Graff Design Co.
5016 50 Ave, Suite A T7S1N2 Whitecourt, AB, Canada

I updated my iPhone screens to match my aesthetic today!

Want to know what lights me up and makes me whole? Forests and Fauna. There really is nothing better than hiking through the forest and sharing space with its fauna. I might sound incredibly hippy-like and free-spirited, and well... I guess I am free-spirited and I consider myself highly connected to this earth. I think we all are in some way. ... In 2019 I hiked the Juan De Fuca trail to Mystic Beach on Vancouver Island and it is probably my favourite travel memory so far. It was my first time on the Island and I was in a little bit of a sensory shock once we started our hike. The trees were incredibly grounded and they stood so tall. Branches touched fingertips, creating this massive blanket of greenery overhead. I can’t even begin to describe the smell and how light and airy my lungs felt while breathing in the rainforest air. It was rainy, dark and foggy but I think that made the experience as magical as it was. See more

Do not sleep on a domain hosted email. I repeat: do. not. sleep. on. a. domain. hosted. email. Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, Outlook etc. SCREAMS unprofessional and to be honest, it's not very trustworthy. You might think, ‘these email clients are perfectly fine (they do the job) and they are free!’ Which, true...... But you know what? A small investment is 100% worth the credibility and positive impression you gain when your email matches your website domain. If you needed to hire a lawyer to go over some legal documents like a will, a contract, or divorce papers, etc. Are you going to feel comfortable sending over sensitive documents to a Yahoo (yuck) email address? Probably not, right? Domain hosted emails gives your audience a comforting (and accurate) perception of security and stability towards you and your business. Which means they are way more likely to trust you. Using free email addresses for business purposes is a problem for a couple of reasons: + It detracts from the value you want to offer your clients or customers. + It doesn't give off the best impression of your business. + You don’t have full control over your mailbox. + If you already have a website, you’re kind of already paying for it without utilizing the benefits of a domain hosted email. How? You’re already paying for the domain name for your website. There are free or insanely affordable email clients that offer domain hosted email accounts for businesses. Do you want to hear more about the benefits of a domain hosted email and how you can get one? Reach out, I’d love to help you out. See more

Embrace your story. Find what ignites you. Share it with the world. . .... . This the ideology, or the true north, that ignites Graff Design Co. I’m not just a designerI’m also a business owner, like you. And beneath your polished exterior, there’s a story that’s burning withina story waiting to be told. This is exactly what your brand identity should stem from. It should represent the heart and soul of you and your business. Let me help you tell your story. See more

Subway tile. Distressed dark wood. Olive tones. Matte black metals. Wicker baskets. LOVE LOVE LOVE. . . . If you remember, I shared this mood board around this time last year! I was (and still am) in the super long process of opening up a pre-made brand shop and this to-die-for mood board is a style direction for one of those pre-made brands!... I know, I know, a year is a long time to launch a pre-made brand shop, but it's because of a pretty good reason... I went through a brand identity crisis, kinda. I no longer felt aligned with my website. Which catapulted me into a full brand re-design... which then led me to a M A S S I V E website overhaul. It's going to be huge, not even exaggerating in the slightest. Two massive components to the new website is a pre-made brand shop and a business lounge where you can come to learn anything and everything about branding, business, and everything in-between. SO EXCITED. See more

Let's dig a little bit deeper into the signature branding process a little bit more, shall we? Phase One: Connect + Explore + One. Inquiry ... The magic begins within the initial steps of meeting you. Through a consultation call, we’ll discuss the vision of your project and the ideas you have surrounding it. This is the perfect time for your inquiries. What does your project need? Where do you see it going? If a spark happens and we decide to collaborate together on your project, you’ll receive a custom proposal from me regarding the next steps. + Two. Onboarding The next step is to explore. Once we’ve gone through the custom proposal, sign the contract and the retainer invoice has been paid, we’ll continue on with onboarding. You’ll receive a welcome document that outlines my business model and work process, the timeline of your project, and what steps are next. Then, we’ll dig deep. Through questionnaires and Pinterest boards, we’ll get to know who you really are and what you’re all about. This is not the time for you to hold back on who you really arelet it all out! You’re a business owner with a vision to communicate to your audience. You’re looking for a brand that captures your very essence. Remember, the more real and raw you are, the more specific and timeless your brand will be. See more

A gentle reminder my friends. Self-care is doing more of the things that make you feel like yourself. During these fear and anxiety-induced times, it becomes so easy to abandon the self-care practices that make you feel whole. Don't. Take some time today, some extra time for yourself, to do the things that make you feel more like yourself.

