Oh what a night! 💙

Y2K

Reunion 

Celebrating the THS Class of 2000’s 25th High School Reunion

Bringing on the feels

Getting home safely, as I opened my parking gate and rolled over the threshold, I had a twinge of something I could only describe as what the Grinch felt like when his heart filled up with joy, a tiny misting of the eyes, and a resolve that, somehow, I had missed before. I had just witnessed an entirely diverse group of classmates from my childhood come together and experience a friendship and grounding that I could only hope for! WARNING: Nostalgic reflection coming soon …

This will be more of a journal entry than a business blog post …

Walking for miles

Even though we all had very different journeys in high school, they felt so extreme 25 years ago. But during reunion night, I heard from classmates who thought about the pain they had caused others and how they want to do their part in giving back to the class, heard about challenges that folks had been presented with but were still here to celebrate and honor others, paths that classmates were unexpected lead down to find their soul mates, and I heard about classmates kid’s fears of a first-time white knuckled highway flyover while visiting Houston and the excitement and fear that came over them when experiencing firsts. As adults, we take for granted these little things — what a night!

One for the books

It was an event for the books! For the last 6 months, a small group of disparate classmates, living in different cities and coming from very different backgrounds had one thing in common, we attended the blue and white James E. Taylor High School made for success in Katy, Texas over 25 years ago! With enthusiasm and a dab of school spirit, we all set forth to achieve the ‘greatest reunion’ there ever was (or at least a memorable experience for our friends!). Together we made the night spectacular — but it wasn’t because it was flashy, or “cool” — it was the kindness and joy shown by so many that really stood out made my eyes a little bit “misty” at the end!

Bad rap

I get it, a high school reunion doesn’t always bring forward all the warm fuzzies like the memory of your 1998 chenille sweater! Some people say it was a ‘passion project’, but I think it was just helping out an old friend. Sometimes you are brought down a path that you wouldn’t normally seek for yourself, and it was worth diving right into that vintage No Fear T-shirt and being surprised by it all! (IYKYK)

Final revelation

Yes, I did sacrifice my time for (approx.) 743 of my closest friends 😁… and for the ~130 friends that showed up, it was so worth the sacrifice to be a witness to the joy and kindness throughout the evening! Yes, there was fear along the way, some of us were not from the “cool” social circles that existed a quarter century ago. Even with all our past differences, I think my classmates can all agree that we have more in common, than not.

● Your life can change in an instant, cherish the moments.

Supporting our

Y2K reunion

Below is a range of media elements that were using throughout the evening, at the crossroads of engagement and reflection, making it a night to remember!

Photo collage reveals made the slideshow fun and engaging. Media was uploaded to the Kululu app, giving all classmates access to download and share photos and videos that resonated with them on their socials. 💙 Animated millennial-themed stickers and photo cutouts gave the slideshow a vintage scrapbook feel.

These “snappy” QR code graphics were placed around the venue and displayed throughout the slideshow to encourage interacting with the Kululu app, where classmates could upload their personal memories throughout the event.

Entryway poster

Sponsorship slide samples

In Memoriam slide samples

Then and now slide samples

Slideshow background

Text message backgrounds were available in the Kululu app to write notes to classmates highlighting memories.

Cherish the little moments, honor your friends, and enjoy the time you have left ... I have a feeling we won’t be waiting another 15 yrs to reflect on the wonderful and unique people we have all become!

🪽Stop winging it: what a real designer does for your brand

Seriously!

Your brand doesn’t start with your product. It starts when someone sees your logo, your packaging, your site header, your social post — before they know what you do, they already have a sense of who you are.

If your visuals feel thrown together, your customers and clients will assume the same about your business. But if your brand looks confident, people will stay curious. They read more. They remember you. That’s what a professional designer helps you build — a visual language that communicates trust before you’ve said a word.

Photo via Adobe Stock

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Cohesion that doesn’t break down

Branding fails fast when it’s inconsistent. A different font here, a slightly off-color there, a stretched logo on your invoice — it chips away at trust. A professional designer puts an end to that by locking in core assets and making sure everything feels like it came from the same brain. The result is a kind of invisible glue that keeps all your materials aligned — web, print, social, email, and beyond. That tight coherence helps your business look prepared, intentional, and reliable. When you increase credibility and professionalism through visual unity, it shows up in how people respond.

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First impressions that stick

If someone lands on your site or walks past your booth and sees a half-baked logo or poorly composed banner, the damage is instant. Whether fair or not, people equate design quality with business quality. A clean, striking identity helps you get taken seriously from the start. You’re not playing catch-up after a bad first look. You’re already ahead. How branding shapes customer perception often determines whether that second look happens at all.

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Visuals that speak for you

Design isn’t decoration. It’s communication. Colors, layout, and typography are how you show your personality and values without needing a paragraph to explain them. A good designer builds in that clarity from the start, so your brand speaks for itself across every touchpoint. That kind of visual consistency builds recognition fast and keeps your message from getting muddied. The best brands establish a professional brand image that tells the truth at a glance — no pitch needed.

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Time, efficiency, and knowing when to upgrade

Every DIY detour — every Canva panic late at night, every logo tweak that throws off the layout — costs more than you think. Designers give you time back, not just by building better assets but by preventing all the bad ones. The tools work better. The output stays sharp. You avoid the mess of mismatched colors, stretched files, and assets that don’t scale. That kind of design system can save you valuable time and money, especially once you're growing. If you're launching a new offer, expanding your market, or feeling like your current visuals can't keep up — that's your signal. It's time.

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DIY-friendly tools for day-to-day visuals

Once a designer hands off your brand system — logo files, color codes, templates, type hierarchy — you can do a lot on your own without compromising quality. The trick is using tools that let you apply their work, not dilute it.

