In this solo episode, I'm recapping my 2025 business year and answering some questions about what worked, lessons learned, and things I'm leaving behind in 2025 and what I am taking into 2026.

Mentions in Episode:

My Bookkeeper: Balanced Roots Bookkeeping / @balacnedrootsbookkeeping

Brand Shoot: Lynette Ortiz Photography / @lynetteortiz.photo

Shopify Developer: Jenuine Creative / @jenuinecreative

My Episode with Bethany: The Part-Time Breadwinner: Working Less, Earning More, Living Fully

My Episode with Marty Neumeier: Diving into Octavo, a Thriller for Designers

Purchase his book on Amazon: Octavo: A Novel

Book: Contagious by Jonah Berger

Links:

The Design Minimind - Applications for cohort 6 opens Nov 1st, 2026

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Our Free Facebook Community

Our Website

Podcast Instagram

Hello June Creative Instagram

The Design Minimind

Join The Creative Diaries (my email list)

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

In this week’s episode, Shay, the COO of Bucketlist Bombshells, joins me to discuss scalable business models for brand and web designers. We talk about the challenges designers face, such as revenue plateaus and burnout, and provide actionable insights on transitioning to more sustainable models, as well as the importance of defining a niche, raising rates, and creating recurring revenue through current clients and monthly membership models.

Guest Name: Shay Brown

Guest Website: bucketlistbombshells.com

Guest IG/Connect in the DM’s: @bucketlistbombshells

Links:

Grab your FREE Dream Client Playbook to consistently land more clients & grow your revenue.

Get booked out in your business and start generating $5k+ months: She's Fully Booked.

Hit 6 figures and ready to scale? Join our small group coaching program.

Tune into the Freedom Filled Life Podcast.

-----

The Design Minimind - Cohort 5 is now SOLD OUT.

• Sign up to be notified - Applications for the next cohort open Nov 1st 2026.

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*These are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Our Free Facebook Community

Our Website

Podcast Instagram

Hello June Creative Instagram

The Design Minimind

Join The Creative Diaries (my email list)

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

This week, we are back with another branding bestie episode with my design bestie, Lauren. We chat about the benefits and strategies of trading design services, how Lauren recently did trades with vendors for her wedding, and some past and current trades we’ve both done. We also talk about the importance of choosing the right trade partners, times when trades are appropriate, and making sure you don’t skip the contract just because it’s a trade.

*Don’t forget to drop a post in the podcast FB group or DM Lauren or Jen if you wish and tell us something you have traded services for. We would love to hear about it!

Guest Name: Lauren Braier

Guest Website: elbycreative.com

Guest IG: @elbycreative

Lauren's Pod: Branding Bestie Podcast

Previous Branding Bestie Episodes:

S11E4 Branding Bestie Chit Chat: What’s the Future of the Boutique Brand Design Industry?

S11E8 Branding Bestie Chit Chat: Reading Our Old Goals with Lauren

S11E11 Branding Bestie Chit Chat: Designing a Life You Love

S11E14 Branding Bestie Chit Chat: Breaking Down Sticky Client Situations

Links:

The Design Minimind - Applications open until Nov 20th!

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Our Free Facebook Community

Our Website

Podcast Instagram

Hello June Creative Instagram

The Design Minimind

Join The Creative Diaries (my email list)

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

✨ The Design Minimind - Apply Here (applications open until Nov 20th — limited spots are filling fast!)

Episode Description:

In this solo episode, I chat about some common mistakes brand and web design studio owners frequently make that are interfering with the growth and profitability as a business owner. Drawing from years of experience and observing patterns among my students in The Design Minimind as a mentor.

Episode Mentioned:

S5 E14: Iterating on the One-Concept Method

Links:

The Design Minimind - Applications open until Nov 20th!

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Our Free Facebook Community

Our Website

Podcast Instagram

Hello June Creative Instagram

The Design Minimind

Join The Creative Diaries (my email list)

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

The Design Minimind - Accepting Applications NOW OPEN! - Apply Here.

___

This week, I had a past Design Minimind student Shani of Shani Jay Creative on to talk about her experience in the program and how much of an impact it had on her business and the revenue goals she hit and surpassed! We talk about the importance of confidence, going all in, proper mindset, and strategic investments in building a sustainable and profitable design & web business.

Guest Name: Shani Josefovits

Guest Website: shanijaycreative.com

Guest IG: @shanijaycreative

Reclaim Your Brand in 15 days: Sign up here.

Links:

The Design Minimind - Applications NOW OPEN! - Apply Here.

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*Some are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Our Free Facebook Community

Our Website

Podcast Instagram

Hello June Creative Instagram

The Design Minimind

Join The Creative Diaries (my email list)

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

I’m back with another spooky client story episode in celebration of Halloween, with Audrey who is my production designer here at Hello June. We read your spooky stories that you submitted anonymously and Jen shares a spooky(kinda) lead that reached out to her as well!