So what do you do, exactly? Why is this such a hard question to answer as a creative? And why does it always catch me off guard? If you ask a doctor what they do, they say they’re a doctor. Their answer is almost always accepted, no questions asked. When you ask a creative/artist/designer/entrepreneur/insertyourindustryhere what they do, it’s never a simple answer or explanation.... To answer that question simply: I kind of do everything. Am I a business owner? Yes. Am I a designer? Yes. Am I an entrepreneur? Yes. I think we use titles as boxes to compartmentalize the industry we are in, in an effort to simplify what we do. So when someone asks me what I do, I can’t just say I’m a designer, because I am SO MUCH MORE than that. I want to tell them who I am instead. I’m someone who: + doesn’t like drinking coffee unless it has vanilla foam in it + always has questions, about everything, all of the time + refuses to shovel snow even when my spouse asks (sorry honeyyyy) + is extremely impatient, but equally as passionate + has an old soul and a young heart + is sometimes too honest and forthcoming + doesn't believe in wasting time on things and people who don’t add value to my life + devoted to learning new skills and has many creative outlets + cares deeply for my circle of people + and wears many hats as an entrepreneur: accountant, manager, coordinator, marketer, designer, etc etc etc. Let's ask ourselves: why do we do this? Why do we feel the need to define ourselves as one thing? And why does that one thing always have to be about what we do to make money? What are some things outside of your career or job that make you, you? See more

In case you need a gentle affirmation With the second lockdown arriving here, I can help but feel a little discouraged and disconnected. But I have to remind myself that there is a purpose for this season and it will pass eventually. I’m learning that these hardships grow our inner strength and often times have messages for us that we need to listen to. Maybe mine is to slow down and rest. Hibernate. Relax. Conserve energy. Nest. Maybe that’s why Winter has been kinder to us this year, she knows that our collective is struggling. I’m choosing to take comfort in that.

Are you curious about my signature branding process? Each project is broken down into three phases: Connect + Explore, Create + Evolve, and Perfect + Perform. Within each of these phases are a set of sub-stages that allows us to focus on one area of the project at a time, keeping us aligned and in sync throughout the entire journey of our project.... No. 01 | Connect + Explore One. Inquiry + Client Application + 30-minute Discovery Call + Proposal, Contract & Deposit Invoice Two. Onboarding + Welcome Guide + Light Homework + Questionnaires No.2 | Create + Evolve Three. Strategy + Strategy Session Meeting + Brand Strategy Document + Style Direction and Mood Boards + Brand Strategy Review Four. Design + Brand Suite Concepts + Business Cards + Additional Collateral Design + Brand Review + Feedback No.3 | Perfect + Perform Five. Refine + 1-2 Refinements + Brand Suite Approval + Final Brand Preparation Six. Hand-off + Link to Download NEW Brand! + Includes Brand Guidelines, Style Guide, Mood Board, Logo Files, Business Card Files, Additional Collateral Files, plus some fun freebies!) There will be a full blog post on this topic coming soon

Why is branding so important? By definition, branding is the action of marking with a branding iron. Farmers brand their livestock so that other other people know who their livestock belongs to. Branding in the marketing sense is kind of the same thing - creating a logo that represents the easily identifiable visual identity of your business. Branding = Recognition... Branding is how you reach your audience, how you nurture a connection with them, and ultimately, how they perceive you and your business. See more

Branding is the art of aligning what you want people to think about your company with what people actually do think about your company. - Jay Baer

You wanna know what ignites the fire within me? Creating bona fide visual stories. We are visual beings and images have the mysterious ability to stir up emotions from deep within. Graff Design Co. wants to take part in the curious process of emotion-stirring! I believe that your brand, your website, and everything in between should truly represent the heart and soul of your business and resonate wholeheartedly with your audience. Luckily for you, we can help with ...that! We offer: + Brand Strategy + Brand Design + Website Development + Copywriting and Editing + Print Design and Digital Marketing + Pre-made Brand Shop + Instagram Websites + Wedding Stationery And so, so much more. The possibilities are truly endless! Are you curious about these services? DM me, let’s talk. See more

