How to DIY Your Brand in partnership with Mighty Fine Design - Blick Shared Studios

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Branding is important for all creative businesses. It helps you to stick in the brain and builds consistency and trust with your audience. Laura Whitehouse founder of Mighty Fine Design hosted a creative skills workshop for us on ‘How to DIY Your Brand’

Following the workshop Laura has very kindly shared the following useful resources as well as a downloadable worksheet and a copy of her full workshop presentation to help you to DIY your creative business brand.

To get inspired

To generate colour palettes (and see them in action)

coolors.co
P.s. Use the ‘Tools’ button top right to check contrast and see the palette visualiser

To start meddling around with fonts, icons, and social posts

www.canva.com

For great free fonts

Google Fonts can be downloaded and added into all sorts

To get inspired by font pairings

www.fontpair.co/fonts

To find free photos

www.unsplash.com
Please just no men shaking hands across a table!

A great email signature maker

For simple websites (that you can make yourself)

www.squarespace.com

To edit photos you’ve taken yourself

Download the Adobe Lightroom CC app

I’m peddling myself here – but I’ve got lots of (FREE) blog posts on branding to get you going.

www.mightyfinedesign.org/blog

How to DIY your brand worksheets and resources

Your Brand Thinkin' Kit PDF Worksheet

PDF: 1.06 MB

This downloadable PDF worksheet will help you to DIY your brand for your creative business or practice

Download document

How to DIY your brand workshop presentation

PDF: 35.25 MB

Laura Whitehouse Mighty Fine Design's PDF presentation

Download document

Meet our newest creative resident in our Great Northern Street studios Portrait Artist - Rachael Armstrong @rachaelpaintsweddings

You can also read her full interview on our blog on our website (link below and in profile) 🎨 🖌

https://blickstudios.org/blog/meet-the-resident-portrait-artist-rachael-armstrong/

Sep 3

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- - 1-3 PERSON PRIVATE STUDIO AVAILABLE FROM OCTOBER IN OUR COTTON COURT STUDIOS - -

We have one private 1 - 3 person studio available in our Cotton Court studios from October

– £325 per calendar month all inclusive (rent, rates, utilities, broadband) no VAT

– Minimum 3 months contract then on a rolling monthly contract

– 1 months rent required as a deposit

– Industrial style building full of creative organisations

– Cathedral Quarter location opposite the Merchant hotel

– Email christine@blickstudios.org for more info or to arrange a viewing

Link in bio and here https://blickstudios.org/locations/cotton-court-belfast/

Sep 1

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- - 1-3 PERSON PRIVATE STUDIO AVAILABLE FROM OCTOBER IN OUR COTTON COURT STUDIOS - -

We have one private 1 - 3 person studio available in our Cotton Court studios from October

– £325 per calendar month all inclusive (rent, rates, utilities, broadband) no VAT

– Minimum 3 months contract then on a rolling monthly contract

– 1 months rent required as a deposit

– Industrial style building full of creative organisations

– Cathedral Quarter location opposite the Merchant hotel

– Email christine@blickstudios.org for more info or to arrange a viewing

Link in bio and here https://blickstudios.org/locations/cotton-court-belfast/

Love this space in the afternoon sun!

Aug 29

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Love this space in the afternoon sun!

A summary of some of our recent impact at Blick! We operate as a non-profit social enterprise and put any profits we make from our workspace and services back into supporting the creative community in Belfast 🪴 🌱 🌿

Aug 28

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A summary of some of our recent impact at Blick! We operate as a non-profit social enterprise and put any profits we make from our workspace and services back into supporting the creative community in Belfast 🪴 🌱 🌿

- - AVAILABLE CREATIVE WORKSPACE SOUTH BELFAST - -

�We have one dedicated deskspace coming available from the 1st September in our South Belfast shared creative coworking space:�

– South Belfast location close to the Lisburn Road with lots of shops, coffee shops and bars within walking distance

– £150 per dedicated desk with allocated storage all inclusive (rent, rates, utilities, broadband) no VAT

– 24 hour access

– Breakout area

– Minimum 3 months contract then on a rolling monthly contract

– 1 months rent required as a deposit

Email christine@blickstudios.org for more info or to arrange a viewing or visit the Great Northern Street Studios page of our website for more info (link below and in profile)

�https://blickstudios.org/locations/great-northern-street/

Aug 27

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Did you know Blick is set up as a non-profit social enterprise? We put the profits generated from our workspace and services back into supporting the local creative community! Here is a summary of some of the impact of our work from March 2024 - February 2025

You can read more about our impact on our website link below and in profile:

https://blickstudios.org/the-team/our-impact/

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Aug 26

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A summary of our story at Blick from when we started way back in 2007, over 17 years ago. A steep learning curve that`s for sure!

