What Should Be Included in a Nonprofit Impact Report

Impact reports and annual reports—I explain the difference here—are storytelling tools, credibility builders, and ways to deepen trust with your donors, partners, and community. When done right, they turn data and stories into a clear reason for continued support.

Stuck on how to get started writing your impact report? You’re not alone. This post outlines the core content your nonprofit should include—what to say, how to structure it, and what your readers actually want to read.

Letter from the CEO

A letter from your CEO or Executive Director sets the tone, reinforces leadership, and connects emotionally with your audience.

Welcome readers and introduce the purpose of the report
Highlight key accomplishments from the year (especially for annual reports)
Thank donors, volunteers, staff, and other stakeholders
Share your vision for the future and what’s next

Key Statistics and Data Points

Numbers tell a powerful story—especially when presented in a visual, digestible way. This section is perfect for capturing high-level impact at a glance.

Include “by the numbers” highlights to show your reach and results
Use percentages, dollar amounts, and figures tied to your mission
Format it with icons or infographics for visual appeal
These elements are great for being repurposed into social media posts

Stories of Impact

Personal stories connect emotionally and bring your report to life. Feature real people whose lives have been changed by your work.

Share 2–3 short, compelling stories about individuals or families you’ve helped
Include photos of those featured (with permission)
Write in a conversational, narrative tone to engage the reader

Organization-Specific Highlights

Your organization is unique—make space in the report to highlight the programs, partnerships, or initiatives that define your work.

Showcase partner organizations you collaborated with
Shine a light on your volunteer program or standout volunteers
Recap major events, campaigns, or milestones from the year
Tailor this section to what’s most relevant to your nonprofit’s work

Call to Action

End your impact report by guiding people to their next step. You’ve inspired them—now let them act.

Invite readers to donate, volunteer, or spread the word
Link to your website, donation page, and social media platforms

Other Great Elements to Include

You may want to include some (or all) of the following to round out your nonprofit annual report or impact report:

Mission and Vision Statements – These provide context and clarity.
Testimonials or Quotes – First-person voices from your community add authenticity.
Timeline – If you’re celebrating an anniversary a timeline is a great way to share your impact over the years.
Thank Yous – A brief acknowledgment section or list of names recognizes those who support your work behind the scenes.
Basic Financial Overview – Consider a simple revenue/expense breakdown.

An effective nonprofit impact report doesn’t just share what you did—it shows why it mattered. By combining heartfelt stories, transparent data, and gratitude, you’ll create a piece that informs, inspires, and invites deeper support. Include these essentials to make your impact report something your community will read—and remember.

Impact Report vs. Annual Report: A Quick Guide for Nonprofits

Let’s start with a little quiz:

What’s the difference between an impact report and an annual report?

Impact reports are usually shorter and don’t always include financials.
An annual report covers one year of work, while an impact report can span any timeframe.
An impact report is just a new name for an annual report—they’re basically the same.
All of the above.

If you answered “All of the above,” you’re not wrong. The truth is, the difference between an impact report and an annual report depends on who you ask—and in many cases, the terms are used interchangeably.

If your organization hasn’t created one before, the idea of putting together an impact or annual report can feel a little overwhelming. But don’t let that stop you. These reports are powerful tools for sharing your mission, highlighting your progress, and building trust in your community. The cost of not creating one is greater than the effort it takes to put one together.

For years, annual reports were the go-to format for nonprofits to present a year’s worth of work. One reason I love the shift to calling them impact reports is that it frees you from the calendar. Yes, it’s still best practice to create one at least once a year, but calling it an “impact report” gives you the flexibility to highlight your work over any period of time—six months, 18 months, or even since your organization started.

So, what’s the real difference between an impact report and an annual report? Not much. It really comes down to whether you want to stick to a yearly timeline or keep things a little more flexible. Impact reports can still include the same elements—stories, stats, photos, and yes, even financials.

How often should you publish one? Ideally, once a year. But if your bandwidth, funding, or timing doesn’t line up perfectly, don’t let that stop you—that’s the beauty of calling it an impact report.

Whether you call it an impact report or an annual report, the goal is the same: to share the progress you’re making and the impact you’re having. It’s one of the best ways to keep your supporters informed and connected.

