Design with confidence inside
DESIGN SPIRIT
Polish your design skills by learning the foundations and techniques of design that give you the professional edge you need.
A SELF-PACED GRAPHIC DESIGN COURSE FOR SELF-TAUGHT DESIGNERS, MARKETING PROFESSIONALS, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND MORE.
It’s kind of like design school in your back pocket!
Your relationship with design is a little complicated.
(Okay, a LOT complicated…)
Maybe you’ve found yourself in a self-taught junior designer role, or maybe you’ve sparked a passion for design as a virtual assistant or marketing professional. You've navigated it pretty well so far, but something still feels off. You're always spending extra hours tweaking your designs and watching tutorials from other designers, and maybe you've received enough positive feedback to finally hit 'export'...
But despite the skills you have developed on your own, you can’t shake that design-imposter syndrome.
THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO MAKE DESIGN FEEL EASIER:
LEARNING THE FOUNDATIONS OF DESIGN INSIDE THE DESIGN SPIRIT COURSE.
Are you ready to...
MASTER THE FOUNDATIONS OF DESIGN
so you can stop second-guessing the "why" behind design decisions.
ELEVATE YOUR VALUE
because your design skills will finally reflect your expertise and potential.
BUILD STRONGER CONNECTIONS
by creating visuals that resonate and leave a lasting impact on audiences.
GAIN CAREER CONFIDENCE
with designs that are not only cohesive but also aligned with your growing skill set.
AND SAVE TIME AND ENERGY!
Learn at your own pace, so you can finally design more efficiently.
A Resounding "Yes please"?
Design Spirit is for you!
What Design Spirit Students are saying…
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"IT GAVE ME THE TECHNICAL DETAILS AND KNOWLEDGE I WAS MISSING."
As the leader of a small (but mighty!) marketing team, I don’t always have the luxury of working with a designer when creating new collateral. I like to think I have good design instincts, but I needed something more substantial than just my gut. Design Spirit was the perfect solution – giving me the technical details and knowledge that I was missing. I’m now able to more clearly articulate what I’d like to see from my team’s designs and have found more confidence to create marketing collateral without staring unhappily at the same design for hours.
MARLEY WAGNER
Sr Director of Marketing & Services -
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"THE COURSE HELPED ME CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN MY VISION + FINAL PRODUCTS."
Here’s the thing: I have zero design training of any kind, but I know what I like. My creative business has a specific but continually-evolving aesthetic, and I was lacking the knowledge to consistently produce results I was happy with in my marketing, packaging materials and website design. Design Spirit helped to close this gap between my creative vision and final products, giving me the tools I needed to better execute that vision with far less frustration and in less time. It’s empowering to feel like I can bring my ideas to life in my designs, and I’m thankful for Allison’s user-friendly, approachable course!
MYKALA MICEK
Owner & Maker at Naturally Dyed Goods -
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"EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED TO GET MY DESIGN SKILLS TO THAT NEXT LEVEL."
Working on the front page of an online publication takes knowledge with design! I had some prior experience, but I wanted to learn more and this course was exactly what I needed to get my skills to that next level. Learning color theory, typography, and how to be visually cohesive and consistent has been immensely helpful for my position, and something I carried over into my photography portfolio as well. Allison does a phenomenal job teaching and makes it really fun and not overwhelming, which I so appreciated! I highly recommend the course to anyone looking to learn more about design!
JESSIE ANN WADE
Online Publication Editor & Freelance Photographer -
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"YOU CAN SEE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE WEBSITES I DESIGN FOR CLIENTS."
Design Spirit was a game changer for me! I’m a web developer, but feel that as I work freelance, I really need to be a designer too. I always felt like my design skills were lacking, then I found this class and everything just sort of clicked and came together! I feel much more confident in my skills and the products I'm creating for my clients. You can see a big difference in my websites before and after this class!
RENA DALEN
Web Designer + Developer -
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"I CAN NOW BETTER SHOWCASE MY BRAND AND ENTICE MY AUDIENCE."
Design Spirit is the exact course I've needed to elevate my marketing strategy! I love learning the method and techniques that professional designers use to create polished marketing materials. I can now take my library of branded design elements and better showcase my brand and entice my ideal audience. Allison provides clear instruction, amazing templates and invaluable support. Design Spirit will inspire you and give you the confidence and know-how to create cohesive designs that beautifully represent your brand and effectively market your business.
JILL WICHNER
Copywriter + Content Strategist -
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"MY VISUALS NOW HAVE A LOT MORE IMPACT."
Every lesson was a gem of its own. It was clearly and methodically taught and I learned an eye-opening new approach to designing. My visuals have a lot more impact because they simply look so much better than they used to. Not only that, but it has saved me so much time designing because I know exactly what to do, and I feel so much more confident when presenting my work. This course is simply a fount of nonstop amazing resources. I couldn't have made a better choice by joining.