Most people don’t know this, but I actually got into the Graphic Design industry by accident. After high school, I was on the fence about pursuing my first career choice: veterinary medicine. Although I love animals and loved working at the local vet clinic, I just couldn’t see it being sustainable long-term. Not going to lie, it's because I could not deal with the death aspect that comes with the job. So -- I took a couple of years off and researched n...ew career opportunities, deciding that graphic design was something I’d like to learn more about. My curiosity turned into an inquiry, which turned into an interview, which then turned into a college application, and then turned into an acceptance letter. By early 2013, I was moving to the west coast by myself! After I graduated from college I landed a junior position at a small design studio in Edmonton where I worked for a few years until I decided to jump into the unknown once again: starting my own business and being my own boss! Working with clients who value the passion and dedication I put into the work I do is incredibly rewarding. See more

Each person has so much depth to them, that oftentimes, we barely scratch the surface in really getting to know someone. We wear so many hats that everyone always gets a different version of you. So! Here are some facts about me: I am actually really shy at first. But! Once I’m comfy, I open up completely and wholeheartedly. I love to nap. Yes, you read that right. I love napping. It truly is a big part of who I am and I am, frankly, not ashamed to adm...it that I am barely creeping up to 30 and I nap almost daily. I love rocks and it runs deep to the core of the Earth where the rest of the rocks are. I was the little girl who had pockets full of rocks. Every camping trip, every hike, and every adventure as a functioning adult, I still find rocks to take home. I find astrology, enneagram and other personality-related tests fascinating. It’s fascinating how connected to our solar system we are. We are connected to the sun, the moon and every single planet. If you want to geek out over birth charts, enneagrams, and Myers Briggs, don’t be shy and dm me! Quick stats for my fellow astrology + enneagram lovers: + Aries Sun, Libra Moon, Virgo Rising + 4w5, the Individualist and Investigator + INFJ-T, the Advocate Lavender is my favourite herb. Dried lavender bundles decorate my home. My skincare regime is 90% lavender based. Lavender based teas are stocked in my cupboard. Lavender syrup is a must for London Fogs. Lavender essential oil running in my diffusers. I’m not exaggerating, it's everywhere and I love it. Bonus fact! My favourite Starbucks drink is a venti London fog, half sweet with extra foam. What is your favourite Starbucks drink? See more

Hey, friends! It’s been a little while since I last posted on this account so I thought I would reintroduce myself. My name is Alana and I am the behind Graff Design Co. If you know me personally, you’d know that I’ve always been a jump in with both feet kind of girl. When I was 21 years old I took the biggest leap of my life and moved 1,500km away from the tiny Albertan town that I called home. Yep, I moved to a different province BY MYSELF and pursued an ed...ucation in art and design. Seven years have come and gone, and in that time I’ve learned and grown SO MUCH. I grew into the multi-faceted designer and business owner I am today, and out of that growth, Graff Design Co. was born! I spend most of my days in my quiet little studio doing what I love: helping like-minded creatives discover and develop their brand and connecting them to their dream clients. Let me tell you, I’ve been loving every minute of it and consider myself blessed that I get to work at my passion every single day. I’m also a serial napper, painter, drawer, and maker of many things. I am hugely passionate about the art of creative expression, I find it so important for self-growth and discovery. I’m OBSESSED with lavender and London fogs. I’d love to get to know you a little better, so please introduce yourself in the comments and tell me what you’re currently obsessed with!! See more

I feel like I’m starting to find my own style with my illustrations a little bit

Sharing a #WIP of an abstract drawing I started last night. It’s super unlike me to share work of mine that’s not yet completed. I guess I find it kind of daunting and a little vulnerable to share something that isn’t perfect. But! That’s life, nothing is perfect. So here I am, sharing a not so perfect work in progress.