Why One-Pagers Are a Nonprofit’s Marketing Superhero

Hey there! Remember when tri-fold brochures were the marketing norm? It's time to unleash the mighty one-pager, a modern and concise powerhouse that'll revamp your promotional efforts! Here's why one-pagers should be your marketing strategy's best friend and how they can tackle challenges head-on.

One-Pagers to the Marketing Rescue!

These handy tools tackle all sorts of marketing challenges:

💡 Spruce up lackluster materials: Turn an underperforming piece into a captivating one-pager. Its sleek design grabs attention and keeps readers engaged.

💥 Pro results without the sweat: Canva got you stuck? Let a professional designer craft a stunning, brand-aligned one-pager to wow your audience.

🚀 Finally tackle that back-burner project: One-pagers' streamlined format makes them an easy, efficient option for overdue marketing projects.

And can be used to:

Share program/service info
Provide an overview of your organization
Recruit members or volunteers
Summarize lengthy reports
Showcase annual impact

Best part? They're a breeze to share, both online and in print.

Designing a Winning One-Pager

Leave it to me! Your professionally designed one-pager will include:

Concise, engaging content
Visual aids for complex info
Strong branding
Eye-catching photos
Clear calls-to-action

Ready to harness a one-pager’s marketing superpowers? Add this effective tool to your marketing mix and give your promotional materials a boost, showing off just how awesome your organization is! Find all the details here and contact me today.

Guest Post on DMAW Blog

Rakin’ in the Responses

Make your Direct Mail Shine with These Graphic Design Tips

Mastering the art of nonprofit direct mail design can be a game-changer for your audience engagement. In this post, we'll reveal the top 5 design elements that can transform your mailings into captivating, effective communication tools. From hierarchy to accessibility, margins, QR codes, and simplicity, let's dive in and elevate your direct mail game!

Read the full article here.

One-Pagers to Wow 'Em

Tis the season for… one-pager design! Well for me, any season is great for one-pagers. They are one of my favorite things to design—small projects with big impact.

Can I help you craft a one-pager for your organization?

Maybe you have a one-pager you’ve been using that just isn’t getting the results you want—let’s see what can be done to improve it.
Maybe you’ve been tweaking a document in Canva for a few weeks (months) and just can’t get it to where you want it to be—is it time to bring in a professional?
Maybe you’ve got a project on the back burner that you’ve been meaning to wrap up—this is your sign!

Whatever the case, I’m here to help.

In celebration of debuting my new One-Pager Design Package, I’m offering 50% off the starting price for a two-sided one-pager.* Click here to set up a free call or email me.

*Contract signed by 12/31/24 for work completed by March 1, 2025. New clients only please!

Lucky Star: A Women's Sleep-Away Art Camp

A few years ago, I set out to attend more graphic design conferences, which led me down a rabbit hole that introduced me to Lucky Star, a women's sleep-away art camp in the Texas Hill Country. Intrigued, I signed up for their email list, and when registration opened last February, I decided to take the leap.

The Lucky Star Experience

I spent four unforgettable nights at Lucky Star surrounded by 150 talented women. The atmosphere was filled with calm, relaxation, joy, and belonging. We were encouraged to prioritize our desires and focus on doing only what we truly wanted to do. This message resonated with me throughout the camp, guiding my decisions. To spend 5 days doing only what I wanted, on my timeline, was truly restorative.

The campus is a 100 year old girls’ camp right on a lazy river lined with cyprus trees. All of the buildings and pathways are made of stone—including the dining hall where we were spoiled with delicious meals three times a day.

Embracing Creativity and Self-Care

Classes were divided into 3 hour blocks. I took Cloisonné Trivets, Oh, Kitchmas Tree, Create Your Oracle Card Deck, Botanical Alchemy Printing, and Coffee + Collage. Determined not to bring home any unfinished projects, I completed five awesome projects that I love. Additional activities included yoga, sound baths, massage, and even roller skating and glee club. Plus, we had access to traditional camp activities like kayaking and swimming.

