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

- - 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

- - AVAILABLE WORKSPACE - BLICK SHARED STUDIOS, SOUTH BELFAST - -

We have one dedicated deskspace in our shared creative coworking space available:

– South Belfast location just off 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 our website for more info (Link below and in profile)
https://blickstudios.org/locations/great-northern-street/

Jul 21

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Our latest roundup of local and international funding, support & opportunities for NI creatives

01. Cathedral Quarter Art Market

Applications are now open for the Cathedral Quarter Art Market – a new Sunday market celebrating handmade and independently designed work, set in the heart of Belfast’s most creative district.
Event Details:
Location: Hill Street, Cathedral Quarter, Belfast
Time: 10am – 3pm
Pitch Fee: £60 (includes your gazebo and trading licence)
Dates: Every Sunday from 27 July – 28 September
Spaces: Strictly limited to 24 traders per week

02. Tools for Togetherness – Tender Opportunity

Tools for Togetherness seeks to commission a series of pilot projects based around the concept of an ‘Artist-led Library of interventions; as shared Citizen Resource’. They are excited to empower creatives to create thoughtful interventions which align with fostering community togetherness in public spaces.
Closing date: Friday 22 August 2025 at 12 noon

03. Hawk’s Well Theatre Artist in Residence 2025

Project Lighthouse is a 12-month cross-border, cross-community peacebuilding project. You’ll work with young adults (aged 18–25) to co-create a powerful performance and legacy work in two border locations:
• Sligo (ROI)
• Derry/Londonderry (NI)
Delivery Period: September 2025 – September 2026
What to Submit:
A quotation and proposal
A budget breakdown (quotes considered, max €20,000 + VAT)
Contact: director@hawkswell.ie
Deadline: August 1st 2025, 5pm

04. Northern Ireland Screen – Camera Trainee (CINE Programme)

Location: Various production locations across Northern Ireland
Salary: £12.60 per hour (Real Living Wage)
Contract: Fixed-term training placements (non-continuous)
Hours: 40–60 hours per week, depending on production schedule
Closing Date: Friday 25th July 2025 at 1pm

05. Bring Your Own Art Art Show

This weekend in the Black Box Belfast and there’s still time to register and submit your work
Date: 20th July
Location: Black Box Belfast

Full listings including links on our website: https://blickstudios.org/blog/12766/

Jul 18

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Our latest roundup of local and international funding, support & opportunities for NI creatives

01. Cathedral Quarter Art Market

Applications are now open for the Cathedral Quarter Art Market – a new Sunday market celebrating handmade and independently designed work, set in the heart of Belfast’s most creative district.
Event Details:
Location: Hill Street, Cathedral Quarter, Belfast
Time: 10am – 3pm
Pitch Fee: £60 (includes your gazebo and trading licence)
Dates: Every Sunday from 27 July – 28 September
Spaces: Strictly limited to 24 traders per week

02. Tools for Togetherness – Tender Opportunity

Tools for Togetherness seeks to commission a series of pilot projects based around the concept of an ‘Artist-led Library of interventions; as shared Citizen Resource’. They are excited to empower creatives to create thoughtful interventions which align with fostering community togetherness in public spaces.
Closing date: Friday 22 August 2025 at 12 noon

03. Hawk’s Well Theatre Artist in Residence 2025

Project Lighthouse is a 12-month cross-border, cross-community peacebuilding project. You’ll work with young adults (aged 18–25) to co-create a powerful performance and legacy work in two border locations:
• Sligo (ROI)
• Derry/Londonderry (NI)
Delivery Period: September 2025 – September 2026
What to Submit:
A quotation and proposal
A budget breakdown (quotes considered, max €20,000 + VAT)
Contact: director@hawkswell.ie
Deadline: August 1st 2025, 5pm

04. Northern Ireland Screen – Camera Trainee (CINE Programme)

Location: Various production locations across Northern Ireland
Salary: £12.60 per hour (Real Living Wage)
Contract: Fixed-term training placements (non-continuous)
Hours: 40–60 hours per week, depending on production schedule
Closing Date: Friday 25th July 2025 at 1pm

05. Bring Your Own Art Art Show

This weekend in the Black Box Belfast and there’s still time to register and submit your work
Date: 20th July
Location: Black Box Belfast

Full listings including links on our website: https://blickstudios.org/blog/12766/

To celebrate the end of our Nurture Creative Incubation programme and its participants we have put together a small exhibition of the interviews they did for us and some examples of their work in our Great Northern Street studios!

Jul 16

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To celebrate the end of our Nurture Creative Incubation programme and its participants we have put together a small exhibition of the interviews they did for us and some examples of their work in our Great Northern Street studios!

As we enter this quieter holiday period, today we are looking back to May, a fantastic busy month for us at Blick that included a creative talk with artist and illustrator Danni Simpson, conversations and catchups around Belfast Design Week. 2 fun-filled bank holidays and the end of our Nurture Programme and its final activities which included a fieldtrip visit to Maven and Bag of Bees design studio on the Lisburn Road, as well as a celebratory lunch (we forgot to take pics) and an exhibition and creative talks to celebrate the programme and its participants!

Jul 9

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As we enter this quieter holiday period, today we are looking back to May, a fantastic busy month for us at Blick that included a creative talk with artist and illustrator Danni Simpson, conversations and catchups around Belfast Design Week. 2 fun-filled bank holidays and the end of our Nurture Programme and its final activities which included a fieldtrip visit to Maven and Bag of Bees design studio on the Lisburn Road, as well as a celebratory lunch (we forgot to take pics) and an exhibition and creative talks to celebrate the programme and its participants!

Working from our lovely Great Northern Street Studios breakout space this evening on some plans for the rest of 2025. Lots of exciting things to come after the summer!

Jul 8

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Working from our lovely Great Northern Street Studios breakout space this evening on some plans for the rest of 2025. Lots of exciting things to come after the summer!

Looking back to some of my favourite bits from our Nurture Creative Incubation Programme which ran from October last year to the end of May. Including:

The end of programme talks and exhibition

Our group weekly peer mentoring sessions

Our group fieldtrip to Maven

Interviews with the participants Bethany Millican @bethanysmillican , Vera Hylands @verahylands and Grainne Mullan @point_angel_

A pic of us all together at the end of the programme!

I had such a great time working with all the participants at our weekly peer mentoring and monthly one-on-one sessions and at the monthly workshops with different creatives (such a good time I mostly forgot to get pics) and look forward to keeping in touch and seeing how they progress!

Jul 4

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Looking back to some of my favourite bits from our Nurture Creative Incubation Programme which ran from October last year to the end of May. Including:

The end of programme talks and exhibition

Our group weekly peer mentoring sessions

Our group fieldtrip to Maven

Interviews with the participants Bethany Millican @bethanysmillican , Vera Hylands @verahylands and Grainne Mullan @point_angel_

A pic of us all together at the end of the programme!

I had such a great time working with all the participants at our weekly peer mentoring and monthly one-on-one sessions and at the monthly workshops with different creatives (such a good time I mostly forgot to get pics) and look forward to keeping in touch and seeing how they progress!

Evening light ✨️

Jul 2

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Evening light ✨️

Putting together our new ‘Nurture Programme’ exhibition in our South Belfast studios last month!

Jul 2

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Putting together our new ‘Nurture Programme’ exhibition in our South Belfast studios last month!