It is LIVE! I've talked a little bit about this project over the past few months but now it is officially live and I am so excited for the world to see it. This project includes: + brand strategy and development... + e-commerce website design + print marketing materials + social media strategy Suffice to say, this project was massive so it's unbelievably rewarding to see it live and functional! Honourable mentions: + Steph Kristine Photography did the stunning photos + Tamar Smith wrote the copy + Justine Vandenhouten, Sydney Vandenhouten, Hope Phillip & Fiancé were our stunning models + Billie Leigh Ann, my wonderful client who put massive amounts of trust into me while I created a new brand and website for her business What an honour working with a talented group of women on this project, every aspect so crucial to make this project as successful as it's been. Thank you so much to everyone involved in making my vision for this project come to life!

a girl in a field of flowers . . . .... . #womenwhocreate See more

How cute are see-through umbrellas? SO CUTE. Great touch if you have a rainy day wedding. Original Phot Credit: Erin Fraser, Weddings & Portraits

S W O O N I N G over this gorgeous couple, oh my gosh. This whole illustration just makes my heart flutter. . . . Original Photo Credit:... Erin Fraser, Weddings & Portraits See more

I know I’ve been a little quiet, but it’s because I’ve been working on a series of special wedding illustrations for Erin Fraser, Weddings & Portraits. SO in love with how this one turned out.

M A C x J U S T I N E . These cuties got married a couple weekends ago and their wedding was the cutest; there was so much love, connection and harmony between them that it was touching to witness. . Swipe to see the reference photos for these illustrations, photographed by the talented @thekindredwolf (who also shot their wedding!)... . Thank you for allowing me to use your photos Mackenzie! The Kindred Wolf Photography

One thing I excel at with Graff Design Co. is my uncanny ability to see my clients for who they are and capture their essence/energy/aura/personality in a way that will help them express themselves authentically, and ultimately connect them to their dream clients. . My secret is that the fire, magic and passion within my soul recognize theirs and it ignites into this wild-fire of a creative project and it's a huge reminder of how much I love what I do. . Luckily for me, I'...ve been able to partner with some T A L E N T E D women in helping capture my visions. . Photographer: Steph Kristine Photography you are magic Subject: Linda Rizzoli you are wild and wonderful . It's been an honour working with the both of you. See more

A local gem of a business that I have been collaborating with. We are working on updating her brand identity, social media presence, AND! a brand new commerce website, coming SO soon! . Photographer: Steph Kristine Photography

Some exciting things have been happening these past couple weeks that I’m SO excited to share! . Graff Creative Design Studio had a name change! While this name served this business well in its infancy stages, I found myself wanting to simplify the wording as it’s really really long. . That being said, say hello to Graff Design Co.!!!... . Minimalistic and to the point, something that I value highly with my business practices as well the work I do for my clients. . Not only that! Graff Design Co. has a new home, situated in Evermore Yoga & Wellness Studio. Justine and I thought this would be a great partnership for both of us because our values and belief systems are so synonymous. Plus, she’s such a dear friend that it just makes sense for us to share a space that brings everyone together. . I’m beyond excited to have an official home for my branding studio, and I LOVE that I get to be a part of such a beautiful and peaceful place where I can not only grow but connect with all the wonderful people who walk through the yoga studio’s doors. . PS - Evermore has plans to open soon, and we are planning a fun little re-opening event. More details on that soon! See more

Some behind the scenes of a photoshoot Steph Kristine Photography and I put together a couple weeks ago! Steph is totally in her element while she’s shooting. At one point she was frolicking in the field, barefoot, and then was laying down in the grass to get her perfect shot. It was SUPER CUTE to see her passion come out so enthusiastically! Was a wonderful shoot. Can’t wait for the next one!

Working on something special with Steph Kristine Photography! HINT: see that pretty rock on Hope’s ring finger?? This project has to do with that. Stay tuned to see what we are working on! In the meantime, check out Steph’s photography page. She is a dream to work with, and has a magical way of adding in her own unique vision to each and every one of her photoshoots.

#blackouttuesday . Holding space for people of colour. People of colour who have lost their loved ones. People of colour who have lost their homes, their businesses and their livelihood. People of colour who have fought. People of colour who are out there FIGHTING RIGHT NOW for what is rightfully theirs. .... Muted and listening. Muted and learning. See more

Partnering up with Steph Kristine Photography on a super fun and exciting project coming up! I can’t release any details yet, but it’s going to be lovely and romantic! Can’t wait to collab with this wonderful human! Stay tuned!