Cloisonné Trivets

Oh, Kitchmas Tree

Create Your Own Oracle Deck

Botanical Alchemy Printing

Coffee + Collage

A Rejuvenating Escape

When I headed out on Wednesday the 6th, it felt like pretty bad timing being the day after the U.S. election. But it turned out that the bubble of Lucky Star was the perfect place for me to be. No one talked about politics. We were all there for the same reason—to create—and to be together, a group of 150 creative women looking to enjoy each other’s company, learn from each other, and unplug.

Returning Home Recharged

I left Lucky Star as a devoted enthusiast, eager to return next year. This experience reminded me of the importance of prioritizing what I want to do and practicing self-care. I'm now determined to bring the Lucky Star spirit into my daily life, focusing on art, reconnecting with in-person yoga classes, and thinking of ways to bring more creative pursuits into my daily life.

Professionally, I’ve come back rejuvenated and inspired—ready to knock out more awesome projects that help move my clients’ missions forward. I can’t live in a bubble forever, and there is work to be done!

If you know of any similar retreats or workshops, please share them with me! And if you're interested in joining me at Lucky Star next year, let’s do it!

The Importance of Icons in Your Nonprofit's Branding: A Guide to Choosing the Right Icons

When you think about your nonprofit's brand, do icons come to mind? If not, it's time to start considering them as an essential part of your visual identity! Icons can enhance your marketing and communications materials, helping you effectively convey your message and build brand recognition. Here's a guide to choosing the perfect icon set for your nonprofit.

I created this cohesive icon set for The Lawrence Hall of Science, achieving consistency through uniform line weight, an unfilled design, and a playful touch of whimsy.

Consistency is Key

Like many aspects of branding and graphic design, consistency is crucial. Consistent icons create a cohesive and professional appearance, reinforcing your brand identity. To achieve consistency, look for the following:

Line thickness: Ensure icons have similar line weights, whether thin or thick.
Fill style: Choose icons that are all solid, partially filled, or outlined.
Edge style: Opt for sharp edges or rounded corners, but keep it uniform across the set.
Color: Decide whether you need one color or multi-colored icons and stick to your choice.

Aligning Icons with Your Brand Personality

Your nonprofit's brand personality should be reflected in your icon choices. For playful and casual brands, look for icons with rounded edges and unique designs. Serious and traditional brands should opt for icons with clean lines and timeless designs.

Finding the Right Icon Sets

An easy way to find cohesive icons is to search for collections from the same creator. The Noun Project offers various icon collections that work well together, saving you time and effort.

Customizing Icons in Adobe Illustrator

If you have access to Adobe Illustrator (or other vector editing software), consider tweaking your icons to make them even more consistent. Adjust line weights, fills, or colors to create a truly harmonious icon set that aligns with your brand.

Build a Library for Future Use

Icons are an integral part of your brand, so avoid choosing them on a project-by-project basis. Pick a style that works well with your brand and use it consistently across all marketing and communications materials. Start building an icon library for future projects, making it easier to maintain a cohesive brand identity.

By following these tips, you'll create a visually appealing and consistent icon set that strengthens your nonprofit's brand and effectively communicates your message.

Need help developing an icon library for your organization? Let’s talk!

The 12 Week Year

When we lived in Tanzania I would memorize poems by Mary Oliver on my walk to work every morning. So when she was quoted early on in the book The 12 Week Year by Brian Moran and Michael Lennington, I took it as a good sign.

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

On its surface, the premise of this book is quite simple. Twelve months is too long of a time to set realistic goals and achieve them. It’s more practical and efficient to set twelve week goals that you can then break down into weekly and daily tasks.

That alone is great and something I’ve started doing for my business.

The even bigger thing I got out of reading this book was how to think about my “vision”. I never really understood what having a vision for my business meant. I was just going along, doing the things I thought I should be doing—sending a newsletter, writing this blog, posting on LinkedIn etc. Just in the effort of “having a business.”

I had not given serious thought to what I wanted my business to be. And without doing that, without knowing what I wanted—I was never going to get it.

The 12 Week Year says, “You create things twice; first mentally, then physically. The biggest barrier to high performance is not the physical manifestation but the mental creation. You will never outpace your mental models.”