NIKKI A.
Course Creator
WHO IS DESIGN SPIRIT IS FOR?
You don’t need to get a design degree or buy expensive software to learn how to design like a professional. You can exercise your Design Spirit right where you are!
(SCROLL TO VIEW EACH INDUSTRY!)
Other than a willingness to learn and a passion for elevating your design skills. Think of this as a self-paced program that acts as a design school in your back pocket for driven professionals like you who want to create beautiful, intentional designs that attract the right audience.
There are no prerequisites to this course.
DESIGN SPIRIT will give you the tools, knowledge, and confidence to communicate to any audience through professional, on-brand visuals.
DESIGN SPIRIT isn’t like other design courses.
Rather than teaching you how to create a one-time logo or marketing piece, Design Spirit helps you fully understand design best practices and the methods professional designers use to create any visual element you need in your career or business.
From project proposals to social media graphics to client presentations, you’ll know how to use your refined design skills to to create a consistent and cohesive look across any platform AND make strategic design decisions that ensure a great first (and lasting) impression with any audience.
YOU CAN USE YOUR NEWFOUND DESIGN SKILLS TO:
Create stunning service guides and proposals that impress and win over clients
Design impactful, share-worthy social media graphics that drive engagement
Assemble professional presentations and workshop slides that retain attention and build credibility
Build streamlined, on-brand templates for efficient and consistent design every time
Launch new and engaging lead magnets and freebies that have your audience anxiously waiting to learn more from you
Design print materials that are organized, visually appealing, and too good to throw away—business cards, postcards, flyers, and more!
“How do I know if DESIGN SPIRIT is the right course for me?”
DESIGN SPIRIT MAY BE A GREAT FIT FOR YOU IF:
you feel like your designs don’t accurately communicate your vision or your message.
you struggle to understand the “why” when selecting fonts, colors, photography, and other design elements
you don’t understand how to create a consistent, cohesive look across marketing materials and platforms (but want to!)
you can’t stop tinkering with layouts and want to make design decisions more confidently and with more ease
you’re a beginner and/or self-taught designer looking to brush up on the design basics and refine your skills, so you can feel more confident in your client work
DESIGN SPIRIT WON’T BE A GOOD FIT FOR YOU IF:
you already feel confident in your design skills
you are only looking for specific software tutorials (the course lessons can be applied to any program!)
you have no interest in learning the “why” behind strong, effective design
you went to design school or you’re professionally trained and deeply understand the design principles and fundamentals
What you’ll learn inside DESIGN SPIRIT
MODULE 1
Designing with Intention + Clarity
We’ll begin by helping you gain clarity on what you need to have nailed down before you start designing any marketing piece, which will include:
✦ Setting Actionable Goals for Your Design
✦ Knowing Your Target Audience
✦ Defining an Enticing Call-to-Action
✦ Knowing Your Design Parameters
✦ …and more!
MODULE 2
The Principles of Design + Composition
Understanding the “why” behind design comes before the “how.” In this module, you’ll learn about the 8 core principles of design and composition and how to use them to create more strategic, professional, and beautiful designs and layouts.
We’ll cover:
Hierarchy + Emphasis, Proximity + Grouping, Alignment, Contrast, Negative Space, Repetition + Similarity, Balance, Unity + Variety
MODULE 3
Creating Consistent + Cohesive Visuals
Next, I will guide you through the process of creating a consistent visual aesthetic across all of your marketing materials and platforms. You’ll learn:
✦ Curating Visual Inspiration + Creating a Cohesive Overall Vibe
✦ The Basics of Color Theory + Using Color Effectively
✦ Typography + Creating a Font System
✦ Assembling a Style Guide
MODULE 4
The Design Process
Let’s put everything together! Your design will only be as successful as your process, so I will be helping you:
✦ Get Started with a Rare Peek Inside My Signature Process
✦ Feel Confident in Developing Your Own Design Process (including a cheat sheet!)
✦ Understand How to Break the Design Rules
(Psst… remember, you can use any software program as you start using your refined design skills in practice!)
MODULE 5
Getting Organized + Being Efficient
Whether you’re a solopreneur or work with a growing team, staying organized will help you be efficient when DIY-ing your designs. In this module, I will teach you:
✦ Design File Organization (steal my streamlined system!)
✦ The Color Codes You Need To Know + The Importance of Optimizing for Web vs. Print Files
✦ How to Start Creating Reusable Web, Print, and Social Graphic Templates (plus a few to get you rolling!)
OVER 20 VIDEO LESSONS
Design Spirit includes many in-depth video lessons that you can watch at your own pace and on your own schedule. Students get lifetime course access, so you can rewatch the videos as many times as needed and whenever you need to refresh your design skills!
