Check out some of the amazing tools, products, supplies, and books our team has circled for Santa this year

Creative work isn’t just colors and kerning—it’s managing the emotional load of constant feedback, deadlines, and revisions. This article unpacks the hidden labor of design, from spotting burnout before it sneaks up to setting boundaries, reframing feedback, and building a hype squad. Learn practical ways to protect your energy, keep your spark alive, and sustain your creativity in a world that always wants “just one more change.”

Deadlines, endless client emails, and pixel tweaks can drain even the most passionate designer. Burnout sneaks in when you’re running on fumes, but creativity thrives on balance, not exhaustion. This guide shows how to apply the same intention you use in design to your own life—building habits, space, and energy that protect your sanity and spark. Because the most important project you’ll ever design is the way you live.

Design isn’t decoration, it’s equity. Your brand’s visuals—logos, campaigns, packaging—are business assets that build recognition, trust, and long-term value. But paying for design doesn’t always mean you own it. This article breaks down licensing vs. ownership, how contracts protect your investment, and why treating design as intellectual property keeps your brand scalable, defensible, and primed for growth.

Your best ideas deserve more than sticky notes and screenshots. A design journal is your secret growth chart—tracking sparks, experiments, and the messy middle that makes your creativity stronger. In this article, we explore how journaling helps designers capture fleeting ideas, spot progress, and build confidence in their work. It’s a practical, playful tool for anyone ready to see their design journey unfold in real time.

Designers, stop giving away your work for free. Ownership and licensing aren’t just legal jargon—they’re your paycheck. Copyright protects what you create, trademarks cover brands, and licensing lets you control how your art is used (and keep earning from it). Contracts define the rules, so get usage terms in writing and price accordingly. Your designs are more than deliverables—they’re assets. Treat them that way, and watch your creativity pay dividends.

Design tools are evolving fast—but you don’t need to panic-scroll your way through every new acronym. From AI to AR to motion design, this guide breaks down emerging tech in a way that’s practical, witty, and actually helpful. Learn how to integrate new tools with purpose, not panic, and keep your creative edge sharp without losing your mind (or your weekend). Bonus: tips to turn those tech skills into paid services.

This psychology-backed article explores what really drives client feedback—and how creatives can respond with clarity and empathy. From loss aversion to the IKEA effect, we unpack why clients make the requests they do and how to turn those moments into stronger collaboration. Learn to navigate the human side of design and become the kind of creative partner clients trust, respect, and want to work with again. Let's build better client relationships!

Data doesn’t have to be dull. At Hart House Creative, we turn spreadsheets and stats into bold, on-brand visuals that connect and convert. This article dives into how our designers transform numbers into stories that stick—using design principles, accessibility, and real-world context to make data both stunning and strategic. Because if insights matter, they deserve to be seen, shared, and remembered.

Guests in 2025 expect more than thread count and strong Wi-Fi—they want storytelling, seamless tech, and design that delivers a full-on experience. That’s why forward-thinking hospitality brands are teaming up with creative studios instead of cookie-cutter agencies. From immersive branding to tech that actually works, here’s how design partners are helping hotels stand out—and why it’s time to consider one yourself.

Planning a pop-up or brand experience? Don’t let great moments fall flat. Without strong branding, your event is just noise. From visuals to tone to follow-up, your brand should shape every detail—before, during, and after the big day. Because if people walk away saying “that was fun… what was it for again?” you didn’t build a memory—you built a distraction. Clear, consistent branding isn’t optional. It’s the backbone of unforgettable experiences.

Design Lessons From Brands That Whisper, Not Shout In a world where graphic tees with loud logos dominate the racks, luxe athleisure has...

Discover how ornamental web design—rooted in Rococo elegance—can elevate your website with movement, depth, and personality. This approach blends decorative detail with digital strategy, offering luxury brands in fashion, hospitality, and fine art a way to stand out without sacrificing usability. Learn how to apply curves, texture, and asymmetry to create an online experience that feels intentional, expressive, and unforgettable.

Minimalism is out. Maximalism is having a moment. This article explores how brands in beauty, luxury, and entertainment can borrow from the playful elegance of Rococo style—think swirling patterns, asymmetry, pastel palettes, and gilded details—to break the grid and stand out. It's branding with charm, wit, and just the right amount of drama. Welcome to the Rococo Revival.

Struggling with tight deadlines and branding chaos? Learn how outsourcing design can streamline hospitality marketing and ease team stress.

Refresh your marketing for 2025! Stay true to your brand with actionable tips to refine your visuals, voice, strategy, and color palette.

Is your brand stuck in the past? Discover when and how to refresh your logo and branding to align with your growth and attract dream client

We can undoubtedly find common ground in the stress of it all. So how do we find our own ”tiding of comfort and joy” this holiday season?

Boost creativity and collaboration in your design practice by embracing improv techniques to foster flexibility, resilience, and innovation.

Your Guide To Homegrown Goods Shopping locally is a small win for small biz and a big step for the win in our communities (all year long). It can have several significant benefits for business owners in our hometowns, communities, and the economy. And just in case you’re still not convinced of the superiority of this shopping strategy or the need for your Aunt Carol to have a new Ficus or an enamel pin that says “It’s Called a Hoagie,” well here are some compelling reasons to