Episode 270 - Christina Hall - Superlunar Design Co - Brand + Web Designer

Hello, everybody. Welcome to another episode of the Quickie Podcast. I'm your host, Dave Hopkins. Thanks so much for stopping by and checking this one out. Before we get into who the guest is and we tease it out a little bit, I first have to tell you about our guide to keyboard shortcuts in InDesign and Illustrator. This is a completely free guide that we created over at Print Design Academy to help you be that keyboard design wizard, help you stay in that creative flow state, do that fulfilling creative work rather than, you know, messing around in the menus and. Well, where does that, where does that button, what does that do? We just make it easy for you with the guide to keyboard shortcuts. This will help you speed up your workflow and stay in that creative flow state. Get it for free at the link in the description of this podcast episode. Okay, deal. Today on the show, my guest is Christina Hall. You might also know her as Super Lunar design company on TikTok and Instagram. And all of the places where she's absolutely blowing up, blown up, doing awesome stuff, great creative work with her personality through all of it. And that is the most important part because that is attracting the kind of clients that she wants to work with. And it's just a great thing. She passed the vibe check, y', all, so it was good. During this episode, we talk about all of the wins and the fails. We talk about success. We talk about failure and lessons learned. We talk about her path to the creative career. You know, how that started early. We talk about how she hired VA from Ireland and what that VA helps her with. We also talk about the time where she worked with the mlm, those multi level marketing companies. One called It Works. Never heard of it before. Yeah, what that taught her and what that, what that really told her, all of that and so much more. Lots of stories in this one. Also lots of great onliners. Lots of good stuff that I could take completely out of context and use to promote this episode on Instagram. Lots of good stuff. I know you are going to love this one because I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with Christina. It was such a fun interview, such a fun conversation and you are going to love it. So let's get to it. Ladies and gentlemen, my guest, Christina Hall. Here we go.

Welcome to the Quickie Podcast, the daily interview show where we talk to graphic designers about their journey to the creative field. And we do it in 30 minutes or less. So are you ready for a quickie.

Christina? Welcome to the Quickie Podcast. How are you?

I'm good. How are you?

Fantastic. I've been running my tail off the last few days, but we're here. We're ready to rock.

Yeah. It's been a busy week for. For me and almost everyone I know, so.

Yeah, I've seen all that content. I know you're hustling.

I am hustling.

Good. I love it. Before we get too deep into this, I first have to ask you, are you ready for a quickie?

I am.

Okay. You passed the vibe check. I like it.

Thank you.

Thank you. So we'll start by kicking this over to you. Briefly tell the listeners about yourself.

Okay. Briefly telling the listeners about myself. I hate these questions, but I am Christina. Christina hall, if you'd like my full name. I am the owner of Super Lunar Design Company, and I'm a brand and web designer, and I don't have a favorite. I bounce between the two very often with which one I like the most, and that's me.

You nailed it. So easy, right?

Awesome.

I say it's the toughest question, but you just breeze through that one.

Yeah, I figured. Stay simple.

I love it. And is it just you with Super Lunar Design Co, or do you got some employees helping you out or what do you got?

I have a. I just got a va.

Awesome.

A couple months ago, and that's been. Wow, the game changer. I was struggling before VA and now I'm like, I'm still struggling, but it's less obvious. But it's been much better. Yes. So fielding emails is the worst.

So.

So that's. That's mostly what she does for me, and I love her now.

Awesome. That's so great. How did you so off script already? But how did you land a va? How did you find a va? Like, how did you go through that process?

I had a friend of mine. Well, two friends of mine, we were collaborating, we were thinking about starting a podcast, and we were talking about that and totally should. I know. And so she. One of the girls was like, oh, you know, my VA does this. And I was like, I need a va. I actually had been working with one for a month, and I was like, this is what she does for me. And they were like, christina, you need someone who's gonna do a lot more than that for you. And so she was like, you gotta go to my girl. So the other girl on the call hired that girl, and then I hired her. So we're all just sharing the same VA and she's amazing, and she's in Ireland, and so she just has that fun Ireland accent, humor, personality. It's awesome.

