Building your Brand

In this solo episode, I'm sharing two early client mistakes that knocked my confidence; but ultimately shaped the way I run my business today. I talk vulnerably about my previously poor boundaries and some communication breakdowns, and how these experiences taught me lessons I still carry into every project. If you've ever had a client situation go wrong, this episode will remind you: you're not alone and you can come back stronger. Key Takeaways Your gut is part of your business strategy If something feels off; whether it's pricing, scope, or a client fit; it's worth paying attention to. Ignoring it often leads to bigger problems later. Clear boundaries protect both you and your clients Saying yes to the wrong work (or an unclear brief) can create resentment and misalignment. Strong boundaries create better outcomes for everyone. Communication is everything (and more!) Under-communicating is one of the fastest ways to lose trust. Over-explain your process, your decisions, and your expectations. Mistakes don't define you; how you respond does Every business owner will face rejection, missteps, or unhappy clients. Growth comes from reflecting, adjusting, and moving forward with better systems. Episode Highlights 00:05 - Why mistakes matter more than wins 01:05 - Mistake #1: Ignoring my gut & poor boundaries 04:28 - Mistake #2: Lack of clarity & weak presentation 06:17 - The confidence knock & what changed 07:45 - The biggest lesson: communication & process 08:36 - Trusting your gut in business decisions 09:23 - Rejection, failure & moving forward as a business owner I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written, recorded and produced by me If you like to watch your podcasts you can watch all of my solo episodes including this one on YouTube. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In this episode of Building Your Brand, I'm chatting with David Pearson, a world-class book designer who began his career at Penguin Books before venturing out on his own. David specializes in both book covers and the internal layouts (text design) of books. We dive deep into the "crossovers" between book design and branding, exploring how David handles the unique challenge of designing for "dead authors" while trying to capture entirely new audiences. David shares his refreshing and somewhat rebellious take on the creative process, explaining why he identifies as a "slow designer" and why he's perfectly happy staying at the starting line while everyone else races toward the latest tech. This episode is sponsored by SilverStag Type Foundry. If you're a designer looking for a typeface that really elevates your brand, SilverStag is a brilliant place to start. It's a one-person type studio creating carefully crafted fonts with multiple weights, alternates, and ligatures; all designed to help brands stand out. Head to lizmosley.net/SLTF and use the code LIZxSLTF for 20% off. Key Takeaways Finding Your "Creative Fit": David emphasizes the importance of aligning your career with your personality; for him, the detail-oriented, rhythmic nature of book design was a perfect match. The Value of Constraints: Whether it's a limited budget or a specific genre's visual "code," David finds that being "hemmed in" actually sparks more creativity. Shapeshifting vs. Personal Style: Unlike illustrators who are often hired for a specific "look," David believes designers should be "shapeshifters" who serve the author's art rather than their own personal brand. Collaborative Client Relationships: Moving away from the "big reveal," David has found that involving clients in the process and presenting multiple options helps them feel like partners in the creation. The "Erosion of Struggle": David and Liz discuss the risks of AI and high-speed technology, noting that the "struggle" of the creative process is often where the most meaningful work happens. Episode Highlights 03:32 – The "lucky" redundancy that led David from text design to the covers department at Penguin. 06:46 – The "ambling and shambling" process: Why David embraces being a slow designer 10:47 – The challenge of "repackaging" dead authors for modern audiences. 15:58 – Navigating visual codes: When to play it safe and when to "elbow" competitors out. 24:41 – Why "one concept" presentations can feel like a prison for designers. 37:34 – Philosophical worries about AI and the "speed" of modern change. About the Guest David Pearson is an acclaimed graphic designer known for his expertise in typography and book jacket design. After a highly successful tenure at Penguin, he established his own studio, Type as Image. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/typeasimage/ Website: https://a-g-i.org/user/davidpearson/view/projects// I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft lucylucraft.co.uk If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In this solo episode I'm sharing honestly on where I currently stand on AI. It's a topic I'm still wrestling with; from its undeniable benefits to the deeper ethical and creative concerns, this isn't a definitive take; it's a real-time reflection. If you've been feeling conflicted, cautious, or even curious about AI, this episode opens up the conversation and invites you to think more critically about the role it plays in your work, your creativity, and your life. Key Takeaways You don't need to have a fixed opinion It's okay to sit in the grey area. Growth comes from questioning, exploring, and allowing your perspective to evolve over time. Just because something is powerful doesn't mean it's harmless AI offers incredible opportunities but being intentional about how and when you use it matters more than blindly adopting it. Your creativity is worth protecting The messy middle, the frustration, the breakthroughs that's where the magic happens. Don't rush to outsource the very process that makes your work meaningful. Keep asking: "At what cost?" Progress without reflection can lead to regret. Staying grounded in your values will help you navigate change without losing what matters most. Episode Highlights 01:17 – The "grey area" problem: why it's hard to form a clear opinion 02:21 – Where AI can be powerful (especially in healthcare and business) 03:05 – Major concern #1: consent, data scraping, and misuse of creative work 06:18 – Creativity, critical thinking, and what happens when we outsource our brains 08:06 – The value of craftsmanship and why human-made work still matters 11:46 – The question that keeps coming up: "At what cost?" I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written, recorded and produced by me If you like to watch your podcasts you can watch all of my solo episodes including this one on YouTube. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In this episode I dives into the often-overlooked but essential world of typography with Alen Kapetanovic, a type designer and founder of Silver Stag Type Foundry Alen shares his fascinating transition from civil engineering to running a large design agency, and finally finding true success and freedom through the meticulous art of type design. We explore why fonts are as impactful as color for brand mood, the technical science behind "beautiful collections of letters," and how choosing a unique typeface can elevate a brand without requiring a massive budget. This episode is sponsored by SilverStag Type Foundry. If you're a designer looking for a typeface that really elevates your brand, SilverStag is a brilliant place to start. It's a one-person type studio creating carefully crafted fonts with multiple weights, alternates, and ligatures; all designed to help brands stand out. Head to lizmosley.net/SLTF and use the code LIZxSLTF for 20% off. Key Takeaways Success is Personal: Alen redefined success by moving away from a high-pressure 15-employee agency back to solo work, prioritising freedom and time for personal life over managing 200 emails a day Fonts Communicate Subconsciously: Like color, typography conveys emotion and mood before a single word is even read Legibility is Non-Negotiable: A typeface must be appropriate for its context; a "display" font designed for billboards will often disappear or become illegible when used for small body text in a book or on social media Invest in Uniqueness: Using a paid or unique typeface is a powerful way to differentiate a brand from the sea of common fonts found in tools like Canva Typography is a Science: Good type design involves complex rules like "overshoot" and optical illusions to ensure that letters look balanced and work perfectly together as a cohesive set Episode Highlights 04:47 - Why closing a successful 15-person agency was a move toward true freedom 08:50 - The complexity of type design: Why it's more than just "slanting" letters for italics 12:20 - The "science" of kerning and the technical intricacies of designing a letter like 'S' 16:40 - Why context matters: Using display typefaces vs. text typefaces 21:50 - Subconscious branding: How typography conveys warmth, elegance, or power 24:30 - A critique of recent rebrands (Jaguar and Twitter/X) through a type designer's lens 34:40 - The difference between a collection of beautiful letters and a "beautiful collection" 41:40 - Settling the debate: The difference between a font and a typeface (using the "egg vs. box of eggs" analogy About the Guest Alen Kapetanovic is a type designer, founder of Silver Stag Type Foundry, and a podcast host. Website: Silver Stag Type Foundry Podcast: Alen Kapetanovic Off Script Instagram: @silverstagtype I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft lucylucraft.co.uk If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Over the last few years I have been lucky enough to speak at some incredible events including Adobe MAX London (in front of 750 people and Adobe MAX LA. This year I am speaking at Atomicon and OMR Festival in Hamburg. In this episode I share how I prepare for the talks I give. Every talk is different but with the help of public speaking coach Charlotte Lewis who I have previously interviewed on the podcast I have managed to come up with a process that works well for me. If you have done any public speaking I would love to hear your experience, and if there is anything else you would like to know from my experience let me know and I will try include it in a future episode! Episode Highlights 00:39 – My public speaking experience 02:50 – Prepping my talk without writing a script 04:26– Adjusting my talk based on the vibe in the room 06:48 – How the talk is structured 09:09 – Putting the slides together 10:57 – Practicing the talk 15:33 – Considering your audience and what they need Mentioned in the Episode My podcast episode with Charlotte Lewis - https://buildingyourbrand.net/episode/charlotte-lewis/ The Atomicon Conference - https://atomic.site/?aap=617 (affiliate link) I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written, recorded and produced by me If you like to watch your podcasts you can watch all of my solo episodes including this one on YouTube. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Today on the podcast, I've invited two of my closest friends, Hannah Isted and Lois Seco, to chat about another vulnerable topic: dealing with professional jealousy. Last time we spoke, we tackled our fear of success, and this time we are diving into the messy feelings of comparison and envy. I am sure everyone has experienced professional jealousy at some point, and honestly, I feel it pretty regularly. In this episode, we chat about how to extract useful information from your jealousy, why taking action is the best antidote to comparison, and the danger of letting the social media algorithm dictate your self-worth. This is the perfect episode for you if you've ever experienced jealousy (which, let's face it, is most of us!) This episode is sponsored by SilverStag Type Foundry. If you're a designer looking for a typeface that really elevates your brand, SilverStag is a brilliant place to start. It's a one-person type studio creating carefully crafted fonts with multiple weights, alternates, and ligatures; all designed to help brands stand out. Head to lizmosley.net/SLTF and use the code LIZxSLTF for 20% off. Key Takeaways: Jealousy is information: Jealousy often gives you information about what you actually want. However, sometimes you might realise you don't even want the specific thing someone else has; you are actually just jealous of the confidence with which they are showing up. Take action to shift the energy: Hannah shares how she felt jealous seeing videos of groups of girls hanging out, so she took action and started her own group, which now has around 200 people. Taking action is a great way to stop yourself from sitting and stewing in jealousy. The algorithm feeds comparison: Lois discusses how planning her "Creative Kin" events caused the algorithm to feed her content from everyone else doing similar things, which immediately made her feel like her own event wasn't good enough. It is important to remember that the algorithm doesn't know what is actually helpful for your mental health. A rising tide lifts all boats: Having successful people around you—even if you feel a pang of jealousy—is a good thing. If you choose to cheer your friends on, their success often opens doors for you and helps lift everyone up. You don't know the whole story: It is so easy to be jealous of someone's end result without realising the sacrifices, late nights, and completely different circumstances that got them there. We often quickly create our own stories around how someone's success came about, which aren't always true. Episode Highlights: 02:00 – Recapping the last episode on the fear of success and introducing today's topic of professional jealousy. 04:00 – Liz's revelation: sometimes you aren't jealous of the thing, you are just jealous of the confidence. 11:00 – Hannah explains how taking action shifts the energy of jealousy, using her 200-person friendship group as an example. 15:00 – Lois talks about how the algorithm fed her comparison when she started her Creative Kin workshops. 30:00 – Dealing with competitive feelings and reframing them so you can genuinely cheer other people on. 40:00 – Remembering that you rarely see the full story behind someone else's success on social media. 45:00 – Lois breaks down the psychological difference between jealousy and envy. About The Guests: Hannah Isted runs HiCommunications and is the author of The Best 90 Days Ever, a book that teaches business owners how to promote what they do in 10 minutes a day. She also runs a membership by the same name; sign up here (aff link) You can find her on Instagram at @hicommunications Lois Seco is a contemporary abstract artist and the host of the Creative Kin workshops in South Wales. You can find her on Instagram at @loisseco Mentioned in this episode: Silver Stag Type Foundry: Get 20% off beautiful, versatile typefaces using the code LizXSLTF at lizmosley.net/sltf Episode 178: Help, I'm Succeeding! (And Other Rational Fears) with Hannah Isted & Lois Seco I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft lucylucraft.co.uk If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In this solo episode, (recorded in my hotel room in London!) I'm sharing three memberships I'm currently part of and genuinely love; and why I think memberships can be such a powerful way to build community as a freelancer or small business owner. When you run your own business, it can often feel like the people around you don't fully understand what you do. That's why finding spaces where people get it can make such a difference; not just for practical advice, but for encouragement, accountability, and support. I talk through three memberships that have supported me in different ways, from helping me stay consistent with marketing, to finding community, to navigating the realities of running a business alongside family life. If you've been craving more connection or support in your business, this episode will give you a few great places to start. Key Takeaways Surrounding yourself with people who truly understand your work changes everything. When you're in the right community, you feel supported, encouraged, and far less alone in your business. Simplifying your marketing makes consistency possible. When the actions feel manageable, you're far more likely to show up; and those small, regular efforts add up over time. Visibility matters most when you feel busiest. Staying consistent, even in small ways, helps you break out of the feast-or-famine cycle and build long-term stability. The rooms you put yourself in shape the opportunities you receive. When you're connected to the right people, referrals, collaborations, and clients tend to follow naturally. Your business becomes more sustainable when your support fits your life. The right community will meet you where you are; whether you're growing, freelancing, or balancing work alongside family life. Episode Highlights 00:20 – Why memberships matter as a freelancer or business owner 01:27 – "The Best 90 Days Ever" & 10-minute marketing 06:43 – Being Freelance membership & community support 08:04 – Doing It For The Kids membership & balancing business with family 10:28 – Final thoughts & how to find the right community Mentioned in the Episode The Best 90 Days Ever (Aff link) https://april-2026-the-best-90-days-ever.teachery.co/90-day-membership?a=pjaDmq4T Being Freelance https://www.beingfreelance.com/ Doing It For The Kids https://doingitforthekids.net I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written, recorded and produced by me If you like to watch your podcasts you can watch all of my solo episodes including this one on YouTube. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!