Guest Name: Audrey Humphreys (HJC's production designer!)

Guest Website: audaciouscreativestudio.com

Guest IG: @audaciouscreativestudio

Episodes Mentioned:

S8 E12 | Spooooky Client Stories (Round 2) with Lauren Braier

S6 E12 | Spooooky Client Stories

Kenzi’s Podcast: The Unapologetic Designer Podcast

00:00: Intro & info about my NEW offer *Scale with Confidence*

13:24: Jen’s Spooky (kinda) Inquiry Story

18:16: Spooky Client Story #1

24:38: Spooky Client Story #2

30:16: Spooky Client Story #3

35:04: Spooky Client Story #4

38:13: Spooky Client Story #5

43:23: Spooky Client Story #6

45:37: Spooky Client Story #7

46:21: “The Day I Met a Ghost..Kinda of” #8

48:20: Spooky Client Story #9

49:38: “The White Roses Incident” #10

55:06: Halloween Plans

Links:

The Design Minimind

• Sign up to be notified - Applications for cohort 5 opens Nov 1st, 2025

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*These are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Our Free Facebook Community

Our Website

Podcast Instagram

Hello June Creative Instagram

The Design Minimind

Join The Creative Diaries (my email list)

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

In this episode, I chat with Katie of Katie Creative Co, who is a social media strategist. We dive into the nuances of using social media effectively—focusing on a people-first approach that prioritizes genuine relationships over algorithmic approval. Katie shares her tactical breakdown of growth, nurture, and connection content, the power of vulnerability and personal storytelling, and practical ways to avoid burnout. This episode is perfect for those looking to enhance their social media presence while staying authentic and avoiding burnout.

Guest Name: Katie Campbell

Guest Website: katiecreativecompany.com

Guest IG: @katiecreativeco

Social Sweet Spot Course: Learn More

00:00: Intro and Minimind Video Library Overview

06:49: Challenges of Social Media for Service Providers

08:01: The Biggest Mistake in Social Media Strategy

08:56: Holistic Approach to Social Media Success

11:56: Person-First Marketing Philosophy

20:55: The Funnel Strategy for Social Media

35:02: Setting Boundaries for Sharing Personal Life

37:46: Pushing Comfort Zones in Social Media

43:44: Balancing Digital Wellness

49:59: Social Media Best Practices to Ignore

51:59: Social Sweet Spot Program

Links:

The Design Minimind

• Sign up to be notified - Applications for cohort 5 opens Nov 1st, 2025

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*These are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Our Free Facebook Community

Our Website

Podcast Instagram

Hello June Creative Instagram

The Design Minimind

Join The Creative Diaries (my email list)

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design

*Pre-order Octavo on Amazon*

Episode Description:

In this week’s episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with one of my design icons, Marty Neumeier, who is an accomplished designer and author. We chat about his new design-thriller book, The Scarlett Files/Octavo, his shift from non-fiction to fiction, and how he integrates design and writing within his work. Marty also shares how his early experiences shaped his career and why storytelling plays such an essential role in branding, design, and his writing.

Guest Name: Marty Neumeier

Guest Website: martyneumeier.com

Octavo Book: Pre-order on Amazon

Substacks

• The Scarlett Files: martyneumeier.substack.com
• Level C: levelc.substack.com

00:00: Intro & Minimind Wins From Past Students

07:55: Marty's Journey in Design and Writing

10:50: The Scarlet Files on Substack

11:19: The Origins of Graphic Design

12:58: Leonardo da Vinci's Influence

16:33: Challenges of Writing Fiction

18:49: The Intersection of Branding and Storytelling

26:20: Marketing Strategies for Authors

40:44: The Renaissance and Modern Story

43:36: The Aldine Press and Its Innovations

48:00: The Importance of Mentorship

52:31: Level C: Master Classes for Professionals

57:10: The Role of Testing in Design

Links:

The Design Minimind

• Sign up to be notified - Applications for cohort 5 opens Nov 1st, 2025

Download my FREE Creative Direction Figma Template (includes 4 audio trainings as well)

Get 30% off of your HoneyBook subscription - The CRM I use in my studio.*

Enjoy 1 month of Showit FREE with my code “HelloJune” when you sign up.*

Earn $100 after you run your first payroll with Gusto, my payroll and compliance software.*

Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk, my email marketing software.*

*These are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission.

Connect With Us:

Our Free Facebook Community

Our Website

Podcast Instagram

Hello June Creative Instagram

The Design Minimind

Join The Creative Diaries (my email list)

Tags: designer, design, brand design, brand identity design, design studio, design business, graphic design, brand designer, better podcast, brand designer podcast, logo design, brand identity design