Yeah. We were in Ireland as a family in April 2019, and freaking loved it. Loved every second of it.

That's cool. My sister went. I didn't get to go, but she went and just thought it was the best. I know. Just left out.

Well, now you got to set up that VA meetup, so you got to get.

I know. Yeah. It's business. Business.

Write off business expense. I love it. Perfect. Well, let's start the counseling session here, and I want to ask you about your childhood, Christine. What was your childhood like? And do you feel that you had a creative childhood that kind of pointed you in this design direction?

So my childhood, I'm a middle child of five.

Nice.

So I was forgotten, blamed in chaos at all times. It was fun. But I was one of those kids where both my parents worked, and so I saw my grandparents every single day. They did the, you know, picking up from school, keeping us after school, all of that stuff. And my grandma was very creative. She was almost a fashion designer. She was like, do I go for fashion design or become an English teacher? And to my disappointment, she was an English teacher.

Nice.

So I don't know if it was. If she was attempting to encourage us or if she just had a bunch of creative stuff around the house, but it was there all the time, and we definitely. My, My. I have a sister who's really close in age to me, so we kind of piled up a lot, but we gravitated towards the creative stuff a lot, so I think that encouraged me to just find joy in it and solace from my brain.

Cool. So you didn't have, like, a relative who was like, I'm a designer. Let me show you the way. But you had that creativity around you that you kind of raised up in.

Yeah. And I actually, for the longest time, thought I wanted to, like, carry on my grandma's fashion design journey and go into fashion design, and that didn't pan out, thankfully.

Interesting. Okay. Okay. Putting the pieces of this puzzle together.

Is there anything that stands out to you as the most influential design of your life so far? Something that you've seen, something you learned about?

That's tough. And I'm one of those where I won't let myself look at other good design work before I go to design something, because I get scared that it's gonna. I'm like, oh, nothing's gonna look better than this thing I just found. So I try not to be that person. But, you know, I was thinking about this, and so.

It'S funny that I'M in brand design now because when I was really young, like 11 or 12, my dad and sister and I went to Mackinac island in Michigan. And there's a place there called the Pink Pony Bar and Grill.

Nice.

And we just, like, thought it was the coolest thing. And I like, thinking back, I think I still have a coaster from there. And I think thinking back, it was my first experience of, like, a fun, immersive brand. Without realizing it, of course, I was like 11, so I didn't know what was hitting me. But it was such a cool place. And I was obsessed with this place and, like, almost idolized it. And it was just this random place. I got a sandwich once on vacation. And, um, I think that might be one of the more influential designs, you know, is it was like I could tell something even though it wasn't like the McDonald's play place. That was fun because of the branding, because of the artwork that I saw.

Yeah. And it must have been just at a point in time in your life where you just started seeing those kind of things.

Yeah.

And that's just what happened to really stick out.

Yeah. And it. And it. Yeah, I think that's definitely it. Because it was. I've always been very interested in logos. I just think they're cool, like little emblems of things. And I think it was before I. I didn't even get into brand design until a few years ago. So it definitely wasn't something I don't want to sit there and say, like, oh, I've loved brand design since I was born. That's not how it worked. But I think I really have always been very interested in that.

Yeah. From the moment I could draw, it was just brand design.

Just wanted to brand people.

Have you heard of Pink Pony Creative?

I have.

Okay, awesome. Good.

Yeah, I follow her. I love her.

Yeah, she's so great. Had her on the show and she now has a like 7 foot tall pink horse in her office, which I saw. And I'm like, that's amazing. She just reminded me of that with Pink Pony Barn Girl.

Yeah, yeah, no, I. And I think that's why I love her so much is it had to have, like, unlocked that, like, core memory of me. And she does such a good job of having the personality of a brand that's called Pink Pony.

I love it. Love it. So that leads nicely into this next question, which is who is a designer or brand that you look up to or closely follow and what about them do you like?

