Creativity can be a boon in difficult times. Self-expression is an essential part of being human. Finding an outlet is especially important when the world around us seems intent to silence individuality. The image of the Artist mining their pain for the page or canvas is a popular one, but it’s important to remember that […]
Building a Nest for a Happy Brand
When we first met with Emily of Happy Nest, she had a busy day-to-day of running her professional organizing business and caring for her young children. She had the start of an online presence, but her brand didn’t feel like a good fit. “It’s just… not awesome,” she told us. So, we made a plan to turn her disappointment into excitement, and […]

Use Your Web Site to Make Your Business Findable
Summer is upon us in Portland, and that means tourism! People from all over come here for vacations, explore our city, and fall in love with it. You might be making special plans to get ready for the buzz of tourists, especially if you have a storefront or tourism-based business, but there’s one thing you might […]

Getting Real About Timelines
It’s the end of a new client consultation. We’ve discussed your company and why you love what you do. We’ve talked about the features your new website will have. There’s just one question lingering: “How long will it take?” The answer? “It depends.” Not the most satisfying answer, we know! Timelines often vary at least […]

Creative Mornings PDX with Jelly Helm
“The punch line is…” he said “Ethics have shifted from the tribe to the individual.” What do donuts, ethics, and creativity all have in common? They were the bright stars of my Friday morning a few weeks ago at Creative Mornings PDX. The donuts, however, were easily outshined by the charming, charismatic speaker, Jelly Helm […]

Legal Marijuana and Changing Brand Perception
Branding is all about creating a memorable impression of your work that appeals to your ideal client. Sometimes, that means overcoming common assumptions about your product… and when it comes to public perception, legal marijuana dispensaries have an especially tough challenge. Marijuana was legalized in Portland less than a year ago, and as a previously illegal […]

On Keeping Projects Moving and Shifting Gears: an interview with Kelley “Frisky Sour” Gardiner
Writing a book is no small undertaking, and neither is being a parent. Kelley “Frisky Sour” Gardiner didn’t shy away from either of those things, though–she resolved to write and edit her first book throughout her pregnancy, and publish it before her little one’s due date! Now, she’s created Roller Derby for Beginners, a definitive roller derby resource book […]

Breaking It Down: Setting Goals for 2016
The Future Is In Your Hands! Start Setting Goals and Make a Plan for 2016! It’s a new year, and everyone has resolutions and setting goals on their mind. If you’re anything like us, you might start feeling sort of anxious or overwhelmed about all the possibilities. You keep telling yourself to floss more, drink more water, […]
Are You Our Next Project Management Ninja?
UPDATE: this position is CLOSED! We’ve found our new team member, but we appreciate hearing from you! We’re looking for someone who’s interested in project management for the creative industry, particularly in the area of branding and web design. It’s currently a part-time role, but it’s growing into a larger time commitment–the more you bring to […]

Freelance Web Designers & Developers: We’re Seeking You!
Are you a freelance Designer or WordPress Developer? It’s looking like a busy Fall here at Upswept, and we might just need your help! So, we’re updating our resources and looking for smart, fun, and all-around-stellar people to work with us on current and future projects. DEVELOPERS: We have front-end development projects coming up in the […]