I’m the woman behind this one-woman design studio. I was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii and currently reside in California. I come to the design world after working for over 8 years in the non-profit and education sector and I’m proud to say that I am a self-taught designer of 7 years. I like to design for and work with those dedicated to making this world a better place. I believe in using design to encourage thoughtfulness and kindness towards others.
Hi there, I’m Traci.
Nice to meet you.
Why Talking Story?
To 'talk story’ is a common expression used in Hawaii. In it’s simplest form it means to casually chat with someone, but it is also founded on the values of connecting and sharing stories with one another. This is what design means to me.
The work you do is complex, sometime4s messy and oftentimes overwhelming (I know, I’ve been there). And I understand that design doesn’t always make it to the top of your list of priorities, but it also shouldn’t be the last. That is why I’m here.
I wear a lot of hats and thrive under environments that crave someone that can do more than just design. I’m a project manager, creating and guiding you through design processes to ensure a smooth workflow. I’m a colleague, communicating and collaborating with your team until you are happy with the results. And I’m a student, constantly looking to learn new things and draw from these learnings. I take the time to learn about you, the work you do and how to best communicate your story with the world.
What can you expect when we work together?
Positive & vibrant designs
While a lot of what I design around deals with serious subject matters, I believe in using design to send positive, thoughtful messaging. I do this through vibrant color palettes, an illustrative graphic style and simple layouts.
Effective communication
I prioritize communication throughout our engagement and believe in being transparent, clear and kind. I also value your insights and feedback, and come to you with an open ear, ensuring you love the final outcome.
Stress-free process
I’ve crafted a process that focuses on completing your project with quality and care. My process works for both the creative that needs time to create (me) and the manager that has a million to-dos (you).
CLIENT LOVE
“I’d had trouble with other designers in the past – not meeting deadlines, not taking time to understand our organization or work, lacking creativity and vision – but working with Traci was exactly what I had hoped for and needed. Traci immediately grasped our needs, had a vision for the user experience, and working with her was an easy and positive experience, even though our project was extremely complex and multifaceted. I recommend Traci with no reservations because I know that she brings the same positive, visionary design to all her work.”
Laura Young, Sayara International
FAQs
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No, I typically focus on the design of the website and handover all necessary files to a developer of your choice to make it come to life. However, if you are interested in using drag and drop website platforms (I prefer Squarespace), I can create your site from start to finish so you're left with a beautiful, functional site at the completion of our engagement.
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I offer a few different packages for brand development depending on your budget and needs. Most packages include a primary and secondary logo design, font set, color palette, graphics set, pattern set, and a 3-5 page brand style sheet.
More substantial branding packages include a half-day in-person branding workshop or self-guided branding workbook and the creation of a brand mission, vision, brand positioning statement and tagline. -
I spend a lot of time pricing my services to ensure that I'm valuing my time appropriately and most importantly, giving you exactly what you need at the end of the day. While pricing will vary depending on your specific needs, the following can give you an estimation of what I charge for different projects.
Brand design | Visual identity: USD 3,000
Brand design | Strategy: USD 4,000
3 page website design + Squarespace development - USD 4,500
Publication design (30 pages): USD 5,000
Spot illustrations: USD 200-700 per illustration (highly depends on project scope)
Hourly rate: USD 115
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While every project works on a different timeline, I try to strike a balance between respecting the process I've created, but also ensuring that the project stays fresh in both of our minds. The following time estimates can give you an idea of how long a specific type of project may take from start to finish.
Brand design: 2 months
3 page website design - 2 months
Publication design: 1-2 months
Spot illustrations: 2-3 weeks
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I am usually booked 1 month in advance, so it is best to confirm our engagement as soon as possible to ensure we avoid any schedule delays.
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My services cover a lot of different types of projects - from designing reports, to creating digital assets such as icons, to collaborating on self-care resources for girls and women, to setting your company up with a fresh look so you hit the ground running on launch day. However, I won't take on projects that I don't feel I can deliver on, as I'm not an expert in every type of design. If you like what you've seen so far, get in touch for a consultation and we can start the conversation. We may be a great fit!