You’ll never do better than what you envision yourself doing. That’s like an automatic cap on your potential if you don’t take the time and effort to really think about what it is you want in the future.

Whoa. That was a big one for me.

While I’m not announcing any major change to Ventura Graphic Design, there might be changes on the horizon—but I’m still figuring it out.

What do I want my wild and precious life to look like, now, and in the future?

Thanks for being along for the ride. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.

“Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all is a form of planning.”

― Gloria Steinem

3 Keys to Our Home Exchange Success

Last month I spent an amazing three weeks in Hawai‘i with my family through a home exchange. Through luck and kismet, a family with a house in the small town of Honoka‘a reached out to us on homeexchange.com because they were specifically looking to spend the summer in our town of Evergreen, CO.

It takes a big leap to trust strangers enough to let them stay in your home and use all of your things—even your car!—while you are an ocean away. There are certain safety nets in place—HomeExchange has damage and theft protection—but mostly you are going on the faith that people who are willing to let you stay in their home will also take care of your home. I also have to believe that people who would be up for an adventure like this are “my kind of people”!

Still, I had plenty of concerns. How can we trust them? What do we do with all of our stuff? Does our house have to look like an Airbnb? What about the dog? But as soon as I started considering the benefits, those worries faded to the background. Three weeks in Hawai‘i without paying for accommodation—or car rental! Beaches, Mai Tais, volcanoes … ! Could I really let something like “possessions” get in the way of such a grand adventure? The answer was clearly, no.

So we figured it all out. We did a lot of preparation, gradually organizing cupboards and closets, and wrapping it up with a solid three days of cleaning right before we left. We communicated a lot with the family in Hawai‘i—asked questions and built trust.

It takes a similar leap of faith when you’re hiring someone for the first time. You don’t know each other and you both have to trust that you’ll do good by each other. Work will get done and invoices will be paid. Even with safety nets in place like contracts and agreements, it can feel like a lot.

If you’ve never hired a designer or you’re looking for a new one, I understand that you might be anxious. Why should you trust me with your *most important project*?

Preparation is key in starting a new design project together. By discussing your vision, goals, and expectations upfront, we can ensure that the project is a success. We’ll discuss specifics like deliverables, timelines, and desired outcomes.
Communication is the foundation of a successful collaboration. An open line of communication is incredibly important and we should both feel free to bring up any concerns, ideas, or feedback as they arise. Clear communication helps grow trust, and…
Trust is essential! I want you to feel confident in my abilities to bring your vision to life. My aim is to gain your trust in my skills and dedication to your mission.

So, while working with a new graphic designer might feel like taking a leap of faith, remember that I am your partner in this and with preparation, communication, and trust we can create something awesome together. And maybe simply the fact that I’m out here doing this work, sharing the passion that you have, is enough to tell you that I am “your kind of people.”

Hawai‘i Highlights

Favorite Fact

Bats don’t live in lava tube caves because lava rock is porous and doesn’t create echoes. They can’t use their echolocation!

Favorite New Food

Haupia cream is a traditional coconut dessert, shown here atop shave ice. Also amazing in ice cream form.

Favorite Wildlife Encounter

Manta rays—we went night-snorkeling with these gentle beasts.

Favorite Travel Companions

No adventure would be complete without these two… 💕

How Living Abroad Shaped My Path to Graphic Design for Education Nonprofits

After graduating from SCAD, I met Joe, a handsome young man with expansive curly red hair and dreams of going abroad. I certainly couldn’t let him go on his own, so we headed off to Japan to teach English.

Japan was amazing—good money, complete freedom, and endless exploration. The first year flew by, and much to our families’ dismay, we signed on for another.

This wasn’t my first time living abroad. I spent my middle school years in Düsseldorf, Germany. Attending an international school there showed me how small and interconnected the world truly is. I saw firsthand that the American way isn’t always the best way.

Back in Japan, we spent our breaks exploring every inch of the country and traveling to China, Hong Kong, and Australia. After our contracts ended, we explored Southeast Asia and India.

Our thirst for adventure led us to Sydney, Australia, where Joe pursued his Master’s degree. Life in Sydney was very fun but tough financially. I struggled to find work as a designer, eventually landing a job as a catalog designer for a tech company.