If you ever need to crop a product shot or logo out of a busy photo, the ability to isolate your logo or product photos helps you stay on-brand without going back to your designer.

Want to turn a long article or internal report into something visual? You can generate clean infographic layouts in just a few clicks.

Need to build a pitch deck or training material without messing up the format? Slide formatting options let you apply your brand visuals smoothly.

And for everyday promos or event posts, it’s easy to stay visually aligned without relying on templates that don't match your look.

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Get a signature look that stands out

If you're ready to stop duct-taping your brand visuals and start looking like the business you’re becoming, consider working with someone who does this daily. A signature look that stands out isn’t about looking fancy — it’s about looking consistent, clear, and credible. When you’ve got the right designer, they don’t just hand you pretty graphics. They build a system around your brand. One that saves you time, boosts customer confidence, and holds up everywhere you show up. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s cohesion. And cohesion makes you unforgettable.

Hiring a graphic designer isn’t a luxury. It’s a multiplier. It takes everything you’re already doing — selling, marketing, building relationships — and puts it in the best possible light. When you look professional, you’re treated like a professional. You stop having to over-explain what makes you legit. You’ve already proven you’re worth it — visually. That’s power. And in business, power gives you options. More leads. Better referrals. Higher pricing. All because you decided to stop winging your visuals and start owning them.

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Want brand visuals that people instantly trust? Work with Allison Clark to build design systems that make your business unforgettable.

This post is sponsored by Adobe.

Animation Smackdown 🤯

Breaking it down with you on the animation ‘free-fall’ I was having with this “beat”— when lyrics attack! 🎧

The breakdown

I took the liberty of including the still compositions below so you can see what the original graphic format looked like. There is something you should consider when planning to convert still graphics to motion—you should make sure that the pre-comps are interesting as well, like a poster or infographic, this styling will follow through the animation, so you need to consider the communication style in these. Also, consider what the thumbnail of the final media might be. With that in mind, remember some social media channels do not allow you to choose your thumbnail such as LinkedIn. (YouTube does, so that is something to consider)

Remember, this gives you a starting point to talk about how a storyboard or flow might shape up, for instance, would your brand be ok for the words to flow onto the screen at different times, or are you looking to emphasize elements over time? Do you want the wording or specific phrases on the screen for the entirety of the animation? There are many directions to take your creative work, but your motion design project may be dependent on the media channels that are useful for you, leading to your final creative direction.

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Still compositions a.k.a. pre-comps

Some considerations 🤔

1. Final size and format of final media should always be considered during planning.

2. Where the imagery will live (advert, social media, will it live on LinkedIn, or will it be evergreen on YouTube)?

3. Will the final channel(s) allow you to upload thumbnails, or will the platform do the picking?

If you would like to hear about more ways animation can improve your branding and communications, check out my LinkedIn post. Happy animating!

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Continuous learning | Enrolled in JavaScript Programming, part of the Meta Front-End Developer Certificate | School of Motion Courses including Kickstart and Animation Bootcamp

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Vibing and Tribe-ing

Linking up with colleagues can be a reminder of how much growth, gratitude, and camaraderie have shaped your journey!

“Why testimonials are powerful & how they work for you:

They validate your skills.
They reflect your work ethics.
They build trust with future employers & clients.
They capture your impact.
They strengthen your brand.

”

Over the past few weeks, I have had time to reflect on the incredible experiences and relationships I have built throughout my career. One of the most rewarding aspects of my work has been collaborating with teams and peers who continually inspire, challenge, and bring out the best in each other. We have delivered magnificent products, solved problems in elegant form, mastered managing from afar, and journeyed together (literally) across the world to create experiences that elevated industry expectations and delighted top-tier customers.

I’m incredibly grateful for the kind words shared by colleagues and industry leaders—words that reinforce the passion I bring to my work every day. Their support not only fuels my drive to keep exploring but also reminds me why I love what I do.

A strong professional network isn’t just about connections—it’s about proof. Testimonials serve as tangible evidence of not just your expertise, but also your character. Here’s why they matter:

1. They validate your skills – A well-crafted testimonial highlights real-world examples of your abilities in action, from problem-solving to leadership.

2. They reflect your work ethic – What people say about you speaks volumes about your reliability, collaboration style, and dedication.

3. They build trust with future employers and clients – Social proof is powerful. Whether you are job hunting or growing your business, endorsements provide a third-party perspective on your strengths.

4. They capture your impact – Sometimes, it’s hard to articulate our own accomplishments. Testimonials showcase the influence you’ve had on teams, projects, and company culture.

5. They strengthen your brand – Beyond resumes and portfolios, testimonials add a personal touch that differentiates you from others in your field.

“

Building a strong professional network is essential for career growth, and testimonials from colleagues can be a powerful way to showcase your expertise and credibility.

”

As I look toward my next opportunity, I remain committed to strategic storytelling, brand elevation, and impactful communication—delivering results with creativity, precision, and a people-first approach.

To those who have supported me along the way—thank you! If you or someone in your network is looking for a seasoned creative director, brand strategist, or communications expert, let’s connect. I’d love to bring my expertise to a team that values vision, clarity, collaboration, and innovation.

Have you received or given a great testimonial recently? Drop a comment—I’d love to hear how testimonials have helped you!

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📕Book nook corner: Lately, I have been reading the book ‘Linked: Conquer LinkedIn. Get your dream job. Own your future.’ and picking up valuable insights on job searching, networking, and building authentic professional relationships. One key takeaway? Your next opportunity often comes from the strength of your network—not just who you know, but how well you engage and nurture those connections. Think about it, who knows you better than the gal sitting next to you for 8 hours a day!