The Digi Dame Graphic Designer

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The Digi Dame Graphic Designer

Hi, I'm Cassandra. Brand Designer. Book Cover Designer. Surface Pattern Designer. Eater of cake. Sydney, Australia. Based in Western Sydney, Australia.
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I’m a strategic brand designer, book cover designer and surface pattern designer for small business owners and authors. A devoted wife and mum, I’m also a lover of cake and a bit of a geek girl who adores the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, and loves Harry Potter. I strive to eat cake at least once a day. I bake brand identities for small business owners who want a brand with bite, using my unique brand strategy framework, The Brand Bake. Be the zesty brand that everyone else wants to be, with The Digi Dame.

03/09/2026

Confused about brand colours? Not anymore.

Download my FREE colour guide at https://thedigidame.design🧡

02/09/2026

A patent is a form of copyright protection for new inventions. Granted by the government, a patent gives the owner exclusive rights to their invention for a certain amount of time, which is typically up to a period of 20 years (25 years for pharmaceutical patents).

A patent prevents others from producing, using or selling the protected invention without the owner’s permission. Patents can protect physical inventions such as devices and substances, plus intangible inventions such as methods and processes. A patent only protects in the country in which the patent is held; so if you require patent protection internationally, then patents need to be applied for in those other countries.

In order for a new invention to be protected by a patent, there are certain criteria that needs to be met. Firstly, the invention must be new and it must be novel in nature. Secondly, it must also be useful; being able to be produced or used within an industry. It also needs to be unique from what already exists. If there is something similar to your invention already in existence but your invention includes new or inventive points of difference, it may still be patentable.

A patent can’t be used to protect just anything. For example, you can’t use a patent to protect people, art, mathematical models and theories, mental processes or
plans and schemes.

In Australia, a provisional patent application costs $100. Filing a standard patent starts at $400. Other fees apply over time, including annual fees to keep your patent active. This is what it costs without engaging a patent attorney.

If you use a patent attorney, it will cost more (most applicants can spend $4-7K to file a provisional application, which includes legal fees). Filing a standard patent will cost a similar amount. Ask your attorney for a cost estimate up front.

It takes at least six months for the approval process to be complete; in some cases up to several years. How to apply for a patent? In Australia, you can apply for a patent by visiting IP Australia.

For more small business branding tips, visit The Dame's Blog at https://thedigidame.design 🧡

01/09/2026

Yes, Helvetica is the most popular font worldwide. So what? Why should you care?

Well, if you want your small business brand to stand out from the crowd, it helps to avoid following the crowd! Popular means overcooked. Overdone. Overcrowded.

When small business brands all choose the same personality, fonts, colours, style and messaging, they start looking and feeling the same to customers. Brands begin to blend into one and nobody stands out. The customer becomes bored and confused. And your brand is just another face lost in the crowd.

So, it makes perfect sense to avoid using the popular choices in your branding, especially what's popular in your industry or niche. To be the chosen brand, your brand needs to be the obvious choice. You can't achieve that by blending in.

When you want your visual design to look, sound and feel different, avoid doing the popular thing, whether that's a font like Helvetica, a colour palette exactly like your competitors or a communication style written by AI.

Popular trends are great for fashion but not for brands.

For more branding tips, visit The Dame's Blog at https://thedigidame.design🧡

29/08/2026

Authors - should you include your photo on your book?

This comes down to many different things - your genre, profile and what your audience will be attracted to.

Genre. Is it typical to include a portrait in your genre? You don’t have to fit in with everyone else. If it suits your book style, then perhaps doing the opposite of what everyone else is doing is best.

Branding. If your book is part of promoting a brand or business, then it’s an excellent idea to include your face on the cover. Many business owners who write books purely to lift their business profiles will include their image to add credibility; increasing and supporting book sales.

Profile. If you are a public figure, then it is a good idea to add your portrait to the front cover because your face will help to sell your book.

If you are selling exclusively to a small niche in which you are well known or your intention is to start branding yourself to a specific market, your photo on the front cover may be a good idea.

Expertise. When your book is non-fiction and you are a well-known expert in your field, then go for it; front or back.