Hi, friends! . I thought I would pop on here and share an update since I’ve been ultra silent on social media during this whole global pandemic thing. It’s a really weird time, isn’t it? . While I’ve been cozied up at home, I have been teaching myself some nifty new skills. Like! Portrait illustrations. And I am having so much fun creating them.... . If you are interested in getting a digital portrait and a print mailed to you, shoot me a DM! See more

Thinking about getting a camera and playing around with picture-taking again. What are your recommendations?

Needed to read this today. I’m sad, I’m emotional, and I’m starting to lose motivation when the world seems so bleak at this point. . I’m in control of my emotions and my actions. After a phone call with my dad where I had my little breakdown and he got me through it, he reminded me that a lot of people are feeling this way. And I’m really not alone. . So if you wanna talk today, message me. Or if you wanna FaceTime or talk on the phone, I’m happy to do that too. ... . Also, incredibly thankful for my dad, my mom, my sister, my boyfriend in helping me feel not so alone right now. Love you all so much. See more

Yesterday’s Personal Project: Illustrations! . I’ve been seeing some of these illustrations floating around and I became curious; so I dove in and taught myself how to do them & I really L O V E the end result! . If you love these too and want your own custom illustration, shoot me a DM! I’d love to work with you! ... . #customillustration #portraitillustration See more

b o t a n y p a t t e r n s

A huge throwback to a college assignment where we photographed naked human bodies with nothing but a camera, flash, and darkness. I absolutely L O V E how this session turned out. I love how minimalism can create such beautiful art. . PS - Check out my profile and Instagram grid to see the full image!! . .... . . . #figurephotography #fineartphotography See more

I was going through some of my old journals and found some of my old poetry. Poetry I wrote when I was feeling heavy and broken, but I think I might start sharing it here! . I might not resonate with the words on the pages anymore but they still make me feel something. They're a reminder of the things that I've been through. And they're kind of beautiful. . What do you think, should I become vulnerable and share some of my work?

Conceptualizing a website for a new client of mine who sells raw food for our precious fur babies... I think I've sourced 50+ dog and cat images to use! Best way to start my day. . . . Look at the most cutest, goodest boi!... . #ilovemyjob See more

the girl with her head in the clouds and her heart in a Moleskine; . . . : @stephkristinephotography

t e x t u r e l v e

I am so damn proud of the person you're becoming. . ---- message to self . .... . (Perhaps this is a message you need to tell yourself, too.) . #internationalwomensday See more

This is the reference photo for a current painting I'm working on and I can't W A I T to finish this piece. I'm sure you can probably tell, but I love black and white photos. It's such a mood and I am L I V I N G for it. . I'll likely have a wall full of black and white paintings one day, and I'm not mad about it. . #oilpainting... #fineart #blackandwhite See more

A sometimes difficult reality of working in such a creative field is that you don't always get to express yourself the way your soul wants to be expressed. I find that the magic within me gets stagnant and bored if I'm not actively expressing myself in other ways. . AKA, creative burnout happens! And it is the W O R S T. . To minimize this, I've been getting back into oil painting! I started a year ago but fell off the wagon. Now I'm back and I'm feeling so fulfilled to have a brush in my hand and a canvas in front of me, expressing that fire within me the way that I want to! <3

The best part of batch creating social media posts is when you’re done and you want to POST EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE because it’s just so aesthetically pleasing! . The struggle! . March I will be diving into some affirmations, and some of reference photos I plan on painting next. Stay tuned!

I've been seriously aching to get back to #vanisland. . My soul needs to be one with the trees.

her courage was her crown; and she wore it like a queen. . . .... . . credit: @atticuspoetry See more

connecting you to your dream client @ Whitecourt

N A I L G O A L S . @jaymilyndorisnails is back at it againnnnn with her perfect nails and intricate art, like for real. Look at these beauties!!! . @jamgel_nails

I decided to start using @graff.creativestudio again for my business because I’m finding I want to be more personal and intimate on this one. . If you could go and follow that account and give it some love, I’d appreciate it!

