Form Over Function: Why Your Beautiful Branding Doesn't Work with Melin Edomwonyi
Release Date: 03/18/2026
Inside OFFF Festival- What I Learned as a Creative Business Owner
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In this episode, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes debrief from my time at OFFF Festival in Barcelona; one of the world’s most inspiring creative conferences. I chat about the standout talks and industry trends (including honest conversations around AI) and the power of community and creative energy. This episode is a reflection on what really matters as a creative business owner. Key Takeaways Creativity is still deeply human (even in the age of AI) Many top creatives aren’t rushing to replace their craft with AI; they genuinely love the process, problem-solving, and hands-on work....
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Beyond the Shiny Finish: Scaling, Sacrifices, and Software with Michael Bruny-Groth
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In this episode, I chat with Michael Bruny-Groth, the founder of (aff link) Michael created a tool that has become a staple for logo designers worldwide, but behind the "overnight success" lies a story of immense sacrifice, strategic pivots, and radical vulnerability. Michael shares the behind-the-scenes reality of running a software company, including the personal toll of scaling and his bold decision to run a "Pay What You Want" Black Friday campaign rooted in deep, personal storytelling. This is a refreshingly honest look at what it actually takes to build and maintain a successful brand...
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How I juggle motherhood and running a business
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A behind-the-scenes look at the real, unfiltered juggle of running a business while raising a family. In this episode, I’m sharing the contrast between big career moments and the everyday realities of motherhood, plus the systems, support, and mindset shifts that make it all possible. Key Takeaways The “highlight vs reality” contrast is normal You can go from career highs to cleaning up sick (or dealing with nits) overnight. Both can exist and that doesn’t diminish your success. You don’t have to do it all alone Support systems; whether that’s a partner, family, freelancers, or...
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Redefining Growth: From a Team of 10 to a Team of Two with Lauren Harvey
Building your Brand
Today on the podcast I chat with Lauren Harvey, who is the owner and founder of with her husband, Alex. I think so often we view running a business as a very linear journey, but often it doesn't really look like that. Over the last 15 years of owning their business, Lauren and Alex started off with just Lauren, grew to a team of 10, and then intentionally scaled back down again to just the two of them. We talk about that experience, how they had to unlearn the traditional narrative of "success," and the new niche they've settled into. We also discuss what it is really like working with your...
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Two failed client projects that had the biggest impact on my business
Building your Brand
In this solo episode, I’m sharing two early client mistakes that knocked my confidence; but ultimately shaped the way I run my business today. I talk vulnerably about my previously poor boundaries and some communication breakdowns, and how these experiences taught me lessons I still carry into every project. If you’ve ever had a client situation go wrong, this episode will remind you: you’re not alone and you can come back stronger. Key Takeaways Your gut is part of your business strategy If something feels off; whether it’s pricing, scope, or a client fit; it’s worth paying...
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Book Design as Branding: Lessons from Penguin with David Pearson
Building your Brand
In this episode of Building Your Brand, I’m chatting with , a world-class book designer who began his career at Penguin Books before venturing out on his own. David specializes in both book covers and the internal layouts (text design) of books. We dive deep into the "crossovers" between book design and branding, exploring how David handles the unique challenge of designing for "dead authors" while trying to capture entirely new audiences. David shares his refreshing and somewhat rebellious take on the creative process, explaining why he identifies as a "slow designer" and why he’s...
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Where I Stand on AI (as a Branding Designer)
Building your Brand
In this solo episode I'm sharing honestly on where I currently stand on AI. It's a topic I’m still wrestling with; from its undeniable benefits to the deeper ethical and creative concerns, this isn’t a definitive take; it’s a real-time reflection. If you’ve been feeling conflicted, cautious, or even curious about AI, this episode opens up the conversation and invites you to think more critically about the role it plays in your work, your creativity, and your life. Key Takeaways You don’t need to have a fixed opinion It’s okay to sit in the grey area. Growth comes from questioning,...