Still not ready to return Stateside—our adventures continued in Tanzania, where Joe signed a two-year contract with Amani Children’s Home. I volunteered as an art teacher and managed an expat bar. In Tanzania, everything felt like a challenge. Simple tasks felt monumental, and the experience was humbling. Living in places where I was the minority gave me a profound appreciation for those who don’t have the privilege of choice.

Living abroad for five years was the best gift Joe and I could have given ourselves. Travel is the best way to understand our interconnected world. It taught me empathy and broadened my worldview.

However, not everyone has the opportunity to travel. When travel isn’t possible, education serves as the next best path to understanding, offering similar insights and fostering empathy.

My travels shaped my passion for graphic design and my commitment to nonprofits focused on education. Those experiences made me realize the power of education in bridging cultural gaps and fostering understanding.

And as for Joe and his once-expansive curly red hair? It's settled down a bit, but our adventurous spirits haven't. We're always plotting our next journey—and we’ve got a big one coming up this July!

We’re heading to the Big Island of Hawai'i for a three-week home exchange. I’ll be working on and off throughout the trip, but please be patient as I am looking forward to living on “island time”!

How to Make Edits to Your Professionally Designed PDFs

After I send you the final PDFs of your project, 99% of the time, that’s it—we’re done and everything’s good to go. But every now and then you need to make a change. While I prefer to handle any client edits myself—I’m protective of my babies—I understand sometimes it can be quicker to do it yourself. For those occasions, use the following tips to ensure your edits don’t turn a small problem into a bigger one.

When you need to edit a PDF, you might be wondering, can I do this myself?

Technically, yes you can.

But like Jodie Foster in True Detective says, “Wrong question. Ask again.”

A better question is:

Should I edit a PDF myself?

DISCLAIMER:

When I started writing this I had the true intention of recommending some great ways for you to edit your PDFs yourselves. Only to come away with this: Don’t do it. It will give you a headache.

If you’re lucky enough to have the paid version of Adobe Acrobat it is quite easy slightly frustrating to make minor edits. (We’ll come back to this in a minute.)

If not, I found an online tool that does a pretty great halfway decent job. PDFgear is completely free and you can edit the text in a PDF with it. Good news for PC users—the PC version has even more functionality than the Mac version.

Now, be careful here. While you can edit text, on a Mac you can’t move the text boxes—so things can become off center leaving you with less than professional results.

Editing a PDF with PDFGear on a Mac works, but in this case threw things off center.

But in some cases this can work well. Especially if it’s a very small edit like a misspelled word.

In the PC version you can move text boxes! Ok, I was getting excited and ready to recommend this to you, and then this happened:

Editing a PDF with PDFGear on a PC works even better—but in this case the words jumped around.

Not great.

Now, back to those of you with Adobe Acrobat…I decided I’d better test out what it’s like to edit my PDF there. I assumed it would be smooth sailing.

Despite having the correct fonts installed, I couldn’t get Acrobat to display the proper font.

But what did I encounter? Font issues! Oh boy.

The moral of this story is, while yes, sometimes you can have success editing your own PDF—especially if those edits are very minor—it can save you a lot of time and stress to just reach out to me with your edits. This is true for projects we’ve worked on together or for projects where you have access to the original design files.

From edits to your PDFs to the design and development of a full fundraising campaign, I’m here to make your mission shine. Let’s talk!

*While you can’t edit a PDF with the free version of Acrobat Reader, I always recommend it as the best way to mark up PDFs when you're sending me your edits!

Should Nonprofits Be Using Canva in Their Marketing?

Pros and Cons of this Powerful Tool for Nonprofit Marketing

In the fast moving world of nonprofit communications, where time is of the essence and resources are limited, Canva can be a gamechanger. Like any other tool out there, Canva has its pros and cons. Understanding its strengths and where it falls short is key using this tool wisely.