Lately, I've been feeling so inclined to tuck myself away and rest. I've been feeling a little disconnected with myself and I think its because I'm growing in ways I didn't expect; so I feel a little confused with my identity at the moment and how I want to continue sharing my work, my life and my mind. . Growing is painful and awkward. But I'm excited to see what I become!

made of grit, but full of G R A C E

C L I E N T L O V E . Some kind words from my sweet client Stephanie, all the way out in Massachusetts!

I N T E N T I O N . Remember how intention is my theme word for 2020? Well, the universe has an interesting way of shifting my plans of how I thought I would be intentional this year. . I started this year with many goals and intentions revolving around my business aaaaaaand what I'm noticing is that I'm being pulled to be intentional with my physical and mental health instead. ... . I'm choosing to honour this pull and change my focus. Things will happen when and how they are supposed to. <3 See more

H E L L O P A R I S . A sweet and elegant font duo that I'm using for one of my clients up and coming brand! I really utilized the subtle whimsical elements to really evoke the mood we were going for. Stay tuned!

A goal of mine for 2020 was to start seeing my naturopath again, to restart my journey of healing from the inside out. I decided I wanted to do this back in December and I'm so thankful I did once I got my test results. . Not only are the PCOS symptoms back and worse, my thyroid isn't cooperating and my adrenals are TIRED and ANGRY. A tell tale sign of mental and physical exertion. . It's frustrating - pushing your body to exercise because you know it's healthy. Trying to eat... nutritious meals as well as eating consistently because you know your body needs fuel despite your brain telling you otherwise. Trying to get proper sleep because you know your body needs to recharge. Becoming desperate to see a change in your body. . Yet, you still go backwards. Because your body is literally fighting itself so try and muster up the proper hormones to keep it running efficiently. And your mind begins to fight you too, because it wants progress NOW. . The prescription? No physical exercise. No stress. Naturopathic remedies. Scheduled mid-day naps. No alcohol. No meat. No dairy. 8 hours of sleep. . Some of it seems counterintuitive. But you know what? I'd rather be resting than pushing myself to unhealthy lengths just to try look "healthy". See more

P E A C E . and into the forest I go, to lose my mind and cleanse my soul. . my energy is feeling stagnant right now. I am deeply yearning to be within the trees but this winter blanket makes it difficult to enjoy the outdoors. spring, I am so ready for you!

T H E S U N T A R O T . the card of enlightenment. good fortune, happiness, joy and harmony. represents the universe coming together and agreeing with your path and aiding forward movement into something greater. . upright: joy, enlightenment, material happiness, marriage, success, vitality.

L O V I N G this mood . Happy Saturday, everyone! I’ve been taking a couple days off social media because I really want to take a look at what I’m posting and how I’m doing it. . Initially I had a grid structure setup where certain posts would be on certain days so that I could maintain a stylized grid and it started taking the fun out of posting.... . So I’ve decided I’m going to stop doing that and post what I want, when I want. No more grids. Taking the pressure off! See more

When I put together a mood board, it's pretty strategic. I love mixing textures in with photographs of people, places and things. I think textures are a great way to add some depth to your mood board that will help you achieve the exact look and feel you're going for. . This image is great because it really gives you an imperfect, weathered feel. If you want to come across as more laid back, then I might use this image if it works with your colour palette.

a s a b o v e s o b e l o w . #mood

d s d . Not all storms come to disrupt your life; Sometimes they come... to clear your path. . . . Sometimes I'm not great at shifting my perspective. Sometimes I get so caught up in my own internal stories, that my ability to perceive weakens and is clouded by self-doubt and judgement. . With trying to be more intentional this year, this is something I'm actively trying to work on. To not judge so quickly or assume so quickly. To take a step back and view things from a different perspective. See more

I have 6 audible credits sitting in my account, and a yearning to pick up some new *actual* books to add to my collection. . What are you reading right now? Tell me all about it. Better yet - if you have any recommendations on M U S T R E A D S, please hit me up. I'd love to expand my horizons.

A phrase that I continually remind myself of; so I wanted to remind you, too. . . . .... . Credit: @atticuspoetry See more