Aug 21

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A summary of our story at Blick from when we started way back in 2007, over 17 years ago. A steep learning curve that's for sure!

- - THE STORY OF BLICK- -

It`s hard to believe, it seems like only yesterday, but we started Blick 17 years ago way back in 2007 with a group of other creatives who wanted to come together to create a great workspace for creatives in Belfast.

Our ambition was to create beautiful but affordable spaces for creatives to work in. Spaces for like-minded creatives to meet and share resources, ideas and inspiration. Spaces to build a sense of community and encourage, support and inspire each other.

Blick now operates as a non-profit creative workspace in Belfast, Northern Ireland offering dedicated desks, private studios, and business address services. Spread across three beautiful buildings, we also provide events and tailored support to help creatives thrive.
Blick now provides creative shared workspace and private studio space to more than 65 creatives across 3 different buildings in Belfast as well as virtual office services to over 90 creatives.
We are currently busy settling into our new Great Northern Street studios and we have a whole variety of talks and workshops happening for local creatives which you can see over on our Website events page. We also have different projects and programs, as well as regular blogs including links to funding and opportunities for creatives and lots of downloadable resources to help you start and grow your own creative business which you can find on our website (www.blickstudios.org)

Here`s a summary of some of the major parts of our story over the last 17 years, you can also read it on our website

https://blickstudios.org/the-team/the-blick-story/

Aug 18

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- - THE STORY OF BLICK- -

It's hard to believe, it seems like only yesterday, but we started Blick 17 years ago way back in 2007 with a group of other creatives who wanted to come together to create a great workspace for creatives in Belfast.

Our ambition was to create beautiful but affordable spaces for creatives to work in. Spaces for like-minded creatives to meet and share resources, ideas and inspiration. Spaces to build a sense of community and encourage, support and inspire each other.

Blick now operates as a non-profit creative workspace in Belfast, Northern Ireland offering dedicated desks, private studios, and business address services. Spread across three beautiful buildings, we also provide events and tailored support to help creatives thrive.
Blick now provides creative shared workspace and private studio space to more than 65 creatives across 3 different buildings in Belfast as well as virtual office services to over 90 creatives.
We are currently busy settling into our new Great Northern Street studios and we have a whole variety of talks and workshops happening for local creatives which you can see over on our Website events page. We also have different projects and programs, as well as regular blogs including links to funding and opportunities for creatives and lots of downloadable resources to help you start and grow your own creative business which you can find on our website (www.blickstudios.org)

Here's a summary of some of the major parts of our story over the last 17 years, you can also read it on our website

https://blickstudios.org/the-team/the-blick-story/

- - Blick Resident Gallery 545 - ‘Re-imagined Places’ Group Exhibition - -

Dates: 20 -24 August 2025

Location: Gallery 545 at La Roche House, Belfast & online

Cost: Free

Blick resident @gallery545online presents ‘Re-imagined Places’, an exhibition of original artworks inspired by landscapes created by accomplished artists based in Northern Ireland. A diverse art selection will be on display at La Roche House, from beautiful views of Northern Ireland to evocative imaginary lands, exquisite foliage motives, vibrant abstract paintings, and colourful glass pieces.

Featuring Justė Bernotaitė, Lisa Ballard, Louise Lennon, Alison Lowry, Rosie McGurran, Maria Perry, Latisha Reihill, and Anushiya Sundaralingam.

Visit the Gallery 545 Instagram page: @gallery545online

Or website for full details: https://gallery545.com/blogs/exhibitions/re-imagined-places-group-exhibition

Aug 13

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- - Blick Resident Gallery 545 - ‘Re-imagined Places’ Group Exhibition - -

Dates: 20 -24 August 2025

Location: Gallery 545 at La Roche House, Belfast & online

Cost: Free

Blick resident @gallery545online presents ‘Re-imagined Places’, an exhibition of original artworks inspired by landscapes created by accomplished artists based in Northern Ireland. A diverse art selection will be on display at La Roche House, from beautiful views of Northern Ireland to evocative imaginary lands, exquisite foliage motives, vibrant abstract paintings, and colourful glass pieces.

Featuring Justė Bernotaitė, Lisa Ballard, Louise Lennon, Alison Lowry, Rosie McGurran, Maria Perry, Latisha Reihill, and Anushiya Sundaralingam.

Visit the Gallery 545 Instagram page: @gallery545online

Or website for full details: https://gallery545.com/blogs/exhibitions/re-imagined-places-group-exhibition

Our latest roundup of opportunities for creatives in NI

01. Techstart Proof of Concept Grant Fund
The Techstart Proof of Concept Grant Fund is a pre-commercial grant awarding fund. On a competitive basis, the fund supports entrepreneurs in Northern Ireland with grants to explore the viability and commercial potential of an innovative concept.