So Pink Pony Creative is my answer. And so what I love about her, especially Christy, she's the face. Right? She's the one. I feel like she does a really good job of doing what I think we've been told all our lives, what professional looks like, and incorporating fun and toeing that line. I think I. I personally bridge more into the non professional side with my personality because I. I prefer. I prefer to work with people who are ready to like, step outside of that very.

Yes.

Corporate. What we've been told professional means. That's sort of like my villain is. Is what we've all been told professional means our whole lives. And I'm kind of like, why is. Why does that have to be what professional looks like?

Totally.

But I think she does a great job of doing that in, like, sort of like an every man, every woman way.

Yeah. Yeah. Okay, We. When this interview's over, let's hang around for a few minutes because I got a couple ideas to run past you.

Yes.

One of them I'm even scared to mention, but we're gonna go. No, we'll go there.

I say scary things every day.

Okay, Perfect. Perfect. Well, the next few questions I have for you take you down part of your career where you've likely made some mistakes, learned some lessons, and I want to pull those stories out of you. So. But after that, we'll wrap up. We'll finish up in happy town here. So what has been the most challenging period of time in your design career so far? Why was it challenging and how did you get through it?

I have a few. They're like nostalgic challenges at this point. But I'm gonna go back just because this is a fun story, but my. When I graduated college, I refused to get a job that was not in my. My field that I studied in. I took a little longer to finish college. I made some educational mistakes. And so I was in undergrad for seven years. So when I graduated, I was like, I'm not going to take like, you know, a job at a bank or do something until I find the right job, because I know it's too easy to get stuck in something that you don't want to stay just because you get comfortable. So I went into debt.

And I actually was in an MLM for a brief moment, which is regrettable.

Which one?

You have to tell me which one it was. It works. And I did.

I haven't even heard of that one. What is it works.

Oh, really?

Yeah.

Oh, that's a big one. So they sold these, like, tummy wraps that were basically like, Sweat wraps with like botanicals that, that tightened and toned. But I was, I actually did bodybuild building competitions in college and was big bodybuilder. So I focused on their supplements that they sold because they sold protein, you know, detox stuff and whatever. So I focused on the thing that wasn't the snake oil product.

I like how you're like publicly drawing your line there.

Yeah, I was like, I'm not gonna tell you that you're gonna lose weight by wrapping yourself in a botanical piece of fabric. I won't do that. So I like to say I did it the most ethical way I could have. But anyways, long build up to. I finally got my first job as a, at a startup and you know how startup positions are. So I was designer, web designer, brand designer, and social media marketing manager. Yes, marketing, Marketing and design associate was my title. So. Oh, I had, I struggled to like do that. Like, you know, I know what I'm doing, I swear I know what I'm doing in my entry level position. And I was paid abysmally and was just trying my best to be like, look, I swear I'm a good designer and I know what I'm doing. And I knew how to code. So I was like on this, it was an app company and so I was trying to get to the dev team. I was trying to pipeline my way there and I made it there and I was making. I'm okay being transparent with this. So I was making 35,000 a year, which was just bad as a front end developer.

Doesn't sound like that.

Not good. And so I, I took that route of like, if I'm really loyal and I work really hard, they will pay me. And like, I should have been making double my income when I moved to the dev team and they never did. And my boss was a gem of a man. I love him. He was the greatest person and he wasn't in control of my, my salary. And I talked to him frequently, like, this is stupid. You know, I'm the front end, like developer slash UX designer and I'm making 35k a year. That's, that sucks. And it was startup culture and they're like, you know, oh, once we hit this milestone, you'll get paid. I never did. The CEO and COO ended up committing securities fraud and I and 20 others were let go all in one fell swoop. And so that, and it wasn't even the getting let go because I was freelancing at the time. I didn't. And I was matching my income, which wasn't hard. And so, and so it was. The challenge was like, if I work really hard and I'm really loyal to these people, they will see it and they will compensate me. And that was a pivotal moment when I realized that like, just working hard and being a good employee. Employee doesn't get you where you need to be. And, and doesn't isn't fair always. So I, that's where I really was like, I'm not gonna work for other people anymore if I can help it. So that was a pivotal moment and that was one of the most challenging was just sitting in that knowing I'm good enough and not being able to convince anyone else. I was.

