Relatable Design Co

03/12/2024

To relax and recharge my batteries for the new year, and to spend some quality time with family and friends, I'm taking a break over the holidays. My last work day is Tuesday, 17th of December 2024, and I'll be back on Monday, 13th of January 2025.

A huge thank you to my amazing clients, partners, suppliers and fellow designers for your support this year. I'm truly grateful!

Wishing you a Christmas filled with love, laughter and good times with your loved ones, and a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year full of new adventures! ✨

09/01/2024

I hope you've all had a lovely Christmas, a great start to the new year, and a chance to enjoy some relaxing summer days ☀️

As of today, I'm officially back at work. I've spent the last couple of days on admin, planning out already booked projects and preparing for the upcoming year. I've got a few spots left for February, so get in touch now if you need a new brand, website, or other graphic design work done.

For me, 2024 will be my 10th year living and working in New Zealand (not sure where the time has gone!). And for Relatable, I've got some new and exciting things planned for 2024. More on this soon!

Wishing us all a happy, healthy, and (more) peaceful 2024! 💫

24/07/2023

It's almost been three years since I started Relatable Design Co. The first year was crazy and chaotic. I knew what I was doing creatively, but everything around it, I was winging it a lot. The added challenge of working a second job while building up my own business made it even harder. I was honestly doubting my decision of going out on my own at times. But as with everything in life, you learn, you grow, you get better at things the more often you do them and if you just keep at it.
I had the pleasure of chatting with the Creative Launchpad team again, this time about how I moved from 'having to do things on the go and as I needed to', to putting systems and processes in place, to finally getting into a routine and feeling more in control. We also talked about why community is important, especially when you're working for (and by) yourself, and I let you in on why I – as a brand designer – was 'brand-less' for a while ... 🤭

Minja van der Paard from Relatable Design Co doesn’t sugarcoat the first year of being a small business owner. “It was crazy and chaotic, juggling two jobs plus life. I don’t even have kids eithe

16/07/2023

As I am now at capacity for new branding and website projects until the end of September, I wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has worked with me so far this year 🫶 If you're looking at refreshing your brand or creating a stunning website you and your clients can relate to, please get in touch with me now so we can have a chat about your ideas, requirements and timeline!

08/05/2023

Did you know that I used to do ballet on a semi-professional level for over 10 years, including being on the stage of the German Opera in Berlin? But when it came to the decision to become a professional dancer, I decided not to, as ballet was something I really enjoyed doing but I wasn't prepared to make it my everything. I had too many other things and interests I wanted to do and have time for.

But a year ago, 15 years after my last lesson, I joined a local ballet school offering adult classes. I absolutely love doing it again! The physical movement balances out my work week at the desk, it’s time away from any screens and it provides a space for me to be creative in a different way.

I also haven't been dancing in front of an audience for over two decades, but since the theme of this year seems to be 'you can only grow if you step out of your comfort zone', here we go – I'll be back on stage in a few weeks time. So, if you want to see me doing something different to talking branding, web design and strategy, get yourself a ticket and come see the Ballet.Culture family performing PERSON[a] at Tauranga's Baycourt Community and Arts Centre on Sunday, the 25th of June.

Buy your ticket here:
https://premier.ticketek.co.nz/shows/show.aspx?sh=person2023

23/04/2023

Some Mondays are easier than others. Most weeks my motivation to get stuck into work and get things done is high, some weeks however it's low. This week will be a busy one, luckily looking like falling into the 'most weeks' category 😌 To improve motivation (no matter where it's at), looking at a previous project and thinking of something good that happened during or after that project, always gives me that extra spark. Receiving kind words from my clients is one of those good things.

"It is always a pleasure to work with Minja. She quickly adapts to changes and her thoughtful design and creative solutions are always right on target. She has an eye for detail and knows exactly what to look for in design and creative deliverables. She not only is very creative, but she promptly delivers too. Minja has been very helpful to us and I recommend her without hesitation."
– Marie-Camille Desy, Marketing Manager RJ Hospitality Solutions Ltd

Thank you, Marie, for your kind words. It's always a pleasure to work with you on one of your websites 🫶

20/04/2023

Want to know why I started my own business even though it hadn't been part of my plan? I recently sat down with the Creative Launchpad team to chat about becoming a graphic designer, making the move from full-time employment to freelancing, securing clients as a small business owner and why my parents' professions were the perfect mixture for what I do today. I've also been asked for my top three tips to become a small business owner – which don't only apply to graphic designers by the way 😊

For Minja van der Paard, going out on her own as a graphic designer hadn’t been part of her plan. Then at the start of 2020, she faced two options for the next stage of her career. “I had this de

14/04/2023

Yes, I'm one of those who too often scrolled mindlessly through social media or watched whatever was on TV until right before bed 'to wind down'. No surprise I used to struggle to go to sleep and stay asleep.

