☆ HAPPY 2026! ☆ Hopefully the algorithm is doing it’s thing and using my face get’s your eyes on this years updates - which are / is a big one!
If you’ve started swiping, you’ll see that my main update is that I am no longer taking on any freelance projects / clients for the foreseeable future. As of late 2025, I have had the opportunity to take on a contract with a local design agency that we are now taking on full-time. Until when you may ask? I’m not quite sure!
I’m currently on a contract through spring that may be extended, and if I’m being completely honest with myself, l hope does. As much as I truly adore taking on my own private clients, I’m really enjoying working with a team and switching up my pace in this way. Being in a new work environment and working with a different kind of client has been refreshing and challenging in ways I enjoy. I’m excited to grow as a designer in ways that solo-freelancing doesn’t really offer for the time being! Who knows what the future holds!
Now that the big news is out of the way - let’s talk deets (and the most important note for last**):
- I will not be taking on any new project requests, however, please still reach out!
I have quite the list of talented designer friends and colleagues that I can share with you that can help with your specific projects or design needs. I would love to be able to send you to someone that I admire and support, and know you’d enjoy working with.
- Still wanting to work with me? Well, tell me a bit about your project in your inquiry! If the stars align, we might be able to work together in the future (especially if you have a flexible and open timeline). I still have dream projects I would love to work on, things just look a little different now! I would be open to starting an on-hold waitlist for clients, for when the time permits, and if the project aligns. (And you know I’m going to miss you all and have to FIGHT against my best intentions to not take on more work)
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ANOTHER YEAR OF FREELANCING - 24’ 🤖 Even though it’s not quite the end of the year, I want to take a moment to truly say THANK YOU to all of you. Past, current, and future clients, you quite literally make my world go round. I have experienced more support and growth than I would ever dream possible for myself in this realm, and because of you I can keep working for myself full-time. Until a job opportunity comes along that feels aligned and like a step in a direction I want to go, I plan to continue forward freelancing full time - honing in my focus on ILLUSTRATION, BRAND DESIGN & VISUAL IDENTITY, PACKAGING + MORE. I will have news to come in the New Year about some pivoting, refocusing, and and changes to my practice. BUT FOR NOW, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I look forward to working with you in 2025!
SOJOURN VENTURES — A multi-level rebrand project I have so eagerly been awaiting to share, as when 2025 began I made a list of businesses I was dreaming up to design for and anything travel was top of that list. I feel so grateful to have been reached out to by their amazing team, and closely worked with Elizabeth in collaboration to make their timeless and meaningful rebrand something they truly love.
We started off by creating a large scope of brand work for their Bali locations (which I’ll start to put together for sharing, I swear!) and soon realized it would be great to dive into their overall brand image.
I love how everything has turned out, and can’t wait to see all the work on the website we’ve done together go live in the near future!
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Many thanks again Elizabeth and to the @sojourn.ventures team for working with me 🌟
We had such a great time recently working with @allvoicesslp on our SINGLE LOGO DESIGN package to start to make their small business look a little more ~official~. This was extra exciting since recently a lot of work we’ve been up to has been really tapped into simplicity and timelessness (which is great!) but who’s to say you can’t be timeless AND fun?!
We loved some of these other options we created during the process and had to share with you all!
If you’re looking for a brand refresh but want to start on a smaller scale, ask us about our SINGLE LOGO DESIGN! We render 1 final design for you in 3X colors of your choice, as well as B&W files for your varying use! Reach out on our website to inquire.
Thanks again, Kelsey & past client @alivelymanner for the referral 🌷
Call me absolutely flattered — I was recently reached out to by Canvas Rebel to answer a few questions for their series of interviewing inspiring entrepreneurs and creatives. This came with a whole wave of emotions — nerves for being my yapping to be perceived, imposter syndrome of ‘am I even good enough to answer questions?!’, but also just feeling so flattered and a little giddy (still, mostly nervous). I do feel like I have so much to share for those who might want a peek into the freelancing world — and hopefully I did myself a little proud with this one!
If you want to learn a bit about me, give her a read!
Thank you for chatting with me, @canvasrebel 🌷
CANVAS REBEL: Meet Samantha Hensel, ‘What do you think it takes to be successful?’
— LINK IN BIO —
Thank you to Laura of @boroughhome and @whiffscentbar for suggesting me!
Portraits by @sam_griggs
(more credits in article for any content used)
Hi all, things are changing! I am honored to even be saying the words that I am getting busier and busier by the day, I am so lucky to have the opportunity to work with you all - and the support from this growing community. With growth comes change, and there is definitely change that is necessary to happen at this time. As a team of only one, being too busy just isn’t manageable. At the end of the day, l’m only one human and I want to be able to deliver the highest quality designs and give your project my full attention, regardless of the urgency of the project. I truly adore what I do (which is also lucky to say) and want to make sure I can keep sustainably offering my services!