ACTIONABLE WORKSHEETS
As a student, you’ll get worksheets and cheatsheets to help you put your new knowledge into action. With these quick-access guides in your back pocket, you’ll feel extra confident as you create everyday marketing pieces and develop your unique design process.
DESIGN TEMPLATES
Inside the course, you will receive templates for a Style Guide, social media graphics, and other basic small business marketing collateral that you can customize to your brand (using your refined design skills!) and start implementing right away.
Design is a learned skill.
When you have the right design approach, perspective, and instincts, you can create awe-worthy designs that are purposeful and strategic. You don’t need professional training, certifications, or fancy software; you just need to cultivate a keen eye for design.
Inside the course, you’ll have exclusive access to the same framework I use to create marketing designs for everyday use. And you’ll get a peek behind the curtain of what it really looks like to fuse the principles of design, so you can capture the eyes of any audience with your visuals and feel confident sharing your work with the world.
By the end of this course, you will…
know how to create an eye-catching and cohesive aesthetic that captivates and builds trust with audiences, and helps you gain brand recognition across marketing platforms
understand how to design with strategy, to ensure your designs are both beautiful AND intentional (leading to more engagement, bookings and sales)
spend less time tweaking your designs and more time on projects you love!
be empowered to create professional-quality client proposals, presentations, service guides, and any other marketing piece all on your own and in your favorite software of choice (Canva, InDesign, MS Word, whatever!)
feel a sense of ease every time you sit down to design, because you understand the how and why behind the decisions you’re making
AND YOU’LL WALK AWAY WITH RENEWED CONFIDENCE IN YOUR OFFERINGS AND HOW YOU’RE COMMUNICATING THROUGH YOUR VISUALS.
What DESIGN SPIRIT Students are saying…
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"I ACTUALLY FEEL PROUD OF THE MARKETING PIECES WE'RE PRODUCING NOW!"
I’m so grateful to have taken this course! It has really elevated our brand, helped us with consistency with our design pieces, and helped me feel so much more confident while designing marketing collateral on my own, as a small business owner. Especially our seasonal lookbook and catalog — I actually feel proud of the marketing pieces we’re producing now!
JOY MCBRIEN
Founder of Fair Anita -
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"I FEEL MUCH MORE CONFIDENT THAT I'M NOT MISSING ELEMENTS IN MY DESIGNS."
Design Spirit Is such a great resource! As a web designer, I always want to create sites that are both strategic AND beautiful. Allison breaks everything down into manageable pieces, and after taking her class, I feel much more confident that I'm not missing elements in the designs that I create. She presents everything in a way that is organized and engaging. The information is so useful and easy for any business owner to apply to their own needs, or use when doing work for their own clients. I am so happy that I found this course!
SARAH GERSHONE
Web Designer -
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I CAN PUT MY NEW KNOWLEDGE INTO PRACTICE ON PURPOSE NOW, INSTEAD OF JUST INTUITIVELY."
Design Spirit has helped me be more aware of good design and is growing my confidence! The shorter length videos and very thorough content have given me a better understanding of what needs to happen when I get into a design project and is helping me expand my style as I work with clients. I especially loved the "live design" session with Allison! I have a batch of social graphics and a website to customize, so I'm excited to put my new knowledge into practice on purpose now, instead of just intuitively.
KATIE
Virrtual Assistant + Web Designer -
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"THE CLEAR, DETAILED LESSONS WERE INVALUABLE AS I PUT TOGETHER MY NEW WEBSITE."
I joined Design Spirit (with zero knowledge of graphic design) right as I was about to launch my new business. Allison has such a warm, inviting manner — she makes graphic design feel approachable and fun. Her clear, detailed lessons were invaluable as I dived into choosing a defined color palette and creating consistent design elements. I leaned heavily on Allison's lessons as I put together my new website. I will absolutely be revisiting the course in the future as I continue to refine my materials!
ELLEN T.
Freelance Editor -
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"A WELCOME REFRESH - DEFINITELY WORTH ADDING TO YOUR COURSE LIBRARY."
The Design Spirit course is a welcome refresh for seasoned designers and offers a wonderful foundation for new students alike. Allison’s fun-loving calm voice, detailed curriculum and real-life examples make it an easy-to-understand training series. Definitely worth adding to your course library!
MEEGAN THOMAS
Graphic Designer -
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"THE COURSE EXPLAINS THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF DESIGN SO ELOQUENTLY."
As a web designer I like to think I have a decent eye for design, but I was never professionally trained. This course was perfect to learn the technical aspects of design and Allie explains everything so eloquently. Whether you have no design experience or you just need to brush up on some design best practices, Design Spirit is for you!
ALEX VANDEHEI
Web Designer -
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"TOP-NOTCH EXAMPLES AND PERFECT FOR MY DIY CONTENT CREATION PROCESS."