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The Invisible Impact: How Your Font Choice Defines Your Brand with Alen Kapetanovic
Building your Brand
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How I Prepare For Giving a Talk
Building your Brand
Over the last few years I have been lucky enough to speak at some incredible events including Adobe MAX London (in front of 750 people and Adobe MAX LA. This year I am speaking at Atomicon and OMR Festival in Hamburg. In this episode I share how I prepare for the talks I give. Every talk is different but with the help of public speaking coach Charlotte Lewis who I have previously interviewed on the podcast I have managed to come up with a process that works well for me. If you have done any public speaking I would love to hear your experience, and if there is anything else you...
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The Truth About Professional Jealousy with Hannah Isted and Lois Seco
Building your Brand
Today on the podcast, I've invited two of my closest friends, Hannah Isted and Lois Seco, to chat about another vulnerable topic: dealing with professional jealousy. Last time we spoke, we tackled our fear of success, and this time we are diving into the messy feelings of comparison and envy. I am sure everyone has experienced professional jealousy at some point, and honestly, I feel it pretty regularly. In this episode, we chat about how to extract useful information from your jealousy, why taking action is the best antidote to comparison, and the danger of letting the social media...
info_outlineToday on the podcast, I am chatting about such an important topic: inclusivity and accessibility within branding. I'm joined by my friend and fellow designer Melin Edomwonyi to dig into what this actually looks like in practice which is a lot deeper than I realised.
We cover so many different aspects of inclusivity and accessibility, from the colours we choose to how we format our emails. I feel like some of these topics could be a whole episode by themselves!
The biggest reminder from this conversation is that we are never going to get this stuff perfect 100% of the time. It'a about curiosity and a willingness to learn and make improvements bit by bit and Melin shares some SUPER practical tips you can implement straight away to make your brand more accessible.
This episode is sponsored by SilverStag Type Foundry. If you’re a designer looking for a typeface that really elevates your brand, SilverStag is a brilliant place to start. It’s a one-person type studio creating carefully crafted fonts with multiple weights, alternates, and ligatures; all designed to help brands stand out.
Head to lizmosley.net/SLTF and use the code LIZxSLTF for 20% off.
Key Takeaways:
- Inclusivity is more than just imagery: While showing a diverse range of people in your photography is important, inclusive branding also covers typography, colour contrast, accessibility, and your tone of voice.
- The problem with the "Beige Aesthetic": We discuss the trend of "aesthetic" design (often beige, low contrast, tiny text) and how, while it might look "luxury", it often excludes people with visual impairments and makes your content hard to consume.
- Don't make your audience work for it: If your text is hard to read (e.g. centre-aligned body copy), people will simply switch off. Accessibility isn't just a legal or moral requirement; it’s smart business. If people can't read your offer, they can't buy it.
- Context matters for content: We chat about the accessibility of long-form captions on platforms like Instagram versus platforms designed for reading like Substack or LinkedIn. Providing a summary (TL;DR) is a great way to be inclusive of different neurotypes and time constraints.
- Designing for the "drunk user": Melin shares a fascinating UX perspective—if your website is usable by someone who is distracted, tired, or even "under the influence", it is likely accessible to everyone.
Episode Highlights:
- 03:30 – What does inclusive branding actually mean? (Hint: It’s not just about photos).
- 10:00 – The frustration with the "Instagram Aesthetic" and why form should not win over function.
- 14:00 – A plea to stop centre-aligning your newsletter body copy!
- 17:00 – Accessibility in copywriting: Why wall-of-text captions can be a barrier for neurodivergent audiences.
- 25:00 – Testing your website for different scenarios (including the "drunk test").
- 27:00 – Tools and resources to help you check your colour contrast.
About The Guest:
Melin Edomwonyi is a designer and the Co-founder and UX Director of Seedable Studio, a digital agency that validates, designs, and builds digital products. With over 20 years of experience, she is passionate about building inclusive and sustainable products and helping founders bring brilliant ideas to life.
You can find Melin on Instagram @melin_edo or visit Seedable Studio
Mentioned in this episode:
- SilverTag Type (Discount link/Sponsor)
- Color Palette Studio: The Instagram account mentioned that fixes low-contrast colour palettes
- Coolors / Adobe Color: Tools recommended for checking contrast.
I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @lizmmosley or @buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!
This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft lucylucraft.co.uk
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!