The Pros:

It’s easy: Canva is a lot easier to use and less intimidating than Adobe software. It can really empower folks with limited design experience to create visually appealing content.
Brand Consistency: With Canva's paid version*, you can upload brand fonts and establish a consistent color palette, ensuring that all materials produced align seamlessly with your organization's identity. This is a HUGE difference from doing things in Google Docs/Slides—where you are really limited to their fonts.
Templates: Canva simplifies the process of sharing and collaborating on designs. I can create custom Canva templates that you—and your team—will be able to easily update and iterate on.
Social couldn’t be easier: Automatic resizing, scheduling posts, posting directly from Canva—there isn’t an easier tool out there for managing social media campaigns.
Built in library of images: The large library of images that you have access to in Canva (smallish library with the free version)—really makes Canva a one-stop shop for design.

*Did you know that most nonprofits can get Canva Pro for free? Definitely worth checking out.

The Cons:

Limitations: Canva is great for fairly simple designs. Social media posts? Absolutely. Flyers? Yes. Invitations? Sure! One-pager design? That’s pushing it. Annual reports?* God no.
That “Canva” Look: I’ve started to spot things out in the wild that I’m 99% sure have been designed in Canva. And usually my thought is, “Good for them! That looks great!” But the fact that it stands out as a Canva product isn’t ideal.

*Do you need help with your annual report? Reach out.

As a designer you might think I’m concerned about Canva coming for my job, but not at all. This is just another tool that helps me do my job for my clients.

If you’re curious about giving Canva a try, I can help. With my assistance we can customize and set up a system that allows you to harness the power of Canva for your organization.

I think it’s pretty clear that I am on team-Canva. I even use Canva to design my own social media posts. It’s just so easy! Canva should not be the only tool in a designers toolbox—but one of many. Having a designer's help to get you started in Canva could be invaluable for your organization.

Contact me today if you’d like to talk about how I can help you get up and running in Canva.

2023 Wrap Up

Happy New Year! I've been doing some goal-setting lately, and you know what they say—a goal without a plan is just a wish. So, I'm not just dreaming big; I'm putting some solid plans in place.

It was very helpful to sit down and look at my numbers from last year. Some interesting stats appeared that I thought you'd find interesting. Check them out!

Pottery vs. Graphic Design—The Ultimate Throw Down

I’ve been going to a local pottery studio lately with the ultimate goal of replacing all of my store-bought dishes. (Lofty, I know.) Without further ado, here are:

Two ways throwing a pot is like good graphic design—and one way it is not.

Stay Centered

Centering is the hardest part of wheel throwing and it’s all about focus. A lot of people find throwing pots meditative because you have to give the wheel 100% of your attention. This is true for graphic design projects as well. I like to use an app called Llama Life to help me stay on task and give all my focus to your project.

Plan It Out

There are many steps in pottery. You start with wet clay which, after shaped, needs to dry out some—but not too much!—until it is leather hard. Then you can trim it and add things like handles and decoration. Then there is the initial firing, then glazing, then another firing in the kiln. And that’s if you’re keeping things simple! Graphic design projects are no different. I know the steps we need to take (and the order to take them) to most efficiently get your project done. That’s why I always include a timeline when starting a new project. It keeps both of us on track and lets you know what to expect and when.

You Never Know What You’re Gonna Get

In pottery you need to have a go with the flow attitude. Things crack and break. Glazes look completely different from what you expected—or from what happened last time! This is part of the joy of pottery. Wabi sabi, right? Sometimes surprises can be wonderful! But not in graphic design. As a designer, I am all about precision and perfection. There will be no unwanted surprises and you’ll get what you expect (if not more!).

There you have it! I’ll keep you updated as I continue with this pottery journey. As you can see, I’ve made a lot of bowls and small plates so far. Things get a lot harder when you get bigger—luckily that’s not the case with graphic design!

What do RGB and CMYK mean?

What about HEX, PMS, HSL, WTF?!

What does RGB mean?

No light is black. All the light is white.

RGB is the color process screens use. Red, green, and blue light is mixed together to make the full spectrum of colors.

RGB values range from 0 to 255, where 0 is black and 255 is the pure color. When the pure colors of red, green, and blue are mixed together you get white (R 255, G 255, B 255).

History Tidbit

The very first experiments in RGB started way back in 1861 with photography when they layered three plates to produce a color image. But it wasn’t until 1938 that the modern RGB technology for television was developed.

