UNCAGEDfrequently asked questions

Although UNCAGEDcreative is fully equipped and able to work with larger companies, I do prefer to work with smaller, local, independent companies and entrepreneurs. I, also, pride myself on having worked with all kinds of companies and products, from tree services to speech therapy and more!

While there is no “typical client,” everyone I work with is looking for a creative approach in establishing an impactful, beautiful, and effective brand identity that will take their business to the next level.

As a small, boutique branding company, I am familiar with the up and downs, growing pains, and struggles a small business can face. In addition to my own personal experience, I have worked with a lot of small businesses through their branding and re-branding processes over the years. There’s very little I haven’t seen before and can’t help you with! Being a small business of “one” makes me extremely agile and able to give you the personal attention and quick response you need and deserve.

UNCAGEDcreative is focused on being a brand identity design company. I feel strongly that in order to give you the best website or logo possible, one that gets visitors, sells your product/service, and elevates you in a crowded marketplace, I prefer to take the time and get to know you and your business from the inside out. I like to identify your marketing challenges, your opportunities for growth, your target audience (and how to reach them), where you are, and where you want to be. My goal is to work with you to define your brand and develop design solutions that meet your business challenges and opportunities head-on, empowering you to reach your full potential.

Through a combination of personal attention, marketing know-how, and a passion for unique, creative design, I am able to provide eye-catching, custom-tailored visual solutions designed to build your brand and make your business stand out from the crowd. Your business’s visual identity is everything that is out there in the world related to your business—your website, your business cards, your Facebook profile, the sign above your door…  I am not just a graphic designer that want things to look good — my goal is, and always has been, to create beautiful designs that work to better your business.

Your brand is how you are perceived in the world and it’s my job to help shape this perception through strategic and impactful design. I will lead you through a process that determines what sets you apart from the competition and identifies your ideal customer, what they are attracted to, and how best to reach them. I work with you to figure out where you want to be and to develop a brand aesthetic and identity that helps you to get there. This then gives me a reference point to shape and inform everything else I do to build your brand through visual identity.

I’ll be honest, I’ve turned down a lot of work over the years from customer’s who have waited till the last minute to work on their logo or website without thinking about their brand from the start. Unrealistic expectations prevents, in my opinion, a lot of companies from succeeding.

Building a website alone is a time intensive process with many steps taking at least 3 weeks to as much as 3 months. From kick-off to completion, a typical branding project takes 12-16 weeks. Although I’ve been known to pull things off in less time when deadlines are tight and of course, some projects can take longer, especially if there are a lot of production elements (things need to be manufactured, signage needs to be installed, permits procured, etc.).

Every project begins with a customized schedule that has assignments and milestones for each week. I like to send weekly project update emails recapping what’s been done and an outline of what’s on deck for the following week. This constant communication helps to maintain momentum, ensure things don’t fall through the cracks, and allows for flexibility.

Part of this process is making sure everything is beautiful, cohesive, and effective. I can’t do that without you. You are an important part of the creative process – a partner, if you will – and regular communication is necessary to ensure our best results. There are certain things that this project will need along the way that I don’t do, but can help to give you direction on and even refer you to other professionals who would be suited to your particular needs.

I can provide you with as much guidance necessary for anything you need to tackle. When it’s time to bring in the professionals, I have a fantastic and varied network and can provide you with referrals for almost anything that comes up.

I can handle all your print, web & photography needs, in-house. I am also a professional photographer, with 20+ years professional experience and can handle all of your headshots and marketing image needs. For other specialties, I have a trusted referral network of copywriters, illustrators, printers, videographers/animators and more.

No. Everything I build for my clients is custom-designed. No templates, no on-line services that do it for you (sic). I find that these homogenized, sterile, if you will, services only promote poor results. Your site visitors are looking, not only for information, but for a sense of who you are and why they would spend their hard-earned dollars on your product or service. I believe that custom-designed is the only way to ensure that will happen.

YES! Actually, I prefer it. And I can make it affordable. I do not massively up-charge for this either. Some companies, locally, I’ve become aware of, are in a habit of charging 300-500% over the "actual" cost of these services. I think that is fraudulent and frankly, scum sucking behavior! I have been working the same domain and hosting vendor since 1998. They are trustworthy, affordable and offer great customer service (from a real person in Pittsburgh or Denver) every time I call. Not only do I recommend this company, I can also counsel you on your purchases, domain choices and account naming to keep your brand consistent and easily recognizable to your customers.

Results vary client to client depending on a project’s specific goals, but many of our clients experience the following results after the launch of their brand identity and website:

• Empowerment and excitement to get out there and market their business
• Increased web traffic
• More interest in their product or service
• Increase in sales
• The ability to raise their rates
• The attraction of a more discerning, targeted customer base
• Solid handle on their website and the knowledge that it’s up-to-date and informative
• Enjoyment of posting and communicating via social media channels and their blog
• A larger and more engaged community on social media

Give me a call almost anytime to check in, bounce ideas around, brainstorm specific marketing ideas, or just say “Hi!”.

If you’d like to pick my brain one-on-one, we can set up 1-, 2-, or 3-hour consultations (hourly rates apply).

As specific design needs arise, we can engage in a new project for a set fee. I’ll meet with you again, find out all the particulars of your new project and then send you an email quote.

I offer a monthly, and affordable, website maintenance service that is highly recommended to get the most out of your new site. In addition to running regular checks of your site, monitoring its security as well as your search engine optimization (SEO) and placement, and performing regular updates, I also serve as your webmaster and can help you navigate technical issues and can even help you with getting email issues, some computer issues resolved (Mac/iOS preferred but I can preform some basic PC-based help).

That’s great; I can’t wait to work with you! First things first, fill our my CONTACT form. I’ll get back to you promptly to set up a phone call or a meeting in-person so we can get to know each other, more about your business and answer any initial questions you might have. After that call, I’ll send you a Project Questionnaire, so I can learn even more about your project, gather some much needed content and information so that I quote your project with the most affordable accuracy. Once we’re all on the same page and ready to go, you’ll approve the quote, get the contract signed and we’ll kick things off with our initial in-depth DISCOVERY meeting. Before you know it, you’ll have a gorgeous, tailor-made, kick-ass brand identity, a new website and a solid marketing plan to help you take over the world!