We all know that being in front of any screen too close to bedtime has a negative impact on our sleep. That's why I've recently re-introduced some good old-fashioned book reading time. I'm far away from hitting the one to two hours that are recommended, but even half an hour of being away from a screen helps steer my mind away from work, relax and (properly) wind down. Plus, reading has been shown to reduce stress and improve overall sleep quality. 😴

At the moment, I'm really enjoying 'Better Bolder Different' by Ethically Kate. She's talking about simple, practical ways to live better for ourselves and the planet. It's an incredibly inspiring read and what I like the most about her book is that she's not 'telling you what to do'. She talks about her own experience and inspires and encourages – it's about 'making daily decisions with people and the planet in mind that are better for our mental and physical health, our relationships, our savings and everything in between'.

Next up will be a happy-ending novel for me, making for some easy and heart-warming reading over winter. What are you reading at the moment? 📚

10/04/2023

A few weeks ago I got asked to be a panelist at the Creative Launchpad event Brunch by the Beach. My initial reaction was 'Most definitely NOT!' and I continued doing what I was doing before the email popped up. A few hours later I looked through my inbox again, read the email and thought 'No, thanks' and dived into another chunk of work. Half an hour later, I found myself reading the email again, twice. 'Mmh.' I read it once more and decided to go for a walk.

I've done a lot of things in my life but public speaking is definitely out of my comfort zone. I thought about the many things that could go wrong and all the reasons why I shouldn't do it when a quote popped into my head I had heard only a few days before. 'Do you know when you must do something? A, when you're afraid of it and B, when you can't stop thinking about it.' I had to admit to myself that both were the case. So I walked home, sat in front of my computer and replied.

I was super nervous for days before the event, but when I walked in that day, I told myself 'If there is only one person in that room I can help by talking about my own journey and experiences, that's all that counts'. It was a great day and an experience I wouldn't want to have missed. I talked to so many lovely and interesting people, felt inspired by listening to others, heard stories that reminded me of my own one not too long ago. And I hope that one person was in the room.

08/04/2023

Happy Easter everyone! Wishing you relaxing days with your loved ones around you!

05/04/2023

With the long weekend ahead, don't forget to turn off your appliances before leaving the office today 🖥️ ⌨️ 💻 🖨️ 🖱️ 📻 Why? Because switching off appliances can help the environment 💚 and save you money 💸

Devices still use power even in standby or sleep mode, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions from power generation. Turning them off completely can reduce our energy consumption and lower our carbon footprint 👣 Saving energy doesn't only help the environment though, it also lowers your electricity bill and reduces the amount of electronic waste we produce. Appliances that are left plugged in still experience wear and tear, and may need to be replaced sooner than necessary. By turning them off and flipping the switch on the power point (or unplugging them if there is no switch), we can extend their lifespan and reduce the amount of waste that is sent to landfill (which saves you more money).

So there you have it ... A simple but effective way to reduce our impact on the environment, reduce waste and conserve resources 💪 Are you in?

04/04/2023

Are you looking for an Easter gift idea for clients, friends or family? I've got one for you! How about gifting a tree? 🌳

Last year, instead of physical Christmas presents, I gifted each of my clients and suppliers some native trees through Trees That Count, which is managed by the environmental charity Project Crimson. They're helping Kiwis plant more native trees across New Zealand. Each of my recipients received a gift certificate, and once their trees had been allocated to a planting location, they got an email so they knew where their trees would be planted. And guess what, some of my clients and suppliers gifted trees back to Relatable Design Co!

Gifting trees is not only a nice and sustainable thing to do for Easter 🐰 or Christmas 🎄. Think birthdays 🎂, anniversaries 🥂, promotions 🎓, engagements 💍, weddings 👰🤵, family additions 🍼🐶, losses ✨ or just because 🫶. Every tree makes a difference.