Yeah, that is a tough spot. I can just sitting with that. And you said that. Right? Sitting with that in that moment where, you know it could be better, you should be look after you're following through with your end of the bargain. Like what's happening over here. You kind of get that stuck feeling. And it, you know, when I hear stories like that, it kind of reminds me of this belief that I have that like, employment is not as secure as people think it is.

No.

Yes. When you're employed, you have a steady paycheck. However, if it's in the best interest of the company, of their budget, of their bottom line, of the upcoming merger, that you know nothing about any of that stuff, they'll let you go in a heartbeat.

Oh yeah. And. And the, and that's something too, is. I know I hear people say a lot like, they'll replace you in a second. And I think people struggle with that because you can get really deep connections with the people you work with and around and you think, you know, oh, my boss wouldn't do that to me. But most of the time your boss is not the person making that decision.

No.

And. And those people are so disconnected from you that you are just a metric to them. And so I, I very much resonate with that.

Yeah. Totally not as secure. So now you're full time doing your own thing and you're probably working harder than you ever did.

Oh, yes.

But it's so much more fulfilling, isn't it?

Yeah, it really is. And it's. It's like, I don't know. I, I've never really worked to like get the pat on the back from a manager when I was in corporate jobs. But when you do something and you're like, oh, all I have to do is get this, like get over this hump or reach this milestone, you're so proud of yourself. And it's like on both ends, it's like someone's proud of me and it's me who's proud of me. And so it's really fulfilling, honestly. And I know it's not for everyone, but I. I even think about. I could be so much less stressed if I just got a job and just did what someone told me. I wouldn't have to think about what to do next. But I like to like my self diagnosed adhd. I don't think would let me ever, ever do that.

Could you just bring it down a little bit? Oh, no, that's just.

Absolutely not.

You don't know me. Exactly. This is keeping it down a little bit.

This is my lowest level.

I want to just get a little bit more specific now and dive into a specific design or a project that you were a part of. Did not go well. Did not bring the desired result. Went sideways. What was that like? How did that feel? Can you take us to that story?

Yes. So I was. And none of these are from my freelance business career. It's all from corporate, which will tell you something. But there was this email.

We were going through a rebrand they wanted. And the website had just been rebranded and migrated to a new site, full new look and feel. They wanted to be very professional before. It was very tacky to be kind. And I was like, I'm going to pull inspiration from this Apple email. And it was so good, like you could see the inspiration but it wasn't copying and it was, it was, it was perfectly, like emulated what I felt for the company with an Apple look and feel. And I was like, if this is the direction we want to go, which is like elevated, expensive, all about the customer. And I presented it to them and it had change request after change request after change request. And every time I made a change, it looked crappier and crappier and crappier. And I was like, you have broken this thing down so hard that, like, the beauty it once had is nowhere to be found. And it was one of those things where it was so important to everyone because we were like, oh, this is the new us that I think, you know when so many people have an opinion and it's all the different opinion and they expect you as the designer to Frankenstein, that all of those opinions together into one thing and it ends up looking like Frankenstein cried and his tears created something.

Yeah, we've got your blank space, we've got your solid black, we've got your teal. Don't worry. That's in here.

Don't worry.

Everything's italic like you asked for. Yeah.

And so I gave them. I got to the point where I was like, I'm not even trying to. I'm not going to try to make this look anymore. I'm going to give you exactly what you asked for. And you. You look and see how awful it looks. And so I presented it and I emailed my boss and was like, I don't support this design. And I was like, I gave them what they asked for, but I do not support this. I was like, you can, like, if you put this out and it's a success, I don't even want to. You to tell people that I designed it.

Yeah.

And. And I was like, I. In my professional opinion, which is not being respected, like, this isn't what we should put out there. Yeah. And it was just like, is this not what you hired me for? And. And it was. That was another thing is just like, I don't want that many. I don't even think. If I had, like, a big corporation knocking on my door where there were, like, seven to 10 stakeholders, I don't even think I'd want.

No.

