My Favorite Projects of 2022...
The final wind-down.
Are you ready for it too?
I know I am. For the holidays and a little breathing space at least.
No matter how intentional we try to be, let's face it. The holiday season is stressful. Good stress for the most part, I hope. But it's stress all the same.
For many of us, December is a month crammed into two weeks as far as professional and personal obligations go. I know I've found myself working evening hours far later than I'd like and generally, feeling like there is so much to cram into our wee hours of daylight. (Like getting my puppy out for a hike before sunset at 4pm!)
While the projects keeping me late on my computer have all been ones that are deeply aligned, fun, and interesting to me, it's a reminder that these busy seasons should really just be that. A season. We will eventually need a little rest and a little reset before we go on again.
So that is what I'm hoping to bring with me into the new year. To take little breaks when I need to as I get through the final work days of the year, to be present with the projects and clients that have made it so wonderful as I shift into my own holiday break, and to keep it cheerful as much as I can. Namely, by blasting Christmas music in my office and sending little thank-you cards between Zoom meetings.
Another thing that I love to do at the end of the year is to make a little space for reflection. I love Susannah Conway's Unravel Your Year workbook and I might also try Blair Badenhop's Creating Space to Reflect (an 8-question exercise) since stumbling upon her podcast recently.
And in my own work, I'm going through the list of the projects that highlighted my year. (You can take a look back at what I did for 2021 here.) While calling these my "favorites" really isn't totally fair because I have honestly felt so, SO good about my clients this year and how aligned they feel to my own life and values. More than in past years, really. Instead, I tried to pick 5 that stood out to me for a particular reason. So read on! And if you feel inclined, please check out these women-owned businesses and give them a follow too!
My favorite projects of 2022
1. The Alinea Collective Women's Business Summit and Summer Kickoff Party.
If you've been following along for a while, then you may also know that I am the co-founder of the creative agency, Alinea Collective. We held two major, and what I felt to be incredibly meaningful events in 2022. They were the two of my most memorable days of the year
I started working with Sheryl this past spring after her business IG account got hacked and she needed help finding other avenues to market her retreats. What started as a short-term contract, has turned into one of my most creative and inspirational ongoing branding projects. What makes me so happy as well? Slowly but surely, we've encouraged Sheryl to become her own personal brand along the way. A vulnerable undertaking, but one that has been making such an impact on her business!
Katie is SO talented. A true artist. Plus, she has enough of her own knowledge of graphic design and branding to get very, very far as a solopreneur running all facets of her business. After officially launching her business this year, Katie really just needed another strategic mind to work through her marketing strategy. We worked together through monthly marketing coaching calls and it was incredibly rewarding to watch her grow throughout the process.
Shifting to my favorite copywriting projects. This one, at first glance, might surprise you. Anderson & Voyich is law firm that has been practicing in Montana since 1995. Kelly and Vuko Voyich are well respected in their community and have a steadfast caseload to prove it. After going through a brand redesign, I worked with them to completely updated their brand messaging and website copy. I loved this project because it was just so different. I learned SO much, and I felt especially proud about the way the copy turned out approachable but still incredibly professional.
5. Love Zoelle
I've been a big fan of Zoe's work for a few years now. She is an incredibly talented, self-taught designer who also supports other young women wanting to learn jewelry-making. When she asked me to help create a few pitches for a rare ring she designed, I ended up uncovering more of her brand story and publishing it in Montana Woman magazine. This project was special to me because it is the kind of writing I could do every day, all day long. There is nothing more uplifting to me than to share my fellow women's stories.
What about you? If you could pick your favorite projects of 2022, what would they be?
Sending you so much love (and rest) into the new year. Happy holidays!
~ Sydney