Bird & Branch Design

29/10/2026

The first thing I always want to know when I meet a business owner is the story behind how they came to be in business, and why they do what they do.

And it’s not just business owners. If I’m watching a movie, I’m often on IMDB looking up the actors, if I’m at a concert, I’m googling the band at interval, wanting to know their complete back story. (And by the end I’m following everyone including the tambourine player on Insta).

Last week I had the pleasure of attending ’s Day with the Queen - an event I had been waiting 2 years to get to. And boy was it worth the wait! And the stories I heard- from hearing the really interesting story behind a business name and connecting with another bird lover and hearing her amazing story of Zoo Keeper turned Fashion Designer to Sarah from talking about how the stories we tell ourselves impact our money mindset.

So what am I getting at? People connect with stories. Maybe they’re not obsessively sitting on IMDB, but I can guarantee- the more you tell your story through your brand, the more you will stand out, connect with your ideal client, and earn their trust and loyalty.

Pictured:
1. A rare photo of my storytelling partner in crime, Clare from
2. Some of my Thriving Women family- doors are open to join this amazing community for 2027- the best thing I did for my business- 1000/10 recommend!
3. The Queen herself! Always sharing the most important stories- including the release of her newest one- ‘Selling without the Ick’!

Photography by

18/10/2026

So, I had my first hot stone massage the other day.

And let's just say... it was NOT what I was expecting. 😂

Turns out, I'd made some wildly incorrect assumptions about what actually happens during a hot stone massage.

And while I was lying there questioning my own intelligence and deciding I clearly don't practice self-care enough, I realised there was a pretty important lesson in it for business owners.

One that has everything to do with how we visually communicate what we do.

I'm sharing the whole story (including my slightly embarrassing revelation) in the next edition of Notes from the Nest, my email newsletter where I share branding insights, practical tips and the occasional random life experience that somehow turns into a branding lesson.

💌 Want the full story? Drop me a 📸 camera emoji below and I'll add your email to the list.

The next one goes out this Tuesday. I promise the branding advice is better than my knowledge of spa treatments.

13/09/2026

The final piece of the LKN4WRD brand puzzle was creating a website that could bring everything together: Ben’s story, the message behind the brand, and of course, the merch.

We built the site on Squarespace, giving Ben a professional eCommerce platform that looks completely custom to his brand, without handing him a complicated beast to manage once I hand over the reins.

Because a website shouldn’t require a degree in computer science to change a T-shirt size or add a product.

Squarespace gives Ben the ability to manage products, update stock, process orders and make everyday changes himself, while giving us plenty of flexibility on the design side to make the site feel unmistakably LKN4WRD.

And while selling merch is the focus right now, I didn’t want this to feel like *just* an online shop.

Ben’s story and the meaning behind LKN4WRD are woven throughout the entire site, and we’ve deliberately left room for the website to grow with the business. The bigger vision for LKN4WRD is for Ben to eventually take his story and message into the wider community, so what we’ve built now gives him a solid foundation for whatever comes next.

And that wraps up my little LKN4WRD trilogy!

Go take a peek at the finished website, grab some fantastic merch before the presale ends tonight, and see the whole brand out in the wild.

12/09/2026

From the very beginning, merch was going to be a huge part of the LKN4WRD brand, which meant the identity couldn’t just work on a website or business card. It needed to look like something people would actually want to wear.

When Ben and I started talking about the direction for the merch, he mentioned that he loved the style of The Mad Hueys.

Now, being neither cool nor the mother of teenage boys, I nodded thoughtfully... and then promptly went away and Googled them. 😂

But it gave me a really clear sense of what Ben was drawn to: bold, illustrative graphics with an outdoorsy, slightly rugged, Aussie feel. Something that could stand on its own as a great tee design, rather than feeling like branded corporate merch.

So we made it personal. I designed the hero t-shirt graphic based on the Heifer Creek Cutting, a spot near where Ben lives, bringing a little piece of his own backyard into the LKN4WRD story. Paired with the line "the rougher the road, the stronger we can become”, it connects the landscape back to the bigger message behind the brand.

From there, with the help of Josh from Northprint and the team at Ben built out a merch range of tees, hoodies, trucker caps, singlets, stubby coolers and even Croc charms, using the LKN4WRD brand marks, compass graphics, illustrations and messages in different ways across the collection.

Expertly photographed by Loren at - the result is merch that doesn’t just have a logo printed on it. It has a message and a meaning.