The job. I don't care how much money it would bring in. I would. I just don't want to work with that many people again.

No. Because when you're getting so many different opinions, and even if they all saw the exact same brief, the exact same details on what needs to be here, everybody is going to have a vision of what that looks like, and it's all going to be different. There will be no similarities. And like you said, you'll have to Frankenstein that thing together. And that is nice.

Yeah. And it looks like it at the end of the day. And then. And then you have that awful thing, which I know we. We as designers all have it, but it's that thing that you went through with building, and you're like, all right. And then you never put your name on it, never sees the light of day on your portfolio, and you're like, I hope they never tell anyone I made this for you. Yeah.

I hope nobody ever knows that. This.

Yes.

I don't want to be known for that.

I'm not putting my logo down at the bottom of that website or in the corner of that design.

Totally.

Yeah.

You can just keep the discount and keep my logo off this thing. No, thanks.

Please lose my email.

Thanks.

Christina, what is something you are struggling with right now in your design career?

I would say prioritizing. And time.

And. And it goes with prioritizing, like, tasks for clients, tasks for my business, and prioritizing myself.

And then, of course, time. I just feel like there's not enough hours in the day and. But I force myself to sleep eight hours a night, so. Which is. I think it's psychotic for entrepreneurs. They'd be like, she sleeps.

Yeah. So I. I know that that's, like, the most.

I have to put the least amount of effort in to have that positively affect me. All I have to do is fall asleep. So I like that aspect of it, but, yeah, it's crazy. And there are days where I'm like, I need to stay up and do this. And I'm like, you got to figure it out another way, because if you lose sleep, you're losing it all.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's also, like, I think different people actually need different amounts of sleep. I think it's.

Oh, yeah.

I think it's different for everybody. I actually perform worse when I get, like, eight hours. Like, if I sleep that long, I am groggy. I am tired.

Like, you got in too deep.

Yeah. Just got even way too deep. But, like, give me that. Like, five hours and, like, ready to rock. Let's go.

I feel like a stale piece of, like, leftover pizza crust. If I've only had five hours of sleep, I, like, walk through the day. Just feel. Feeling the fact that I'm not a full functioning human being.

Yeah.

It's just different people. My wife's the same way.

Yeah.

Yeah. She just calls me insane. Like, why are you up? Right. Yeah, like, I just. Time to go.

I've done it, though. Like, I was like, nah, don't have time. Gotta stay up. And I saw the effects, especially long term for. For myself. Yeah.

Yeah. I'm well aware that what I'm doing now is not sustainable long term. But this is just my current season.

Yeah.

That's the way I love.

I love that there's so many. And I. I think my boyfriend and my family sometimes don't get it, but I'm like, it's not gonna be like this forever. But it's what I'm sitting with right now, and this is what I'm working with. It has to be like this. I'm saying it has to be like this with the psychotic look on my face.

We're all doing great. Yeah, I know.

It doesn't matter if I'm doing great. It has to be like this.

Christina, your face hasn't changed throughout dinner.

Good.

Nice.

What is the Most recent thing you have learned. It could be a skill, could be a life lesson.

I think it goes back to like, needing to give myself some focus.

Just as a human being, to like. I think I need to separate it as like me taking care of myself and just be like, there's this person you need to take care of. What do they need? Yeah. And I. Then I turn it around and like just give it to myself because it's. I think we all like, will take less care of ourselves when there's something we feel is higher priority. And I'm just realizing that that's not. I don't think my. Like we said earlier, like, I'm not ever going to let myself chill out. And so I think I need to force myself in some aspects to just like give myself space because I'm in a really busy season right now. And I. Like I said earlier, I used to be a big like, fitness person and I haven't. I used to like, feel horrific if I didn't go to the gym every day. And I have probably not been to the gym. I haven't been to the gym consistently in any manner in the last, like six months.

Yeah.

So. And I'm. I really am like, it's a decision that I was like, it's just not a priority right now. When I go, I'm so overcome with ideas or stuff I have to do that I don't even enjoy it. Yeah. But I have realized I'm like, you gotta. You're gonna stay out of it forever. You're going to get too used to the environment as it is right now. So it's, it's just forcing yourself to do things that you know are good for yourself, I think is something I've learned recently I need to do.