02. Creative Boom launches Boom Briefs
Need to update your portfolio? Or looking for your next challenge? Push yourself out of your comfort zone with Creative Boom’s monthly creative prompts: Boom Briefs.

03. Call for Applications: CIRCLE Fiction Orbit 2025
CIRCLE Fiction Orbit is an intensive one-week workshop designed to support filmmakers—directors, writers, and producers—developing their second, third or fourth fiction feature, and this year it’s going to Montenegro in November. This opportunity comes with a participation fee.

Closing date: 15th August 2025

04. China Artists Residency Programme
Up to a 30 days residency in Beijing. For the pilot year, Digital Arts is the selected artform for the residency. This year’s Residency Programme is for Digital Artists working within the arts sector in Northern Ireland.

Closing date: 21st August

05. Art Breakfast Club Belfast
Meet-up in Pottinger’s Cafe in the City Centre

Date: Saturday 16th August, 10.30am

06. CraftNI ‘THE GIFT’ (Christmas Selling Exhibition) Callout
Craft NI Gallery are inviting applications from makers across a variety of craft disciplines to take part in ‘THE GIFT’, a curated Christmas exhibition celebrating both the accomplishments of local craft makers and elegance of artisan gifting.

Application Deadline: Friday 5th September, 5pm

Full listings including links on the blog on our website (link in profile and below)

https://blickstudios.org/blog/creative-roundup-opportunities-for-creatives-3/

Aug 12

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Some words of wisdom to start your week from our latest Meet the Resident interview with Sarah Baecher, an artist from the U.S. and one of our newest Cotton Court residents!

You can read her full interview on our website link below and in profile https://blickstudios.org/blog/12724/

Aug 11

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- - RESOURCES FOR CREATIVES - TOOLS TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS - -

Here are some tools and methods to help you set goals for your creative business and achieve them.

1. Journalling
Use a journal for tracking your goals and smaller daily achievements.

2. Use Your Mobile Phone
Use your mobile phone to set daily reminders or use goal setting apps.

3. Goal Setting Apps and Software
Use goal setting and project management software, tools and apps such as:
• Monday - (this is what we use at Blick and we couldn`t survive without it)
• Clickup
• Wrike
• Hubspot
• Asana
• Trello

4. Motivational Notes and Images
Place motivational notes and posters around your home or work desk.

5. Visualisation Activities
Use visualisation activities e.g. mindfulness, affirmations and meditation.

6. Friends and Family
Accountability can help, tell friends and family what you’re working towards so they can offer support and keep you accountable.

6. Networking Groups and Meet Ups
Join groups or meet-ups with like-minded people trying to achieve similar goals

You can find all our goal-setting resources on the resources section of our website link below and in profile

https://blickstudios.org/resources/

Aug 10

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- - RESOURCES FOR CREATIVES - GOAL SETTING TEMPLATE - -

Today we are sharing a goal-setting template to help you set realistic achievable goals to help you start or grow your creative business. You can use this template as a journal prompt or download as a pdf or word document from the creative resources section of our website! (Link below and in profile)

https://blickstudios.org/resources/goal-setting/

Aug 6

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“This one step - choosing a goal and sticking to it - changes everything.” Scott Reed

A quote on the value of setting goals ahead of us sharing different resources later this week.

You can find all our goal setting resources on our website (link below and in profile) https://blickstudios.org/resources/goal-setting/

Aug 5

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Ahead of sharing some new goal-setting resources next week, we are looking back on our strategic goal-setting workshop with Stephanie Heckman. By sharing some pics that we ran out of time for earlier this year.

It was such a great workshop, provoking great insights and reflections as well as providing practical actions to help attendees move towards future goals.

Aug 1

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Ahead of sharing some new goal-setting resources next week, we are looking back on our strategic goal-setting workshop with Stephanie Heckman. By sharing some pics that we ran out of time for earlier this year.

It was such a great workshop, provoking great insights and reflections as well as providing practical actions to help attendees move towards future goals.

Loving these summer evenings in our South Belfast Studios 🌞 ☀️ 🌤

Jul 29

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Loving these summer evenings in our South Belfast Studios 🌞 ☀️ 🌤

Late afternoon sun 🌞 ☀️ 🌤

Jul 28

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Late afternoon sun 🌞 ☀️ 🌤

New Hill Street Sunday Art Market right outside our Hill Street Studios from 10am - 3pm each week!

Jul 27

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New Hill Street Sunday Art Market right outside our Hill Street Studios from 10am - 3pm each week!

Some great insights from our May Creative Talk with artist and illustrator @dannisimpsonart

Jul 25

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Some great insights from our May Creative Talk with artist and illustrator @dannisimpsonart

Looking back to our May Creative Talk with artist and illustrator @dannisimpsonart

Jul 23

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Looking back to our May Creative Talk with artist and illustrator @dannisimpsonart