And judging by the response to Ben’s first pre-sale, I think we might have nailed the assignment. 🙌

Hop onto the website and grab some for yourself before the presale ends Sunday 13th Sept- the trucker caps are particularly cool!

https://www.lkn4wrd.com.au/

12/09/2026

Some brands take a while to leave the nest, but good things take time, and this one is a doozy.

Meet LKN4WRD. A brand built around one pretty powerful idea: there’s always something to look forward to.

LKN4WRD was created by Ben, whose life changed after an accident left him a C5–C7 quadriplegic. Rather than letting that moment define what came next, Ben has turned his experience into a message about mindset, resilience, gratitude and choosing to focus on what’s still possible.

The visual identity includes a brand mark that echoes the mountains around his home, a numberplate-inspired logotype and compass graphics that reinforce the idea of choosing your own path and continuing to move forward, plus custom graphic of Ben in his chair.

When it came to creating the LKN4WRD identity, we knew it needed to do more than look good on a website.

The brand was designed from the beginning to live on things. tees, hoodies, caps and accessories are a huge part of how Ben is getting the LKN4WRD message out into the world, so the identity needed to be bold, recognisable and flexible enough to work across merch, while still translating seamlessly into digital, social and everything that comes next.

And this really is just the beginning for LKN4WRD. ⚡️

Ben’s new website is officially LIVE, and his first merch pre-sale is open until tomorrow night, Sunday 13th September.

https://www.lkn4wrd.com.au/

Go have a stickybeak, grab some merch and support a bloody good human doing something meaningful.

More of this project coming over the next few posts, because there is *a lot* to show you.

Amazing brand photography by Tall Timber Studio and merch created by Northprint and hats by Insignia Company

04/09/2026

After 13 years of designing brands, I’ve learned that some of the most important conversations happen before anyone opens Illustrator.

So here’s round two of the questions I get asked, along with the answers that sometimes stay safely inside my head.

No judgement. Just a little more honesty than your average design studio post. 🌿

03/09/2026

A good website does more than look pretty.

It should tell people who you are, what you do, why it matters and, most importantly, why they should choose you.

That’s why I approach every website project as a storytelling exercise.

Before we get to fonts, colours and layouts, we get clear on the story. Your audience. Your point of difference. The little details that make your business yours.

Then we turn all of that into a website that feels like you and makes it easier for the right people to say, “Yep, this is exactly what I’ve been looking for.”

Here are a few of the story-driven websites I’ve had the pleasure of bringing to life lately. ✨

If your website is due for a rethink, let’s make sure it’s telling the right story.

26/05/2026

Want a brand experience that feels as thoughtful as the business behind it? ✨

The best branding doesn’t just look beautiful.

It captures your values, connects with your clients, and gives your business the confidence to grow with clarity and consistency.

Joel from New Style Property Group shared that one of the biggest standouts of the process was how deeply we explored the business itself- the values, future vision, and client experience behind the brand.

Because great design is never just about aesthetics.

It’s about creating a brand that genuinely feels like you.

18/05/2026

13/05/2026

When Joel from New Style Property Group came to me, his vision was clear: he wanted a real estate brand that felt professional, classy, recognisable, and consistent. But more than that, he wanted something that reflected his unique approach to property.

Joel’s business isn’t just about buying and selling homes. It’s about helping clients present their properties beautifully, reducing stress, and guiding them through some of life’s biggest milestones with genuine care.

With a Pinterest board filled with rich jewel tones, Art Deco details and elegant typography, we developed a brand that was refined and distinctive, but still approachable and welcoming.

Because while Joel offers a premium level of service, the brand needed to feel warm and human, not overly luxurious or intimidating.

One of my favourite elements to create was the custom geometric pattern.
Inspired by Art Deco design, this pattern weaves together subtle illustrations that tell the story of the business:

🛏️ A bed, representing property styling
🏠 A house, symbolising home and real estate
🌳 Trees, reflecting community and place
💡 Lamps and interiors, highlighting thoughtful presentation

The pattern creates a visual language that can grow with the business as new services and sub-brands are introduced over time.

The final identity feels exactly as Joel envisioned:
✔ Sophisticated but approachable
✔ Stylish but grounded
✔ Professional yet personal
✔ Designed to grow alongside the business

At its heart, New Style Property Group is about more than property.
It’s about service, presentation, and helping people move confidently into their next chapter.

And that’s exactly what the brand was designed to reflect. ✨

Australia | Brand Identity & Custom Website