Gosh, that. That resonates so much with me. I have. So just to give you a little bit of frame of reference here, I've got three kids, 15, 13 and 11. And like we're only a week and a half into summer here. Like, school just basically ended and still it's so busy with all this move and everything that's going on. But if I miss, like, if I don't punch in at the gym before 4am Forget it.

Yeah.

And I'm prioritizing everything else and half of my brain is like, you lazy person. Like, why did you not go do that gym thing today?

Yeah.

And then the rest of my day is filled with things for other people.

Yeah. Yeah.

So it's just like, if I don't take that Little morning window to work out for myself. It feels like the whole day is off. It just doesn't feel the same. Yeah. And it's. And it's, you know, a choice. Like, I could just be like, I'm not gonna do that for y'.

All.

I'm going to the gym because that's what I need right now. I just. I can't do that.

I know. Yeah, I. It's always. And that's the thing is, like I said, it's so easy for us to just be like, I don't need that thing anymore. I'm just gonna do this thing that's in front of me or for someone else. And. And, yeah, I think I used to be that person where I was like, I can't go. I'm going to the gym. I can't do that with you. I'm going to the gym. Sorry, that time doesn't work. I'm going to the gym. And so I missed that aspect of, like, that was a very hard boundary for me, and I think I need to get that back. So.

Can't get.

After that has been a recent thing that I'm just like, okay, I'm learning. I really have to keep that.

I'm just gonna bombard you with my gym post workout selfies, and you're just.

Gonna have to be like. I'm gonna be like, okay, this isn't gonna stop until I get to the gym every day.

What is with this guy? Like, every freaking day.

Like, scare me back into the gym.

Exactly. You should feel threatened by these.

Geez, it might work.

Awesome. Well, okay. Don't tempt me. I will turn this around a little bit here. Tell us about a product that you've been a part of that you are the most proud of. The one that just makes your heart sing.

Oh, my gosh. Okay. I actually just got off a strategy session with a client yesterday.

Okay.

And she and I are so similar. She's a photographer. And I did that thing where, like, I didn't follow process, and I was like, I know what this logo is supposed to look like. I know what this branding is supposed to look like. So I dove straight in just for myself. And I worked on it last night and then woke up this morning and was like, I have to get back into it. And it's so freaking cool. I'm, like, obsessed with it. And I messaged her and was like, I know this isn't the timeline. And I was like, but. And I'm not gonna send it to you. And I'm not gonna over hype it. And I don't care if you like it or not. Like, it's fine, but. And I haven't even shown her. I'm not gonna show her till it's time. But I was like, this is so cool. And I was like, this is going in my portfolio whether you use it or not.

Yeah.

And so it's. It's been a while since I've just been like, this is badass. Something I designed where I'm like, this is badass. I love it. Um, so I'm actually really excited about that.

That's so rad.

It's.

It's so funny. The things that you're saying are, like, hitting so hard here personally, because that exact feeling that you're describing is happening, like, with a project that we're working on here. And it's. I'll tell you about it after the call because I don't want anybody listening to this to have a spoiler before time, but. Holy. I'm just. I'm so excited about it. And we're just like. Just before the call, I'm upstairs with my partner just scripting this thing, like, putting it. Oh. Anyways.

Yeah.

That feeling.

So fun. Yeah. And. And that's what it was. It was really nice. It. And it's like, is it adhd? Is it because I'm a creative? Is it both where I just silo into something that I'm so into and, like, get that dopamine hit from every time I'm. I'm working on it. And I think it's a little of both. And I think a lot of creatives have that where you cannot bring yourself out of something you're really, really into.

And she had a unique. She had two sides of her brand that are just not similar in any manner, and she was very worried that it wasn't gonna be able to be integrated just because they're so dissimilar. And I was like, no, I've got this. Like, I've got this. I have an idea in my brain already. And so as soon as we got off the call, my boyfriend and I ordered pizza, and I was like, I'm gonna be on the laptop eating pizza while we do this. So it was really fun to be that excited about something.

