Building your Brand

In this solo episode, I'm sharing two early client mistakes that knocked my confidence; but ultimately shaped the way I run my business today. I talk vulnerably about my previously poor boundaries and some communication breakdowns, and how these experiences taught me lessons I still carry into every project. 
If you've ever had a client situation go wrong, this episode will remind you: you're not alone and you can come back stronger.
Key Takeaways
Your gut is part of your business strategy If something feels off; whether it's pricing, scope, or a client fit; it's worth paying attention to. Ignoring it often leads to bigger problems later.
Clear boundaries protect both you and your clients Saying yes to the wrong work (or an unclear brief) can create resentment and misalignment. Strong boundaries create better outcomes for everyone.
Communication is everything (and more!) Under-communicating is one of the fastest ways to lose trust. Over-explain your process, your decisions, and your expectations.
Mistakes don't define you; how you respond does Every business owner will face rejection, missteps, or unhappy clients. Growth comes from reflecting, adjusting, and moving forward with better systems.
Episode Highlights
00:05 - Why mistakes matter more than wins
01:05 - Mistake #1: Ignoring my gut & poor boundaries
04:28 - Mistake #2: Lack of clarity & weak presentation
06:17 - The confidence knock & what changed
07:45 - The biggest lesson: communication & process
08:36 - Trusting your gut in business decisions
09:23 - Rejection, failure & moving forward as a business owner
 
I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written, recorded and produced by me
If you like to watch your podcasts you can watch all of my solo episodes including this one on YouTube.
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In this episode of Building Your Brand, I'm chatting with David Pearson, a world-class book designer who began his career at Penguin Books before venturing out on his own. David specializes in both book covers and the internal layouts (text design) of books.
We dive deep into the "crossovers" between book design and branding, exploring how David handles the unique challenge of designing for "dead authors" while trying to capture entirely new audiences. David shares his refreshing and somewhat rebellious take on the creative process, explaining why he identifies as a "slow designer" and why he's perfectly happy staying at the starting line while everyone else races toward the latest tech.
Key Takeaways
Finding Your "Creative Fit": David emphasizes the importance of aligning your career with your personality; for him, the detail-oriented, rhythmic nature of book design was a perfect match.
The Value of Constraints: Whether it's a limited budget or a specific genre's visual "code," David finds that being "hemmed in" actually sparks more creativity.
Shapeshifting vs. Personal Style: Unlike illustrators who are often hired for a specific "look," David believes designers should be "shapeshifters" who serve the author's art rather than their own personal brand.
Collaborative Client Relationships: Moving away from the "big reveal," David has found that involving clients in the process and presenting multiple options helps them feel like partners in the creation.
The "Erosion of Struggle": David and Liz discuss the risks of AI and high-speed technology, noting that the "struggle" of the creative process is often where the most meaningful work happens.
Episode Highlights
03:32 – The "lucky" redundancy that led David from text design to the covers department at Penguin.
06:46 – The "ambling and shambling" process: Why David embraces being a slow designer
10:47 – The challenge of "repackaging" dead authors for modern audiences.
15:58 – Navigating visual codes: When to play it safe and when to "elbow" competitors out.
24:41 – Why "one concept" presentations can feel like a prison for designers.
37:34 – Philosophical worries about AI and the "speed" of modern change.
About the Guest
David Pearson is an acclaimed graphic designer known for his expertise in typography and book jacket design. After a highly successful tenure at Penguin, he established his own studio, Type as Image. 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/typeasimage/
Website: https://a-g-i.org/user/davidpearson/view/projects//
 
I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!
This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft lucylucraft.co.uk
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In this solo episode I'm sharing honestly on where I currently stand on AI. It's a topic I'm still wrestling with; from its undeniable benefits to the deeper ethical and creative concerns, this isn't a definitive take; it's a real-time reflection.
If you've been feeling conflicted, cautious, or even curious about AI, this episode opens up the conversation and invites you to think more critically about the role it plays in your work, your creativity, and your life.
Key Takeaways
You don't need to have a fixed opinion It's okay to sit in the grey area. Growth comes from questioning, exploring, and allowing your perspective to evolve over time.
Just because something is powerful doesn't mean it's harmless AI offers incredible opportunities but being intentional about how and when you use it matters more than blindly adopting it.
Your creativity is worth protecting The messy middle, the frustration, the breakthroughs that's where the magic happens. Don't rush to outsource the very process that makes your work meaningful.
Keep asking: "At what cost?" Progress without reflection can lead to regret. Staying grounded in your values will help you navigate change without losing what matters most.
Episode Highlights
01:17 – The "grey area" problem: why it's hard to form a clear opinion
02:21 – Where AI can be powerful (especially in healthcare and business)
03:05 – Major concern #1: consent, data scraping, and misuse of creative work
06:18 – Creativity, critical thinking, and what happens when we outsource our brains
08:06 – The value of craftsmanship and why human-made work still matters
11:46 – The question that keeps coming up: "At what cost?"
 
