Crafting Your Brand’s Visual Story with Monique Johnson
I’m thrilled to introduce you to one of my incredible mastermind students, Monique Johnson, founder of Design with MOJO. Monique is an explorer at heart and a master storyteller, and her passion for uncovering brand identities and bringing them to life is inspiring. Read on and discover Monique’s unique approach to crafting a compelling visual story for your business.
From Rural Roots to Creative Branding Expert
Monique’s creative journey started early in her life, growing up on nine acres of rural mountain terrain. She would spend hours exploring forgotten corners of her backyard, imagining the stories behind long-abandoned homes she discovered on her bike rides. Even as a young girl, Monique’s curiosity and imagination ran wild, creating stories from the remnants of the past.
Her early love for exploration and creativity naturally led her to art. Throughout school, Monique dove headfirst into every art class she could find, even teaching herself calligraphy and painting. What began as a hobby quickly became a calling, thanks to the encouragement of her high school art teacher. That’s when Monique made the decision to pursue a career in illustration, a path that gave her invaluable skills—everything from understanding color and interpreting visuals to infusing artistic flair into her designs.
The Journey to Becoming a Branding Expert
Monique’s career has truly been an adventure! She’s worked at startups, design firms, and held roles as both an Art Director and Creative Director. But after the birth of her first child, Monique took a bold leap—she struck out on her own as a brand designer for small businesses. This is where she truly found her calling. Her love for visual storytelling and her joy in helping entrepreneurs express their brand identity became her driving force.
One of the most unique things about Monique is her ability to become a conduit for her clients’ stories. She takes her clients on a collaborative journey, helping them get outside their comfort zones to discover creative leaps that inspire the best brand ideas for their business. For Monique, the process of creating a brand is just as important as the final product, and that philosophy has led to some truly incredible transformations for her clients.
The Mastermind Effect: Clarity, Strategy, and Connection
Monique was new to the concept of a mastermind and found it to be an essential space for gaining fresh perspectives, dedicated time for strategic thinking, and valuable peer feedback. Monique explains how the mastermind offers a structure to think more strategically, which led directly to the creation of a brand new offer, her brand new Visual Brand Workshop.
In Monique’s own words: “The Creative Business Mastermind has given me a place to talk through my business challenges and gain clarity. Knowing I have a supportive community to turn to is invaluable. The diversity in the mastermind group is one of the best parts! It’s great to learn from those ahead of me and also help others who are just starting out. The connections I’m making are amazing. As a creative, I don’t always focus on the business side, but the mastermind gives me the accountability and knowledge I need to move forward strategically.”
Monique has also been hired by several members of the mastermind to do their branding work. For example, she’s collaborating with Natalie Rotman Cote to up-level her existing assets and develop a unique brand voice that’s true to what Natalie’s business is all about. She’s also just beginning the branding process with Maria Dominquez, taking her through her entire creative process, from initial brand discovery to final visual assets. Monique’s structured approach, combined with her deep dive into each client’s brand essence, ensures that their story is communicated in a unique and powerful way.
Managing Overwhelm and Balancing Client Work with Strategy
Monique often finds herself juggling the demands of client work while struggling to carve out time to think strategically about her own business. This internal conflict between focusing on immediate client needs and taking a step back to build her business was a significant challenge.
The mastermind provides Monique with new systems and strategies to manage overwhelm and prioritize her time. By learning how to set aside regular periods for strategic planning, Monique gained clarity and direction. This shift has allowed her to identify and develop new offerings, like her Visual Brand Workshop, designed to help small business owners craft their own visual narratives with confidence.
The Visual Brand Workshop: Unleash Your Brand's Story
Monique’s new Visual Brand Workshop is a great opportunity for you to learn Monique’s unique approach. In this workshop, she takes small business owners through the essential steps to uncover and refine their brand’s visual identity. From color selection to typography, Monique’s approach empowers entrepreneurs to confidently tell their brand story through visuals. It’s available now. Click HERE for all the details.
NEWS FLASH! Monique plans to join me LIVE on Wednesday at noon pacific time, which is 3pm eastern time, on my Facebook page and on YouTube. We’ll talk all things brand strategy, visual storytelling and she’ll answer your questions. See you there!
xo,
Anne
P.S. If you’re interested in applying for my Creative Business Mastermind, you can learn more and apply HERE. Spots for the 2025 cohort are limited and it’s by application only.
Remember,
It’s Never Too Late to Create®
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MEET ANNE
Hi…I’m Anne!
My creative inspiration comes from a lifetime of observation. I grew up in Paris on the Place St. Sulpice and walked to school through the Luxembourg gardens. And that was only the beginning… Learn more by watching the video on my About page.