What is a HEX color?

Guess what. Hex colors are the same as RGB colors. They just use a different code. Hex color codes are 6 digits long and every 2 digits equal the value for red, green, and blue. They are even less intuitive to decipher than RGB values.

Hex colors are used for web design and pretty much any time you’re inputting colors online—be that in Canva or Google Docs. Here’s a handy tool that let’s you play around with color values.*

What does CMYK mean?

This shows what would be printed by each individual color.

CMYK is the color printing process used on printed materials. It is also called process or 4-color. With CMYK, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink is mixed together on paper to make the full spectrum of colors.

CMYK values are simply shown in percentages, so “C 100, M 0, Y 100, K 0” would be a very bright green (100% cyan + 100% yellow).

Images look almost the same in RGB and CMYK but you might see some slight differences in really rich colors. Since RGB colors are made of light and CMYK colors are made of ink, there are bound to be some inconsistencies.

History Tidbit

When all four colors are layered together, you get an (adorable) full color image. (“Libby”, you might say, “this is not your cute puppy!” You’re right, this is Luna, Dayo’s predecessor—she will always be our #1.)

Why does K stand for black? Technically the K stands for Key but nowadays always represents the color black. There are conflicting reasons for this out on the web, but my preferred explanation is that back in the day, the Key color was printed last to add detail and contrast to the page. And they used whatever dark color they had on hand or was affordable—blue, brown, or black.

Science-y Tidbit

You can see different colors because light is being reflected off a surface. The CMYK color model creates new colors by lessening the amount of light reflected off of your (usually) white page. Because the inks are taking away brightness, this process is called subtractive. (Alternatively RGB is additive, because it adds brightness to your black screen.)

Why should I care?

When you upload images or pull them from the web, they are RGB. If you’re using those images in a document that’s going to be professionally printed, you should convert them to CMYK before sending your files to the printer.

How to convert RGB to CMYK:

This is very easy to do in Photoshop: simply open your image, click Image/Mode and select CMYK Color. Save and you’re done.
If you don’t have Photoshop, here’s an online tool that will do it for you!

If you’re getting a logo designed, you’ll want to make sure your designer gives you both CMYK and RGB versions of the files. You’ll use the CMYK logo for printing and the RGB logo for online.

What is a Pantone color?

Aren’t they supposed to be cool?

You’ve no doubt seen some Pantone products around in cool stationery shops and you probably think, “oh those cool graphic designers have all that stuff.” Well it’s not true, or is it? But really, Pantone (also known as PMS) is a dying breed. Lower costs for digital printing are making printing in 1 or 2 color (what you’d use Pantone for) less important—unless you are printing very high numbers, or for a very brand-particular client.

Put simply, Pantone colors are pre-mixed inks that are printed directly on the paper. No layering or mixing on the page. It is the most accurate way to get a specific color—which is why big brands rely on them.

Games!

Want to nerd out on color a little bit more? Try one of these games:

I Love Hue
Colorfle (thanks, Nancy!)

*Did you notice another value system—HSL—on this page? Yep, there’s another one! HSL stands for Hue, Saturation and Lightness, and is meant to be an intuitive way to alter colors in the RGB model. Meh, I never use it. But I really am a CMYK girl at heart.

Japan!

In March we spent two weeks in Japan. Joe and I lived in a small city called Tsu from 2004 to 2006 and we were very excited to go back! I divided our trip into three sections (Tokyo, Nakasendo and Nara, Osaka and Kyoto) and made a short video collage of each.

Tokyo

Tokyo Highlights

Nakasendo and Nara

Nakasendo and Nara Highlights

Osaka and Kyoto

Osaka and Kyoto Highlights

Savannah Retreat & How to Change

At the beginning of the year, I flew to Savannah, Georgia to meet up with my fellow solopreneurs and graphic designers. This is my fifth year as a member of the Creatives Roundtable—an accountability and support group for creative business owners. This was our first retreat—which means this was the first time we’ve met in person. I’m sure a lot of you have experienced this odd, modern phenomenon of knowing people only through zoom—and then finally meeting them person. Amazing!