I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written, recorded and produced by me
If you like to watch your podcasts you can watch all of my solo episodes including this one on YouTube.
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In this episode I dives into the often-overlooked but essential world of typography with Alen Kapetanovic, a type designer and founder of Silver Stag Type Foundry
Alen shares his fascinating transition from civil engineering to running a large design agency, and finally finding true success and freedom through the meticulous art of type design. We explore why fonts are as impactful as color for brand mood, the technical science behind "beautiful collections of letters," and how choosing a unique typeface can elevate a brand without requiring a massive budget.
This episode is sponsored by SilverStag Type Foundry. If you're a designer looking for a typeface that really elevates your brand, SilverStag is a brilliant place to start. It's a one-person type studio creating carefully crafted fonts with multiple weights, alternates, and ligatures; all designed to help brands stand out.
Head to lizmosley.net/SLTF and use the code LIZxSLTF for 20% off.
Key Takeaways
Success is Personal: Alen redefined success by moving away from a high-pressure 15-employee agency back to solo work, prioritising freedom and time for personal life over managing 200 emails a day
Fonts Communicate Subconsciously: Like color, typography conveys emotion and mood before a single word is even read
Legibility is Non-Negotiable: A typeface must be appropriate for its context; a "display" font designed for billboards will often disappear or become illegible when used for small body text in a book or on social media
Invest in Uniqueness: Using a paid or unique typeface is a powerful way to differentiate a brand from the sea of common fonts found in tools like Canva
Typography is a Science: Good type design involves complex rules like "overshoot" and optical illusions to ensure that letters look balanced and work perfectly together as a cohesive set

Episode Highlights

04:47 - Why closing a successful 15-person agency was a move toward true freedom 
08:50 - The complexity of type design: Why it's more than just "slanting" letters for italics
12:20 - The "science" of kerning and the technical intricacies of designing a letter like 'S'
16:40 - Why context matters: Using display typefaces vs. text typefaces
21:50 - Subconscious branding: How typography conveys warmth, elegance, or power
24:30 - A critique of recent rebrands (Jaguar and Twitter/X) through a type designer's lens
34:40 - The difference between a collection of beautiful letters and a "beautiful collection"
41:40 - Settling the debate: The difference between a font and a typeface (using the "egg vs. box of eggs" analogy
About the Guest
Alen Kapetanovic is a type designer, founder of Silver Stag Type Foundry, and a podcast host.

Website: Silver Stag Type Foundry
Podcast: Alen Kapetanovic Off Script
Instagram: @silverstagtype

 
I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!
This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft lucylucraft.co.uk
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Over the last few years I have been lucky enough to speak at some incredible events including Adobe MAX London (in front of 750 people and Adobe MAX LA. This year I am speaking at Atomicon and OMR Festival in Hamburg. 
In this episode I share how I prepare for the talks I give. Every talk is different but with the help of public speaking coach Charlotte Lewis who I have previously interviewed on the podcast I have managed to come up with a process that works well for me. 
If you have done any public speaking I would love to hear your experience, and if there is anything else you would like to know from my experience let me know and I will try include it in a future episode! 
 
Episode Highlights
00:39 – My public speaking experience
02:50 – Prepping my talk without writing a script
04:26– Adjusting my talk based on the vibe in the room
06:48 – How the talk is structured
09:09 – Putting the slides together
10:57 – Practicing the talk
15:33 – Considering your audience and what they need
 
Mentioned in the Episode
My podcast episode with Charlotte Lewis - https://buildingyourbrand.net/episode/charlotte-lewis/
The Atomicon Conference - https://atomic.site/?aap=617 (affiliate link) 
I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written, recorded and produced by me
If you like to watch your podcasts you can watch all of my solo episodes including this one on YouTube.
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!