How Rebranding Helped Me Rediscover Myself as a Designer

Have you ever felt like you've lost a part of yourself along the way? All too recently, I was in that very position. In the pursuit of creating captivating visuals and engaging experiences for clients, I had unknowingly distanced myself from my own identity. It took a personal rebranding journey to discover the deep connection between human design and branding design.

Throughout my life and career, I had poured my heart and soul into taking care of others. Whether designing for clients, or changing diapers, to never ending days of meetings, to making piles of PB&J’s for kids. I meticulously studied target audiences, delved into market research, and dissected marketing strategies, all to ensure my designs resonated with the intended consumers. But in the midst of this personal and professional fervor, I had somewhat neglected to consider how any of these principles applied to my own personal brand.

At the time, I had a boss that was relentless about developing my personal brand within the company I worked for. “You should be on podcasts, and invited to Ted talks and discussion panels…” then proceeded to advise me on how I should go about it. Between the demands of managing projects, designers, upper-management, clients, internal initiatives, mentoring, and having some semblance of a home life - there simply wasn’t any time to dedicate to my personal brand. There was nothing left of me to give. It wasn't until this turning point that I realized I had become a stranger to myself. I had no idea what I truly wanted anymore in life or my career. Even when I had downtime, I didn’t resonate with any of the things that used to bring me joy. It was the truest “something’s gotta give” moment. Feeling lost, I made space for myself and made the decision to embark on a journey of self-discovery. It was an opportunity to reconnect with my passions, values, and authentic self. By happenstance, I fell into a process that would uncover the fundamental connection between human design and my personal brand.

If you’re not sure what human design is, allow me to tell you. Human Design is a spiritual system that combines astrology, the I Ching, the Kabbalah, and other esoteric principles to provide insights into an individual's unique personality and life purpose. It explores human energy dynamics, genetic codes, and personal decision-making strategies, helping people understand themselves and make more aligned choices. In the purest sense - it’s “hippie-woo-woo”.

So of course, I downloaded the chart and jumped down the rabbit hole of my gates and channels, researched what the open and defined definitions revealed about my innate personality and saw the correlation of my past experiences and my gut reactions. While I was skeptical throughout the process, I couldn’t help but feel like it actually made sense in many respects. So much so, a revelation occurred.

I began by introspecting, diving deep into the core of who I was as a person and what I wanted to represent. Just as a brand needs to have a clear vision and purpose, I needed to find my own personal narrative. I deeply questioned my authenticity, explored my strengths and weaknesses, and identified the unique qualities that set me apart as a human being. It was this voyage of self-awareness that allowed me to re-craft a brand story that was genuine and relatable, but most importantly - authentic.

Next came the visual aspect. I treated myself as a client, analyzing my own target audience —those who resonated with my philosophy and values. I created an extremely in-depth personal analysis based on my human design chart. I experimented with colors, typography, and visual elements that embodied my personality and communicated my vision and mission, voice and tone. It was essential to strike a balance between consistency and evolution, while staying true to my roots and embracing personal growth. There was in fact, a constant battle with myself on staying true to my newly rediscovered authenticity or presenting what I thought others would rather engage with. Thankfully, authenticity won the fight. The attempt at breaking my “people pleasing” habits proved to be much easier said than done.

As I went through the process (which is so much harder when you’re the client), I discovered that the principles of human design were intricately intertwined with those of branding. Just as individuals are multidimensional and ever-evolving, brands too must adapt to the ebb and flow of the world. I realized that my personal journey mirrored the challenges faced by the brands I worked with and consequently had much more empathy for my clients on the other side of the table.

Through rebranding, I not only regained my sense of self and confidence, but also found a renewed passion for my work. The process gave me a new perspective that human design and branding could be woven into a insightful journey. By understanding and embracing these elements, we can create designs that resonate on a profound level.

So, if you find yourself feeling disconnected, take a step back and consider embarking on a personal “woo-woo” journey. It's an opportunity to rediscover your identity and tap into the remarkable connection between our humanity and design. We can embrace transformative power of branding and let it guide us back to the heart and soul of our work. After all, when your personal brand reflects your true self, the impact on your design and the world can be truly extraordinary.