While much of the world shut down and drastically pivoted over the last year, Joneshaus stepped into a number of new opportunities. We find ourselves feeling deep gratitude as we look back at this year’s doors to opportunity and abundance.
It was also a year of deep reflection as our experiences opened the doors to a deeper appreciation for literally everything, from past connections to ongoing collaborations to the gift of recovery, as well as revenue gains.
Here‘s what we find ourselves appreciating at the end of 2021:
Illustration by Sharna Fulton. Find more of her work on Instagram: @sharnafulton
The feeling of “home” in a brand.
Just as we design our homes to reflect our true essence and surround us with comfort and pleasure, we design our brands to embody the qualities we most want to amplify. As I contemplated my own brand origin story, I realized that my brand style — “Simple. Clean. Modern.” — also reflects how I prefer to keep my home. I’m comfortable within an environment with that aesthetic.
As I began some home renovations, I also realized how much refreshing a home is similar to refreshing a brand. We tend to grow and evolve over time, thus shifting our needs and preferences for a space. Similarly, as our business grows, our brand may need a refresh in order to match that expansion.
Print still matters.
Email, social media, and online ads all provide optimal flexibility and reach; however, the tactile nature of a printed piece has yet to lose its impact. In fact, we believe that the current focus on digital platforms makes printed pieces even more noticeable. Print remains an important tool for reinforcing branding and increasing trust — and print jobs still bring us significant revenue.
This year, we helped HOBO Bags design a series of three printed sales catalogs: Fall 2021, Holiday 2021, and Spring 2022 (our largest so far). It's inspiring to get a sneak peek into the fashion world and see how much fashion relies on print. Print was chosen as the medium so that HOBO’s styles and products would be even more memorable to sales reps and retail partners.
The difference a roadmap makes.
We can’t possibly reach expert-level status in every subject; it’s time to relax the pressure of expectations. With such limited “free time” in our lives, knowing exactly where we’re going helps us discern the best tools to be efficient and effective. A roadmap can prevent us from wandering endlessly in a sea of distraction.
As many aspects of work and daily life shift online, it’s more important than ever to be present on social media channels, share up-to-date information, and connect with an eager, active audience. This year, we released a Social Media Roadmap product so that you, too, can move directly towards social media success.
Invaluable relationships.
A true relationship of any sort grows from shared experiences over time. It’s not transactional. Costs and benefits don’t matter. When potential profit isn’t the reason for a new connection, relationships can become more supportive than you’d imagined.
A friend of mine from Grady Health Foundation and VeloCity contacted me this year to help her rebrand and redesign two websites; our friendship began with a conversation at a gym years ago and has continued to grow.
Last month, I hired a proofreader with ties to my hometown of Savannah. We had met online in April through a Facebook group for creating your dreams when I had posted my dream home. The persistence of our friendship over the last few months resulted in something fruitful.
An executive creative director with whom I worked closely from 1996-1999 referred JonesHaus for a large-scale branding project in the mass timber space. We helped this funded startup with the following initiatives: brand platform and strategy, brand identity and color palette, website and brand video.
We also forged a relationship with a new business associate; she opened the doors to several branding projects for Keep Savannah Beautiful.
The creativity that comes after rest.
Anyone who’s ever been active understands that recovery is essential for growth. In fact, it’s during the periods of rest (especially sleep) when your body rebuilds into a stronger version of itself. A workout literally breaks you down, just as a continual workload can break down your ability to conceive of and implement new ideas.
In August, I allowed myself to take a break from my usual intense and unrelenting workload. Once I settled into the much-needed period of rest, I experienced an unexpected burst of creativity, and was ready to begin the next HOBO catalog.
Strong foundations.
While we’ve been taught to maintain a “growth mindset,” and it’s easy to get swept up in the quest for continual self-improvement, we can also benefit from stepping back to appreciate our foundations.
I was hired to refresh a client’s brand with a new identity, platform, and strategy. In order to move forward, however, it was essential that we look back at their foundation. How and why did they begin? What events informed their evolution? What original seeds still remain? And how can we carry those forward?
I took a creative road trip to my hometown of Savannah, Georgia, which allowed me to both recharge and gather some fresh inspiration from that foundation. You can read more about what I discovered in my road trip debriefing.
I also took a look at my own origin story, and realized that my family played a large part in my choice of creative path. My brother pursued photography while I pursued design; however, our creative roots influenced us both. Learn more about my realization that creativity runs in my family.
Photo ©Robert D. Jones Photography. View more of Rob’s work on his website.
Deep Gratitude
As we say goodbye to 2021, we find deep gratitude for this year’s opportunities. JonesHaus experienced significant revenue gains and client growth over the course of 2021. During a time when doors closed for so many, we saw new doors opening over and over again — and we hope such wonderful opportunities continue to knock in 2022.
Don’t hesitate to knock on our (virtual) door when you're ready for a brand refresh, print campaign, or a new name for your latest endeavor. We’re always ready to help you strike a chord with your current fans, as well as expand your reach.