(empower my design journey)
be my benefactor?*
^but unfortunately cannot afford them.
fund my tuition
this fall
& in return for sponsoring my design education
you’ll receive the assets that I produce throughout all three courses
what's in it for you?
claim any or all of the following:
a complete brand identity system
including logos, typography, color palettes, and more
a custom squarespace site
designed according to your needs
custom graphics
including 3D artwork like this to use for your website or socials
why should you work with me?
i have 3 years of experience as a web developer
I already know how websites work from a technical perspective; I have experience turning professional designs into working websites and I have the coding skills necessary to customize sites as needed.
i have 3 years of experience as a solo business owner
I have experience designing my own branding and graphics and building websites in no-code builders like Mailchimp, Webflow, Ghost, and Squarespace.
i now want to bridge my past experiences to a future as a designer
I am now searching for structured education to fill the gaps in my knowledge, set me up for success, and accelerate my learning way ahead of where I would be if I just tried to cobble together free resources on my own.
we might be a good fit if…
we have similar aesthetic tastes
you are flexible + open to experimentation
I've never done an exchange like this before, and I'm guessing you haven't either!
Ideally I'm looking for someone who will allow me grace throughout the process of learning, as well as producing your design deliverables.
I am a conscientious person and I hold myself to high standards, but I also have ADHD *and* will be working at a day job during this process. I would like to partner with someone who understands that deadlines may occasionally need to be pushed back, depending on how my capacity and my energy levels fluctuate.
as a bonus: you're into magic + esoterica
I have three years of experience working as a spiritual practitioner, counseling clients through a combination of shadow work, astrology, tarot, oracle, human design, mediumship, and more.
While I don't plan to explicitly offer readings as part of this exchange, and while it's not a requirement that you share these interests or run a magical business yourself, it would be cool to work with someone who also gets excited about adding a magical dimension to their work.
Regardless, I plan to use tarot and channeling as part of my personal creative process as I design your brand and website. I can share as much or as little of this process as you like!
what is it like to work with me?
apparently i'm really calm 🌸
(here are some excerpted testimonials from my time as a spiritual practitioner)
Leila
"Sarah immediately came in with a calm energy that felt serene and grounding…[She] was able to give both comforting words and actionable advice. Afterward, I felt much more tranquil and I appreciated her gentle approach."
Amelia
"My session with Sarah was so powerful. It was so intuitive and rich and deep, and like she tapped into a whole new level of wisdom…I left feeling wholly seen, renewed and transformed."
Aaliyah
"I just felt very safe and held. There was a kind of motherly aspect, in the best way possible…Everything you said really resonated with me."
so, what would all this cost?
here's a breakdown of what it would cost to sponsor me versus hiring someone else
working with someone else
you get:
Brand Identity:
$2,000-$15,000+
Squarespace Site:
$1,000-$10,000+
total cost to you:
$3,000 - $25,000+
theses costs vary widely, depending on the experience of the designer(S), whether you work with a freelancer or agency, and what your needs are
working with me
you get:
Brand Identity
Squarespace Site
Custom Graphics
in exchange for:
Graphic Design Course: $2,400
Squarespace Course: $899
3D Blender Course: $899
Software costs: $200
Other costs: $500*
*this is the equivalent of replacing 3-5 weeks' wages at my current job and would allow me to devote more time to class and to working on your deliverables
Total cost to you:
$4,898
here's where i assume you have questions
What is the expected timeline?
how will we arrange the payments? how will I know that the money I send you is going towards the courses?
When is the deadline to decide whether I'm interested?
you may also be wondering: what exactly are these courses? and why did I choose them?
all three courses are taught by IloveCreatives
here's a bit more about each of them:
graphic design course
This course will allow me to:
Experience a "virtual apprenticeship"
Learn design programs such as Figma, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop
Gain technical skills and insight into the creative process used at ilovecreatives Studio for building a strong brand identity
Develop a unique design perspective, culminating in a personalized design portfolio
Delve into the business aspects of graphic design, including how to freelance
learn More
squarespace course
This course will allow me to:
Learn the native features of Squarespace
Refine my web design aesthetic and learn how to translate my designs into custom Squarespace sites
Speed up my website development process by giving me access to Squarespace-specific resources that make adding custom code easier and faster
Learn the ins and outs of freelancing as a Squarespace designer, including how to handle pricing and payments and how to manage clients and projects
learn More
3D Blender course
This course will allow me to:
Gain proficiency in Blender, a software toolset for professional 3D design
Stand out as a well-rounded designer
Learn how to create custom 3D artwork for clients to add a unique, world-building element to their websites and social graphics
Build a foundation for future explorations into 3D design, which, in the words of the course instructor, encompasses such possibilities as "image creation, motion graphics, product modeling, 3D printing, architectural and interior design renders, AR / VR, creating digital worlds, video games," and more
learn More
and here's why I chose them:
As an autistic ADHDer, these courses seem perfectly suited for my brain: they are structured yet engaging. Each course provides a motivating environment for learning + feedback + support. This includes ADHD-friendly gamification, Discord communities, and opportunities for 1:1 design feedback from course instructors.
All three courses also include access to resources like databases and asset libraries that can speed up the process of designing and provide inspiration. As a former web developer, I know how empowering it is to have access to a variety of resources (both online resources and knowledgable people who are willing to answer questions) as you work, and I know how tough and slow it can be when you don't have anyone to turn to or if you don't know where to look for answers. The resources provided by ilovecreatives will speed up, support, and empower me both during the process of learning and beyond, as I tackle real-life projects and encounter new problems and questions.
Moreover, I appreciate that these courses are practical—they prepare students to become working designers, and they address the practicalities of freelancing, planning projects, and meeting deadlines. While I could probably learn most of the contents of these courses through cobbling together various online resources and figuring things out via trial and error over a long period of time, I prefer to set myself up for success from the start, by not only learning these skills in a structured way, but also by learning the nuances of freelancing from people who have succeeded at it before.
want to learn a bit more about me + my background before you decide?
