brighten creative was born from that instinct
I've always been more interested in how things come together than how they look.
My career history reads like a choose-your-own-adventure: semi-truck parts, software, project management, yoga instruction, and now virtual high school facilitator while building this business.
I was diagnosed with anxiety and ADHD in my mid-30s, and as a fresh 40-something, I'm (mostly) done apologizing for taking up space. My bag of fucks runneth near empty.
When you start over that often, you learn that people remember stories, not resumes. So that's where I start with your brand. It doesn't need to be invented. It's already there in your experience, your quirks, and all the weird detours.
You didn't build your business on quick fixes.
Your brand shouldn't be one either.
I care about fit and longevity: a brand that still works when your life or business shifts (and if you're anything like me, it will).
My perspective didn't come out of nowhere.
Since 2012, I've ping-ponged across the U.S. every 1–3 years, moved to Japan (longest home to date, and I'm not mad about it), and solo parented my kids for months at a time.
Accessibility is built in from the first draft: WCAG-compliant contrast, legible fonts, and imagery that reflects you and your audience.
accessibility and inclusion
Visuals matter, but they're never the starting point. Strategy comes first, so the design can grow and change without falling apart.
systems before surfaces
I listen before I advise, and when something isn't working, I'll tell you kindly (but I will tell you). You'll always know where things stand and what's next.
kind and direct
I don't rush decisions just to feel productive. We get clear first, so you're not redoing your brand in six months.
Clarity over urgency
count on me for:
I keep a dedicated chapstick in every place I frequent
I love reading mysteries, thrillers, and romantasy
I’m certified to teach yoga and prenatal yoga
I loathe pickles
7-Eleven is my favorite konbini
I'm a sucker for a newspaper crossword puzzle
Embracing my cougar-puberty era
I'm obsessed with Schitt's Creek
I love tattoos
I left project management to be a stay-at-home mom for ten years
My first post-college job was assigning tariff import codes to semi-truck parts
Oreos dipped in milk, always
12 Things That Probably Explain a Lot
rachel - the neuro bloom collective
Bold Brand Client
I’d describe working with Brighten Creative as having someone take the ideas, feelings and vision that have been living in your head and turn them into something you can actually see, understand and confidently share with the world.
