resonate deeply with their people.