Roana Art and Design

08/26/2026

In lieu of starting a new certificate while the side business is booming, I've been listening to talks from the Designer Boss Summit. I never got around to listening last year, but with everything going on, I wanted to make sure I tuned in this year.

There are some old faces and some exciting new faces for me, and even the talks I don't necessarily agree with have been valuable. I'd highly recommend creatives give them a listen!

🌐 Find them here: https://designerboss.co/
✨️ And a few of my favorite speakers from day 1: Anna Dower, Hayden Burgess, Pete Brennan, and Ashley Abaco

Join 25+ design leaders for four free days on pricing with confidence, landing better clients and using AI without losing your creative edge. 25-28 Aug 2026. ← recommended

06/25/2026

With how hostile the greater internet has been lately, I've been working in carving out a little corner of it for myself. It's nothing fancy, but I've been working on my website blog - posting resources, thoughts, shop updates, and more. I think of it like my own personal social media feed - without Meta doing creepy things with my info and media.

If you're interested in interacting with me and my work, liking and commenting are open - no account or sign-up required. You can sign up for email updates every time post a new blog, but only if you want to!

Let me know what you think! You can find my blog here ➡️ roanaartanddesign.com/blog

06/01/2026

I've been using an hourly rate for my business since I started, and using a time-based payment system means communication is key. Effective communication makes sure your time and money aren't wasted. After doing this a few years, here are my tips for communicating effectively with your graphic designer:

➡️ Find and send references to your designer. Show them color palettes, fonts, and design elements you like. This helps them get an idea of what you're visualizing. Pinterest and Behance are great places to find references. If you don't know where to start, ask your designer for keywords or searches they recommend.

➡️ Keep a record of communications to look back on. If you prefer one method of communication over another (ex. calls over email) make sure you tell your designer. If you prefer calls, one or both of you should be taking notes and should exchange follow-up emails summarizing the call.

➡️ Be honest with feedback. If you don't like something, bring it up quickly so it can be fixed in a timely manner. A good designer should be able to handle criticism while also using their expertise to guide you towards smart decisions.

➡️ Be specific with your feedback. Try to describe exactly what you do or don't like about a particular design: “The yellow is too bright” or “the design feels too plain” is more effective than “I just don't like it.” Even if you don't think you have the vocabulary to explain, try anyway! You can also send more references that demonstrate your idea.

➡️ Have your info ready. If your designer isn't helping with any copywriting, make sure the copy (text) for your project (like a flyer) is done or almost done before letting them get too far into a design. Having to repeatedly rearrange and redesign information with big changes can take time.

➡️ Add them to your contacts. Make sure your designer is a Gmail or text contact so you always get their messages. This shouldn't affect your bill but helps make sure the project as a whole is done in a timely manner.

➡️ Don't be ashamed to ask questions! If you don't understand a word or concept, let them know. It's common for people in other industries or who have never worked with creative to have questions. It will save time if everyone is on the same page.

Even if your designer doesn't use a time based system, using the above tips will help your projects go smoothly. Remember that effective communication is key!

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05/28/2026

Website update alert! 🥳

My website has been, and will continue to be, a work in progress. I have no official schooling in web design (yet!), so my website has served as a long-standing learning experience for me. And while I pride myself in being a versatile designer, it's also served as an exercise in creating my own brand in the style that I prefer.

I'm still learning - and I truly hope that I never stop improving my website as I improve my design skills.

You can check out the full website here ➡️ roanaartanddesign.com

Let me know what you think!

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05/20/2026

I've got a new logo! Well - a new logomark; the type is pretty much the same. I've always wanted one and finally came up with something I love, which also means a brand new logo suite and new brand assets. The images attached are the mockups for my new circle business cards. I make rectangle business cards every week, and they're so boring! I wanted something unique and that would match my brand.

The new mark consists of a flower sprouting from an eye, all enclosed in a circle. It's round to match my primary font, has an eye for my degree (visual communication design), and a flower for “roana” (beauty, rose in Latin). I wanted it to give the idea of growing or blooming visually.

For a full, detailed explanation of the design, you can visit my blog! 🌐 roanartanddesign.com/blog

This logo is 100% human made - 🚫 no AI, generative or otherwise, was used in the creation of the new Roana Art and Design logo.

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04/03/2026

Instead of buying or promoting AI garbage, you could support a small business instead ✨

🛍️ www.etsy.com/shop/RoanaArts
🌐 www.roanaartanddesign.com