Yeah.

And it's. Yeah. I'm never really that hyped by, like, the big projects. Like I said, it's those little ones where I just get siloed in and so obsessed with that.

Yeah.

I love.

Yeah. It's the Ones that end up being the ones that, like, you like. The question aligned to is, like, what you're most proud of, because it just, like, it flicks a switch, it hits something. It. Like this. Oh, my God, this. Yeah.

Yeah.

Super cool.

Yeah. And it's not super often that I have a couple ongoing clients, and I'd rarely share the work I do for them just because it's. You know, how it is when they're like, oh, no, we want it this way. And I'm like, fine, I'll give it to you, but I'm not going to tell anyone I made this. And so it's really fun to have something where I'm like, oh, finally. Something that I would put out there and be like, this is highly representative of the work.

Yeah.

I do and want to continue doing for other people. So it's exciting. Not just because I'm doing something that a client thought wasn't possible, but I'm excited for what it says about me and to share that with with anyone who lands on my website.

So, yeah, you can't wait to get it out there. I get the.

Oh, yeah, I can't. I want to put it live right now.

Okay, don't.

Yeah, no, it's not. We're not even in the design phase of the project.

I was like, don't get ahead of yourself. But I got ahead of myself.

Exactly. Miles. Yeah, she's done, but I'll show you in a month.

Yeah, yeah.

Christina, what is a book you have recently read that you really enjoyed? Alternatively, a blog you read, a podcast you listened to, advice you received?

I actually just bought a book. I can't remember what it's called. I think it's called. So, like, don't judge me on the title, but it's called 12 months to a million or 12 months to becoming a Millionaire or something like that. And I don't think. I like. I don't like those book titles. But inside it, which I didn't anticipate, was so many very interesting stories about how businesses started. And it was interesting because I think I'm one of those brand designers who really heavily talks about strategy more than design, because I believe it's such a fundamental part. And I think the designers I align with agree so. But it was so much about just the customer and how these people finally figured out what their customers want, which is something I harp on a lot on. My content is understanding the customer. And, like, once you know how to do that and speak to them the right way and present yourself, the Right way. Like, you're pretty much good. You're gold. And so there were so many stories inside of it, like how.

Now I'm forgetting every brand they mentioned, but like, how so many different brands that I had heard of and appreciated had gotten started. So it ended up being a much more interesting book about business and branding than it was about making a million dollars in 12 months.

That's cool. Yeah, I love that. It was cool. Some of my favorite books are the stories of medium to large businesses that, you know, what was the story? The grind in, like, the very early days. What are the sort of happenstance situations that came up because you put yourself in those areas? And I just find those stories fascinating. Like, I read the Nike one, I read the Disney one. Like, I've read lots of those books by, you know, it's technically like a CEO's autobiography.

Yeah, yeah.

But also a brand story. Like, they're all brand stories and how they, you know, came into this brand and the development and bringing it up and, you know, bringing it to what it is today. And those are some of my favorite books. So find. Text me what that title is, because I'd love to.

I will. And I. I just remembered one that really interested me because I was an early adopter of this brand. It was Dollar Shave Club. You heard of them?

Yep, yep.

I. I remember when that first came out and they were literally only selling razors.

Yes.

And I was like, this, this is cheap. I was, I was their cheap customer at the time because I was in college. And I was like, this is cheap. I'm ordering this. You're telling me I'm getting a handle and five blades for like $6. Sign me up.

Yeah.

And it was an. It was extremely interesting on how it got started. So I will text you the title. But that was one of the cool ones was they like stumbled into this opportunity and really, really figured out who their customer was and made a whole brand and line out of it.

And I almost feel like that was one of the early, One of the earlier businesses in like the viral video world. Right. Because that first video of that guy in the factory, like, going through all that stuff and then like the, the Spanish co worker that he's with is like, like all of the things. And the way that that rolled out was so cheeky, so clever. And then all of a sudden you see Old Spice deodorant, like commercials, very similar vibes and modeled that way. So it's. I think that was one of the earlier brands in that viral video situation.

