Lettering Works Business Journal - October in Review
~ NOW BOOKING PROJECTS FOR NOVEMBER & BEYOND ~ If you’d like your brand to be expressed in a creative, real way to get the attention of your customers, let’s chat.
BUSINESS JOURNAL: A PLACE TO CELEBRATE WINS & REFLECT - 70TH EDITION
October’s highlights included attending Adobe MAX, working more on my wooden signs, visiting a friend in Portland, OR, and fulfilling wholesale orders in addition to being recognized in the Bradley Alumni Art Show.
The Big Wins
Attended the Creative Professional VIP Summit and Adobe MAX in Los Angeles. Highlights included reconnecting with friends and making new ones, learning lots, soaking up loads of inspiration, and providing feedback on my favorite programs as well as becoming an Adobe Certified Professional in Graphic Design & Illustration Using Adobe Illustrator.
Created artwork in response to the No Kings Day protest and current events in Chicago. I made a few of the designs into stickers and they will be available at the Chicago History Museum and Raygun to start.
Feel it on the First artwork
Trip to the Field Museum on my birthday to get a behind-the-scenes look at their corporate program
Stopped by Paperish Mess during the West Town Art Walk to see my new wooden signs
Visiting my friend and her baby in Portland, OR
New wooden signs at the Chicago History Museum
Make More Art Mini Stickers for Adobe MAX
My “Just My Type of Lettering” book won 3rd place in Bradley’s Alumni Graphic Design Show
Shared my collaboration with Brooke for the “Feel it on the First” campaign. I gave out stickers with all orders in October. You can read the blog interview post here.
Celebrated my birthday! I spent the day at the Field Museum for a special corporate sponsor day and explored the West Town Art Walk, where I got to see my new wooden signs at Paperish Mess.
Curated and put 20 wooden signs into production for my upcoming art show. This was funded as a birthday present to myself from my business, as a larger showing of my work is something I’ve been wanting to do for a while. More details to come on this artist residency with Logan Square Pilates and Core.
Was featured by Adobe for one of their AMA sessions as part of their Creative Apprenticeship Program. We had a great conversation about all things wholesale. I was then invited to be part of another program that will happen in December and paired with another 1:1 mentee.
Visited my best friend in Portland with my mom. highlights included meeting her baby, lots of laughs, exploring their neighborhood and even running into a Chicago design friend in a vintage shop.
Prepared for Adobe MAX by connecting with friends new and old and making mini “Make More Art” stickers to hand out at the conference as well as some mini Chicago sticker packs. PSA: You can watch the recorded sessions from Adobe MAX for free at max.adobe.com.
Delivered custom products to the Chicago History Museum and got to see my work featured throughout their store, including my new Chicago L Train and Chicago Theatre wooden signs. It’s been great to collaborate with them more now that their museum store is back open.
Worked on a handful of client projects, including custom merchandise designs for Studio C Fitness and Jessica Lackey of Deeper Foundations and a larger, top secret project. I also onboarded another custom merchandise project that will start next month.
Restocked Flyover Chicago, the Milwaukee Art Museum, a handful of Rally House stores, and an airport gift shop in addition to a handful of shops through Faire.
Purchased my first barcodes from GS1 in conjunction with a purchase order from the Field Museum.
Added new Chicago Pope magnets and restocked stickers and postcards. I’ve been enjoying all of the love for this design the past handful of months!
Continued to focus on health things like going to the chiropractor regularly and scheduling my once-every-five-years MRA brain scan in preparation for my annual nephrologist appointment. I also made time for fun, like spontaneously attending a BØRNS concert.
Received third place from the Bradley University Graphic Design Alumni Exhibition for my “Just My Type of Lettering” book entry. Special shoutout to my friends Barbie, Kirk, and Steph for attending the opening reception and sending me photos since I didn’t make it to Peoria.
October was a FULL month, from special moments with friends to travel to working on fun projects to fulfilling many wholesale orders to all things Adobe MAX. I’m always so grateful that I get to pursue my passions and creativity as my full-time job.
In November, I’m looking forward to getting my art up at Logan Square Pilates, visiting friends in San Francisco, and working on some fun projects. I have limited availability next month, but I am open for a few more branding, creative marketing, or custom merchandise projects, as well as creative marketing consulting. Reach out if you’d like help breaking through the noise with a hand-crafted design that allows you to express yourself and your message more creatively.
Thank you for being here, for supporting me, and for following along with my entrepreneurial journey.
PS - Have a project you’d like to chat about? Send me the details now to ensure your project gets on my calendar in 2025. Bring on all the logos, branded merchandise, + brand identity projects… let’s make some beautiful + impactful things together.
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Want access to the exact journal prompts that I use to write these recaps? Grab them here. Or get this monthly update straight to your inbox by joining the Lettering Works email list here.