The back of your book cover is a great place to include your image with a book summary, testimonials and a blurb about the author. Consider that including your photo on the back cover tells your audience that you’re the author of the book but not the literal face of the book. If you have a hardcover book with a dust jacket, perhaps you could include your image on the inside sleeve. The sleeves are common places to find author photos.

If the idea of your photo on the cover is not appealing, you have another option. In my makeup book, I didn't want my portrait on the book cover but instead included my photo on the About the Author page in the front matter of my book. Your about page is usually a summary of the author’s achievements, their relevant story and other relevant details. Including a photo of yourself here creates a personal connection between you and your reader.

28/08/2026

Want to book your brand bake with The Digi Dame? It's easy.

Simply visit https://thedigidame.design and fill out my contact form to book 🧡

27/08/2026

BRAND BITES Episode 55 - They Lied! Busting Brand Myths

In this episode, I bust some common branding myths that are holding small business owners back and share some truths that can help you to brand sweeter 🍰

Don't let the lies spoil your branding! Tune in on Spotify and Apple Podcasts 🧡

20/08/2026

SWEET Client Story: Clare from Clare Bruce Books 🧡

A talented wordsmith with a love for the traditions of writing, Clare needed a brand identity for her new business venture; supporting debut and established memoirists through the publishing process. With her unique approach, Clare required a unique brand that highlighted her point of difference in a competitive market.

Clare’s competitors offered various services to memoirists. However, none of them had cornered the market with an end-to-end facilitation through writing, publishing, marketing and distribution. Without realising it, Clare was already filling that void. She simply needed a brand to clearly communicate it with a focus on connecting clients with their readers.

Every design decision, from colour and shape through to icons and typography, was made on strategy. Portraying connection, calm and simplicity was a priority. The symbolism of wisdom and knowledge, guidance, new beginnings, skill and communication were important aspects of Clare’s brand that were communicated through design.

Working together, Clare and I positioned Clare Bruce Books as the end-to-end solution to writing and publishing your memoir. Clare’s offering reframes the publishing journey for memoirists in Australia, that traditionally involves self-navigation through the complex process but is now made simple with Clare’s support and guidance.

Now Clare has a unified and cohesive brand identity authentic to her business that will foster trust and attract the right audience. She has strategic positioning that stands apart from every competitor in the market. She's been able to launch her business with confidence and clarity with her new brand.

To learn more about this project and see how strategic branding can work for you, visit https://thedigidame.design

19/08/2026

MYTH: Designers are creative, not strategic.

If you believe this to be true, you've made the common mistake of confusing design with art.

Art is subjective, creative and expressive. Good design is not actually subjective - it's objective, strategic and communicative before it's creative.

If a designer is creative but not strategic, then they're an artist, not really a designer. A designer solves problems and communicates through design. If a design doesn't solve a problem or communicate a message then it's not a successful design.

Want to know more about strategic branding? Visit https://thedigidame.design🧡 Cassandra, The Digi Dame

18/08/2026

Let me guess - you're feeling or looking a little (or a lot!) like this right now...

You're doing all the things that you've been told to do in your small business but you're not seeing results. The sales aren't coming. You hear crickets.

You're starting to second-guess this business gig and feeling like it might be time to give in and give up because you just can't make it work. You're dumbfounded on how others are crushing it and you're not.

Here's how.

The successful businesses have built a solid brand. They succeed because they understand their consumer and know how to make them feel an emotional connection. They know how to build trust.

This is where a brand strategist comes in.

Brand strategy is the bridge between your business and your customer. It builds a brand for your business that your customers will trust and be drawn to.

If you’re ready to rise from stale to sweet, I have availability in the next few months to help you bake your small business brand.

T learn more, download my Cakeonomic from https://thedigidame.design (link in bio) 🧡

06/08/2026

SWEET WORK 🍰

In a recent branding project I worked with at Elizabeth Le Breton - Marriage Celebrant to redesign her business logo and pivot her brand as she scales and expands her business.

Elizabeth is a Coach, Educator and Marriage Celebrant who helps couples create meaningful ceremonies and strong foundations for marriage. She's beautiful, bright, bold and joyful and her vibrant brand helps to showcase that differentiation.

To learn more about this project and how you can brand sweeter, visit https://www.thedigidame.design 🧡

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Sydney, NSW

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https://thedigidame.design/

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