Yeah. And I, I'm really fond of brands that do funny well in a really effective way.

Yeah.

I love when effective is a good thing that I like always look for because I'm, I'm big on like converting customers and like winning them over and stuff like that. So I thought that was so smart and it was before really like being funny. Was that acceptable in the marketplace? So I really, I really love dollar Shave Club. Like Hype Girl for Dollar Shave Club.

That's such a great one. Yeah. Okay, good. Definitely. Let me know the title of the book. I'm going to check it out. I will. Christina, you have reached the last question of the show, which is the ask it forward question. I have a question for you for my last guest and then you get the opportunity to ask a question of my next guest. I'm not going to tell you who they are, but you can ask them anything.

Awesome.

So my last guest was Mr. Will Paterson. He is big on YouTube, does a lot of great YouTube brand design stuff. Talented brand designer out of the UK and he wanted to ask you what is your thing? That is not your thing.

Ooh. This is tough. This is tough because I do have a lot of things very multifaceted.

I'm gonna say.

I'm gonna say makeup, which is funny because I frequently, especially recently, don't show up with a lot of makeup. Today's an exception. But. So it's not my thing. But I used to be like, I used to sit at home and practice those. Really? When Instagram makeup was really big, I would do elaborate makeup and then wash it all off and go to sleep. So I actually have some skill there. So it's, it's my thing, but not my thing.

Okay. That is like my 15 year old daughter. That is her thing right now.

Yeah.

Like, it's just elaborate makeup. And she's like upstairs doing her makeup at 4 o'. Clock. I'm like, what are you. Where are you going? She's like, I'm not going anywhere. I'm like, you're just like, wipe it off after.

And then in my head I'm like, you're such a dad. Shut up. Why are you saying stuff like that? Like just go in there and be like, yo, rad makeup. Or like whatever the kids are saying saying these days, no.

Dads have to be ultimately and infinitely confused by everything you do.

100. I'm like filling the role. And it's funny because, like, I'm not even trying to like be the dad. I'm just like, how did I. What did I just say?

Yeah, my wife will be like, why are you questioning her? I'm like, I don't know. I actually don't know why I can't handle.

For some reason, I don't know.

Did you see these Reeboks? These look awesome.

The New Balances.

Yeah, exactly.

New Balances.

Awesome. Christina, what is your question for my next guest?

Okay, if you could only design everything in one color, what would the color be? Whoa. And if it has to be down to a hex code, that's fine. I know. I wanted to make this scary. A scary question.

Only one color. It can't be black or white.

Okay. Everything in one color can be black or white.

Stipulations to the question.

Okay, now how do you want, master? Do you want them to just be like. It would be a red, like, a scarlet red, or do you want them to be like, what's the pantone number?

Like, yeah, they don't know because I don't know the pantone because I don't design in print. So, yeah, I would never know. But if they wanted to. If they wanted to verbally describe and, like, go the extra mile and give a hex code, they absolutely can, but verbally. I love trying to listen to people describe colors anyway, so I think this is gonna be fun. It's almost evil. An evil question at this point.

Describe your favorite color using only words that start with W. This doesn't tell.

You who I am. Or I just want someone to struggle through the question.

I want you to feel the pain.

I'm awful.

Kristina, you've reached the end of the Quickie Podcast. Thank you so much for being my guest today. Today.

Yeah. Thank you for having me. This has been so much fun.

All right, that is the end of the Quickie podcast episode. Thank you so much for listening. You know when. You know when people say, like, oh, yeah, that person's got good energy, you know? And you're like, what? What does that mean? Christine has great energy. Right? I told you. Christina's got good energy. Great conversation. I know you enjoyed it. I don't need to ask. I know it was good. I know you liked it. So because you enjoyed what you are hearing here on the Quickie podcast, please take a second to head over to Apple Podcast, Spotify, wherever you're listening. Leave a rating and a review for the show. They make us smile. They help others find us and find these great conversations, and that's it. Thanks so much, and we'll see you next week.