Business

Could You Be Our Next Project Manager?

The first part of this year has brought some shifts in how we do things at Upswept. Some of those changes are great, but there has also been the occasional sad note: we had to say goodbye to Lexx, who stepped down from her position. She’s been with us since the early days, and she …

Read more

Your Brand is Something to Lean Against

Branding is an important part of running your own business, but it’s hard to do when you’re first starting out. Your vision might not be 100% in-place, but don’t let yourself believe that you’re “not big enough” to build an effective brand! There are plenty of reasons to start putting the pieces of your brand together …

Read more

Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

When it comes to branding your business, you may have to consider some crazy ideas. When you’re looking to make yourself stand out among other businesses, you probably won’t get very far doing exactly what “the other guys” did. You’re different from them, and you’ll need to find your own path. And sometimes, that means pursuing …

Read more

Branding design for the WedBrilliant web site

Branding for the wedding industry isn’t exactly new territory for us at Upswept. In my earlier days as a photographer, I photographed quite a few weddings, so I got a taste of the industry, worked some vendor events, encountered more than a few wedding brands and pinboards, and learned just how much planning, energy, and sentiment …

Read more

Looking back at 2013! Upswept Creative’s Year in Review

It’s been a memorable year in a lot of ways! It feels like it’d be near-impossible to mention all of it, but we’ve had some fun, made a lot of pretty, and made some memories. In with the New in Old Town We opened 2013 settling into our new space on NW Couch St. in …

Read more

Doing It!: Little Boxes

We love seeing people grow and prosper, so every so often, we’ll highlight people who inspire us. We couldn’t be more excited to kick off our Doing It! series with Portland’s independent shopping movement, Little Boxes. Little Boxes is Portland’s response to Black Friday: instead of braving the big-box mega-stores, Little Boxes unites local, independent …

Read more

Awesome Client DO: Three Ways to Communicate With Your Web Designer When Things Go Wrong

You have an awesome business, and you’ve found an awesome designer to help bring your web site vision to life. That’s not the end of the process, though–building a web site takes more than just waving a magic wand, and you might see the occasional strange quirk along the way. A good client knows to …

Read more

Fashion, Jewelry, and Art | August First Thursday

Yeah, it still feels like Summer, but get a peek at what’s coming for Fall at August First Thursday in Old Town! This month, we’re featuring fashion by Carolyn Hart Designs. She’ll be showing and selling some brand-spankin’-new pieces from her Fall/Winter 2013 collection. Also joining us is jewelry designs by Cobracult– pieces inspired by …

Read more

3 Reasons to Let Your Personal Self Shine in Your Business Brand | Portland branding design

A huge piece of branding design, for me, is getting to know the client I’m working with. I don’t just mean getting to know their business, either–I mean getting to know them personally. Small businesses and solopreneurs are becoming more and more prominent, and those extra personal touches can be a huge advantage for smaller …

Read more