Those meetings were the highlight of the trip for me. Working for myself, by myself, I don’t get out much! It was great to be around people who are doing such similar work to me, with the same struggles, questions, and paranoias…

I came away with a long list of “business to-dos” (which I will not bore you with, but you will be seeing the results of in the coming months!), podcasts to listen to, and books to read.

And I have already read one! How to Change, The Science of Getting from Where You Art to Where You Want to Be, by Katy Milkman. To be honest, I’ll often request books from the library that I think I should read for my business, and then they sit in my office for 3 months until I finally return them. This one though–I picked up and it immediately resonated with me. Maybe because I’m already using one of her techniques—Temptation Bundling. There is one TV show that I’m only allowed to watch if I’m using the rowing machine (we don’t need to get into which show it is, but let’s just say it has to be very addictive).

Here are my other main takeaways from the book:

Fresh starts are the ideal time for change (new year, birthday, seasons, moving house).
Long-term rewards are hard, but short-term rewards work!
Small and frequent commitments to yourself—or others—are more effective than large ones.
Making cue-based plans—like when, where, and how you’ll do something—make you not forget to do it.
You need confidence in the area you are working to change if you want to be successful.

Most common graphic design mistake made by non-designers

If you do some of your own design work— (I bet most of you do—and kudos! You’ve got this!) —let me alert you to the biggest mistake I see that immediately lets me know something wasn’t done by a professional.

It’s all about the margins!

Marge Simpson Dancing GIFfrom Marge Simpson GIFs

I know! You’ve got so much content. And you’re trying to fit it all on one page. And the font can’t be too small. And you’ve got to include this photo. And you’ve got to have this graphic so it’s not just all text. But how is it all going to fit? We’ve got to fill the entire page!

And you can use the whole page. I’m not here to lecture you about white space! Just give it a half inch on each side. That’s all you need! Small margins are just fine (but no smaller than half an inch please).

Listen—nothing can go in that half inch. Keep it clean! And your document will look like it was done by a pro.

Yes, there are a few exceptions (aren’t there always?). These things are totally fine to be in the margin:

· Photos that bleed (go all the way to the edge).

· Boxes of color that bleed—but nothing IN the box should go into the margin!

· Minimal “creative license” items

If you feel like you have plenty of room, then increase your margins—go for ¾” or even a full inch. Just make them consistent and line everything up.

If you’ve got too much text, first try to cut it, and then… well, there are some tricks I know to get text to fit—but we’ll save those for another day.

Happy designing!

New Service! Digital Impact Reports

I’m excited to announce a new service I’m offering—digital impact reports… or interactive annual reports… or whatever you want to call them! Here’s an example:

A digital report can be embedded right onto any page of your website. (I was surprised by how easy it was.) They are a nice modern upgrade from the traditional PDF. They also look great on your phone!

I’ll also provide you with a PDF of the report—if you need to print a few or email them out. Another option is to design a more in-depth letter-sized PDF, and use the digital report to just show your highlights.

Cool things you can do with a digital report that you can’t do with a traditional PDF:

Embed videos and play them in the report.
Animations! I’m hoping to learn more about animating charts and graphs, but for now I was pretty pleased with my animated bar graphs in the sample above.
Have a bunch of testimonials or photos you want to share? We can make a carousel that people can flip through—all on one page.
Drop down menus and all kinds of fancy links—to other pages of the report, your website, report downloads, etc.

Got questions or interested in getting one of these made? Just reach out!

Fastest Way to Remove a White Background from a Logo

Download your logo (use the Images tab in Google Search)
Open it in Photoshop
Go to Select / Color Range
Click on the white (or whatever the background color is)
Increase the Fuzziness (above 100) and click OK
Go to Select / Inverse
In the Layers panel click the little lock on the Background to make it a Layer
Make a Mask by clicking the little rectangle with the circle in it at the bottom of the Layers panel
It’s done! Save as a PNG or TIF for the transparency to show.

Don’t have Photoshop?

This is the best tool I've found: photoroom.com/background-remover

It's free, you don't have to sign up for anything, and it works really well in the tests I've done!

Just make sure, after you upload your image, to click the left most circle to choose the transparent background option.