Frequently Asked Questions

Warm, collaborative, and genuinely personal — that's what past clients tell me, anyway. I try to create a space where you feel comfortable bringing me half-formed ideas, gut feelings, or even just a sense of what isn't working yet. I'm curious by nature, and I ask a lot of questions, not to interrogate but because I want to understand what's really underneath what you're telling me. I'm not here to judge your ideas or make you feel like there's a "wrong" answer — I'm here to help you find the right one.

I take that understanding and try to reflect it back in a way that feels like you, sometimes surfacing something you knew was there but hadn't quite been able to name. More than one client has told me they felt truly heard and seen throughout the process, and that means everything to me — because I believe good design only happens when people feel safe enough to be honest about what they actually want.

At the end of the day, I want working together to feel less like hiring a vendor and more like partnering with someone who's genuinely invested in helping your organization shine.

I genuinely focus on inclusivity and accessibility — not as an afterthought, but as part of how I build every brand. That means thinking about color contrast and legibility, whether your imagery reflects the people you serve, and whether your brand makes everyone in your audience feel welcome. If your existing brand needs a check-up on this front, I also offer standalone inclusive brand audits.

1. It starts with really getting to know you — your organization, your story, and the ideas you might not even have words for yet. I ask a lot of questions, and I listen closely, because I've found that clients often show up with just a sliver of an idea, a feeling, or a sense of what's not quite working. My job in those early conversations is to get curious about that, to help pull it into focus, and to reflect back what I'm hearing so you feel understood before we ever start designing.

   From there, the process looks something like this:

   1. Getting to know each other — conversations about your mission, your audience, and what you're hoping to feel and communicate

   2. Research and exploration — I take everything I've learned and start shaping initial directions

   3. Sharing and collaborating — you react, I listen, and we refine together — this isn't a black box, it's a conversation

   4. Final delivery — polished, ready-to-use files, built on a foundation we created together

   Throughout it all, I want you to feel like a true collaborator, not just a client waiting for a reveal. My goal is for you to walk away feeling like the final design isn't just something I made for you — it's something that reflects who you really are, because you felt heard and seen along the way.

Yes — nonprofits and mission-driven organizations have been my focus for the majority of my career, and it's genuinely the work I love most. I understand the realities of nonprofit budgets, timelines, and stakeholders, and I design with your mission and audience at the center.

I also work with small businesses looking to build their brand and set their work up for success.

Both. Some services, like branding, work well as defined packages with a set budget. Others are priced as custom estimates based on your scope, timeline, and deliverables. Once I understand your project, I'll send a clear quote so there are no surprises. I like to be transparent and clear about pricing so the partnership feels equitable for both of us.

Not a strict one — but I do my best work on projects that can be approached thoughtfully rather than rushed. If you have a smaller request, reach out and I'll let you know honestly whether it's a good fit.

For custom branding, the investment typically starts at $2500 for a complete brand package.

It depends on scope, complexity, and timeline. Once I know what you're looking for, I'll put together a clear estimate so you can make a confident decision before we start.

I base all budgets on my standard hourly rate of $200.

Totally normal — most clients start here. My job is to help you figure it out, and we’ll work through it together.

I'll ask a few questions, share some references, and help you find a direction that feels right for your organization, even if you walked in without a clear picture.

The short answer is yes, though I'll usually recommend a small logo system (primary logo, a simplified version, and an icon) so it holds up across everything from your website to a conference banner to a social media avatar. A single logo file often isn't enough once you start using your brand in the real world. I recommend creating a whole brand system to ensure its success, but I completely understand that budgets can be limited. Let’s talk about it! Send me a message.

It's your chance to give feedback on a direction, and I refine the work based on your notes. Most projects include multiple rounds, so we can get things right without the process feeling rushed or overcomplicated.

It depends on scope and how quickly feedback moves, but most projects run anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.

For branding projects, I usually say that to do the process right and well, we need at least a few months from start to finish.

If you have a particular deadline, tell me up front and I'll let you know what's realistic.

Usually! It depends on my schedule and workload. If you're working against a deadline, reach out and I'll let you know what's possible. Note that for very compressed timelines, I charge an additional rush fee.

Nope! I'm based in Washington, DC and work with a lot of clients across the DMV, but I also work with organizations nationally. My process works smoothly over email, video calls, and shared files, wherever you're located.

Absolutely! I’ve worked with most of my clients on an ongoing basis for years, and really enjoy having a continued relationship. I'm happy to be a long-term design partner for you and work together on lots of projects throughout the years.