After working with Allison on my branding, I knew it would be beneficial to learn more about implementing my brand identity into everyday marketing materials that could fit into my DIY content creation process. Design Spirit helped me create branded social media graphics and blog post templates that perfectly fit my audience! Her examples are top-notch and every lesson inspires you to try a new design technique. I highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to enhance their everyday marketing!
KAYLA HOLLATZ
Copywriter + Website Strategist
Say goodbye to worrying your graphics just aren’t good enough
AND HELLO TO LEARNING THE SKILLS AND STRATEGIES THAT WILL HELP YOU CREATE POLISHED + PROFESSIONAL DESIGNS… ALL ON YOUR OWN.
Frequently Asked Questions
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This course focuses on the fundamentals of design, and my goal is to give you the tools to create better marketing materials, client communications, social media imagery, and beyond. We will dive into how cohesiveness and consistency in your designs can help increase the professionalism in your marketing as a whole (which naturally leads to a more refined visual brand) AND you will certainly develop skills that may assist you in creating your own visual brand! But please know this is not a DIY branding course and we will not be covering how to design a logo, etc.
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We will not cover website design specifically. We will be covering the fundamentals of design as a whole, which can certainly be applied to polishing up your website design or designing a new site for yourself! But keep in mind there are a unique set of skills and strategy involved in designing a successful website from the top down, and we won’t be diving into that in this course.
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Design Spirit focuses on the fundamentals of design and is geared toward entrepreneurs who are DIYing their marketing designs. Self-taught graphic designers and web designers have also benefited from the course and have used what they've learned to elevate their client work (as well as their own marketing collateral).
Design Spirit may be a good fit for you if you're a designer who wants to brush up on your basic layout skills OR if you've never officially learned the fundamentals of design (design planning, the design principles, color theory, font selection, etc.). If you are an experienced designer who went to design school or already has a solid grasp of the design basics, this course probably isn't a good fit for you. If you have any questions or want to chat more, please reach out to me at allison@alliemariedesign.com.
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No, you don’t need any special software to soak up the value of this course! In fact, I won’t be teaching you how to use ANY software -- you can apply these design principles, guidelines, and knowledge to any program!
I will provide you with templates for your Style Guide in Adobe InDesign and Canva, but you can easily recreate those in any desired program. I will also provide you with a list of awesome tools and resources that you can use to create beautiful graphics, marketing pieces, and communications for your business.
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Nope! Design Spirit will always be here for you, so you can take it at your own pace. You can go through one module at a time or dive in all at once -- whatever feels best to you. You have lifetime access, so feel free to revisit certain lessons and brush up as time goes on, too!
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I deeply care about my students feeling confident and knowledgeable as they create polished designs of their own, which is why this course is so thorough and gives lots of visual examples on how to use the principles, color, and typography to create coheisve and professional designs! However, as much as I would love to, I don't have the capacity to give one-on-one attention through this course.
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You can expect to spend about 6-7 hours taking in the course content. However, to get the most out of the experience, you will want to put in time putting what you’ve learned into action and practicing your design skills outside this course. And, you will most likely (and are welcome to!) refer back to the lessons as needed as you continue to develop your skills and cultivate your design eye.
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Because of the on-demand, instant access nature of online courses, I’m unable to give refunds once you purchase Design Spirit. If you’re unsure if this course is for you, feel free to contact me at allison@alliemariedesign.com and I’d be happy to answer your questions! I have a feeling you’re going to LOVE it. :)
SINCE YOU MADE IT TO THE END, HERE’S A QUICK NOTE FROM ME TO YOU:
In case we haven't met, I'm Allison,
OWNER + FOUNDER OF ALLIEMARIE DESIGN AND CREATOR OF DESIGN SPIRIT
Way back in 2012, I dipped my toes into the freelance waters, working with local mom-and-pop shops on design projects. Fast forward to today, and I’ve worked with 100+ clients across industries.
The more I worked with small businesses, the more I realized how passionate they were about their stories and the services or goods they provided. They all had HEART, and I knew that there were so many more business owners out there who could benefit from the design skills that I used every day to design on their own to improve their marketing and expand their reach.
So in 2018, I launched this course very course, Design Spirit.
Back then, I created the course for small business owners who were DIY-ing their branding and marketing due to their budget, but still wanted to speak to and impact their community through polished visuals. But now Design Spirit has developed into something for a wider audience- something for people like YOU.
Design Spirit will help you polish your design skills by teaching you the foundations and techniques of design so you can gain the professional edge you need as a designer.
So what are you waiting for? If you're ready to design with confidence, come join us inside the course! I can’t wait to see you there.
Allison
Dive into DESIGN SPIRIT!
A SELF-PACED GRAPHIC DESIGN COURSE FOR SELF-TAUGHT DESIGNERS, MARKETING PROFESSIONALS, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND MORE.