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Always was, always will be.

I work and live on the traditional lands of the Bunarong people. Design Salad respects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and future. For Design Salad, this includes ensuring we don’t appropriate indigenous visual culture. 

Studio Capabilities

Branding
Web design
Art direction
Packaging design
Illustration
Surface pattern design
Animation and 3D
Signage

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Graphic designer from Melbourne (well, the Mornington Peninsula)

Working with people worldwide

Did you think this photo was real? My new friend Did you think this photo was real? My new friend the MidJourney AI bot made this for me! I’m trying out different ways of using AI in my work process- as I see it as another tool to aid in making ideas come to life. One night recently working on branding for feelgoodcreative.au and I’d spent *hours* scrolling on stock photo sites (as I often do!) with no results that I could actually use: - the background was too dark - the icing colour off brand - the patty pan ugly - the lighting off And I’m not a baker, so making my own cupcake to photograph was out. And it was 10pm at night so I couldn’t pop down to a cake shop to buy one to photograph. MidJourney came to the rescue, and created something almost exactly what I was looking for in half an hour! As photography changed the role of artists back in the early 1900’s, AI is changing how we work. I have mixed feelings, but overall see the potential for saving time and getting to the end result I’m looking for faster. BUT (big but here) if this was a bakery or cafe brand, I’d 100% recommend getting a real life photographer to do genuine photos! We will always need real human photographers, to do their magic. However there are some instances (I think) where AI can help out. What do you think about AI?
How can you apply your branding to stick in the vi How can you apply your branding to stick in the viewer's mind?⁠ ⁠ Sending merch that people actually want to use is one way!⁠ Rather than printing your logo on its own, on a range of products, think about how your audience lives day to day and what do they like? How can you use your brand colours/images/taglines etc in an interesting way? ⁠ And yes I have a case of the 'design it for my clients, but yet to do it for my on biz-itis' 😆⁠ ⁠ Have you created merch before? If so, what was the best thing you made that had a good payoff? ⁠ ⁠ I created this tote bag design for the talented Jess feelgood.creative recently, using her new hand painted brand pattern by yours truly.⁠ ⁠ As soon as they're in production I will be buying one. (No pressure Jess!)⁠ ⁠ __⁠ ⁠ Availability: Last minute Design Saviour Day rate opened up next Tuesday 13 June. DM to snap it up!⁠ ⁠ __⁠ ⁠ ID: mockup of patterned tote using a brand pattern made by designsalad.studio carried on shoulder of a woman, sitting on an office chair, wearing chartreuse pants and white t-shirt.
Did you think you used more logic and reasoning to Did you think you used more logic and reasoning to make choices?⁠ ⁠ I did too! ⁠ ⁠ So what does this statistic mean for your business? ⁠ ⁠ You can guide how people will feel by using colour and design. ⁠ ⁠ It means how your brand looks and feels and communicates matters a LOT.⁠ ⁠ And this is all in your (or your designer's) control. ⁠ ⁠ If you're feeling the pinch at the moment, spend time working out how to make your audience feel the feeling they are looking for at the moment.⁠ ⁠ Empowered? Hopeful? Soothed? Nourished? Energised? De-stressed? Entertained?⁠ ⁠ Spend time listening to your ideal audience, then tweak your branding, website, email newsletters, and socials to reflect this.⁠ ⁠ __⁠ ⁠ Availability: one Design Saviour Day rate in June; 2 x project spots in July
New branding for web designer Jess feelgoodcreativ New branding for web designer Jess feelgoodcreative.au . ⁠ ⁠ The brief was to make it fun, engaging, unique, but maintaining a sense of style.⁠ ⁠ And sexy business cards that no-one would want to throw away!⁠ ⁠ We started with an honest and timeless logo, updated the existing colour palette, and then used hand-painted patterns and digital collage cutout icons to add texture and stand out from *allll* the other web designers out there.⁠ ⁠ Jess crafts websites like an artist.⁠ ⁠ She is a true brand steward who cares deeply about sticking to the brand guide and growing businesses with a scrumptious, high-converting website.⁠ ⁠ We wanted to show all this through the brand design- so there was no doubt whether she was the right fit for creatives and fun-loving founders.⁠ ⁠ Ps. If I create a Shopify or Squarespace website for you? Jess will be the developer on board to make sure it's built *just* right for your new brand.⁠ ⁠ ⁠
This week I’m feeling grateful. For clients tha This week I’m feeling grateful. For clients that share my love of handmade textures For having a business that is surviving For creating a flexible life that means I can care for my son when he’s sick For friends that like talking on the phone the old school way! And for having a trip booked for September to get me through Winter 😂 I’m working hard at the moment. But I’ve come to realise I actually enjoy being busy. I also enjoy play time, and mid week lunches, but the satisfaction of creating things (for clients or others) can’t be achieved by doing anything else. The best bit? I get to work with big-hearted founders who are out to make a difference, big or small. — Availability: one branding/website spot to begin in June, also booking July. Get in touch to chat about your project 🌞 — ID photo of Candice with curly hair, wearing a pink jumper and holding a party blower to her face, grinning.
What do you want your customers to feel when they What do you want your customers to feel when they pick up your product?⁠ ⁠ Calm, empowerment, excitement, cheekiness, connection?⁠ ⁠ Let’s say you usually buy Le Tan brand sunnies. They wear well, last being played with by your kids, and you feel good in them. They’re a sensible option.⁠ ⁠ But then when buying your next pair, you come across Poppy Lissiman. The lens shapes are similar, but look at their packaging.⁠ ⁠ If you buy this new brand (to you) you get this colourful box that makes you feel like the daring, bold, spontaneous woman you want to be. ⁠ ⁠ And used to be in your 20’s 🤣 ⁠ ⁠ Remember that time you bought a one-way flight on a whim? Remember when a friend suddenly had spare tickets to a show and you could say yes immediately? Remember when the world seemed so open? Confusing, but open? Please tell me I’m not the only one. ⁠ ⁠ You want to be 20’s you again. So you buy the brand that makes you feel like you *are* her again. ⁠ ⁠ That is the power of packaging. Packaging design is an extension of your brand. ⁠ ⁠ But it can also speak to specific parts of your brand personality or product purpose. ⁠ ⁠ This is where it gets fun. ⁠ ⁠ One product might be aimed at creating a sense of calm, and another to spark nostalgia, and another to appeal to a younger audience. Each packaging design can be different.⁠ ⁠ I help big-hearted business owners tighten their positioning and branding (+packaging) so they can grow their business and impact.⁠ ⁠ Is this what your brand needs? Book a call with me now so we can update your packaging ready for Christmas.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ __⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ID: Image of packaging mockup with 2 black bath salt bags, with labels designed by Design Salad, on a tan background.

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