Squarestylist's Journal

Dear First name / there,

 

The month of May has found me in a state of creative flow—dreaming, doing, developing.

You may have been here before, where I am now: sifting through pages and pages of inspiration; going back and forth with like-minded creatives; then working from scratch, one building block at a time. Sometimes I stare so long at the screen that I lose track of both time and perspective. That’s always my cue to rest so I can return to my work with fresh eyes.

It seems the longer these breaks stretch on, the more insightful they become. I had spent my April getting lost in the winding alleyways of Spain, thoughts hovering overhead like scattered rain showers. Where do I go from here? Should I stay where I am or take a turn towards another direction? These questions mattered to me both in business and in life.

I’m glad I took some time away, because now I’m returning with answers as well as a renewed appreciation for what I do. That is to say: Things are changing here at Squarestylist.

 

What started out as a personal project is no longer just about me. This brand has grown to include hundreds of students enrolled in our signature programs and thousands more following us intently. My team and I seek to acknowledge that as we turn Squarestylist as a creative resource library, a place to draw inspiration from curated resources and featured sites alike.

 

If this piques your curiosity, you can scroll down to catch a glimpse of our digital work in progress. It will be worth your time, I promise.

 

This newsletter is the first of many that I’m calling the Squarestylist’s Journal, a loose sketchbook of sorts for design and coding exploration. You can expect it every other Wednesday, right when we creatives are most in need of inspiration to strike us.

I already have a few topics lined up for this space over the next few weeks, but as always I’m just a message away if there’s something in particular you’d like to hear from me.

So, what’s kept you occupied this month? I hope you’re finding fulfillment in what you’re working towards, whatever it may be.

P.S. If you find that this newsletter isn’t for you, feel free to unsubscribe below so my emails no longer reach your inbox.

 

Our digital home is still under construction, but I’m delighted to show you around what we have finished so far. With the bespoke approach of Char Gladden, we’re unfolding a new experience measured in knowledge shared and lives touched rather than stiff, impersonal metrics.

I used to be an avid Adobe XD user, but lately I’m finding novelty in Figma. While both are prototyping tools, Figma has a clear advantage for collaboration: Each feature is designed within the context of team members working side by side, even when they’re hundreds of miles apart. I've also been loving Figma as my go-to tool in creating slide decks. Here's a preview of how I leverage the animation tools within Figma to craft interactive presentations.

Our brand’s website isn’t the only project we have in the works. We’ve also worked closely with Hello Nature to unearth an organic style for our first signature course, Standout Squarespace. Ellen and Michelle, the dream team behind Hello Nature, have been members of Standout Squarespace since our founding years. Hence, my heart was set on entrusting them with this rebrand project. Can't wait to share more of what we've been working on!

 

The landing page has yet to materialize, but I think my moodboard for this rebrand can give you a good idea of the creative direction. Which aspect are you most excited about?