If you are hoping to work together in the future, or someone who has been reaching out to me for design services for a while - this is an important read:
AVAILABILITY + BOOKING: For the past few years, l’ve been taking projects on as they come in, keeping your ideal timelines in mind - which will continue to happen, but with a little more structure. I will be building out a page on my website where when you inquire about a project, you will be able to see the slots I have available from month-to-month, and will be able to see if I can take on your project now, or in the near future. I tend to be a ‘YES’ person, which I love in ways, but isn’t sustainable in the long run and won’t lead to my best work - which we all want! This will be built out very soon, I will keep you all posted when this will be implemented.
RETAINERS: From now on, I won’t be able to accept any one-off smaller hourly projects. I know, I love small projects because it means being a great resource for small businesses, but it has become too much to juggle. If you are a frequent client who comes to me on a regular basis, we will need to create a retainer contract. This retainer would be a fixed monthly fee to guarantee my availability for your projects, as I am no longer available on a rolling basis. Our retainer together would be detailed with scope terms worked out between the both of us. There will be a fixed minimum for these retainers, and only a small amount of slots available.
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With freelancing comes contracts, contracts, contracts!
During the past few years of freelancing, l’ve really been able to iron out terms and policies that keep me able to offer my services to you all. This has all been through learning experiences, for better or for worse, but all for being able to grow as a freelancer (and in that, to be able to offer work for you!)
My contract template is the same for each client, big or small - and likely will contain some specific project terms. Even if we are doing a trade or something more niche - I will be requiring this contract. As we get a project moving together, I will always mention reading this contract in detail as I know some agreements might not be as familiar to some, which is so understandable.
The main point of this announcement is to make sure that when you’re reaching out to me for work, that you are aware of agreements coming your way! I truly am just one person here trying my best to offer the best work I can, and still feel respected as a designer, independent worker, and human.
For full transparency, I have had situations that have deeply hurt my feelings. Some of these have put me in sticky situations with payments being avoided, intellectual property theft, and terms being disregarded after signing. It’s unfortunately made me multiple times not want to keep offering what I love to do, and I still question being able to do so - but l strive to keep moving forward and creating clarity and trust with the clients that chose to work with me, and that I in return chose to work with as well.
With the vast majority of my clients, everything is a breeze, and so incredibly enjoyable during and after our time together. In no way is this pinpointing specific people I’ve worked with as I know each case is different and I hold so much space to clarify, ask questions, or solve misunderstandings. Creating client relationships and putting my energy into making work that affects your lives in positive ways, brings me the most joy. I appreciate all of you much for supporting me and my work, more than you may know - and thank you for understanding. If we haven’t worked together yet - I so look forward to it!
ADOBE HILL WINERY: This fun advertisement project came to me at the final hours of 2024 from the lovely Camry at @adobehillwinery . They were on the hunt for some illustrative but timeless designs to use for marketing purposes on social media + beyond! We created a few layout variations for use on stories, square posts, and portrait posts.
(The last image shows one of the options for their tasting room illustration that wasn’t chosen as the final winner, but I love this angle as well!)
Thank you, Camry + Adobe Hill Winery team 🍷
Big shout out to @noah.urbina who created their original brand deck + assets!
THE COMMUNITY ECOLOGY CENTER — A project that I was truly honored to work on. @thecommunityecologycenter is a brand new non-profit here in Oregon, creating safe space and programming for DV + SA survivors, as well as queer + trans young adults. This entire project is an incredibly rare resource to find - so when Christine of Island Farm Studios (@island_farmstudio ) reached out to tell me about her plans and wanting to work together, there was no way I wouldn’t be supporting them with their visual identity build out. We were able to create a LOGO SUITE, COLOR PALETTE + TYPOGRAPHY SUITE as well as a simple WEB DESIGN build out for them as they got ready to launch.
I encourage you to follow along their journey and share with those who you love! I can’t wait to watch The Community Ecology Center grow and flourish.
Congratulations, Christine!
PT. 2 — 2024 DESIGNS: Here are a few more as a treat! It was a pleasure to work with every single one of you, can’t wait to keep this energy going in 2025!
BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS STILL TO COME — INCLUDING A RAFFLE GIVEAWAY (eep!).
Also: our books are open for the entire year of 2025! Fill out the quick intake form on our website to get in touch.
DESIGNS FROM 2024 PT.1 —— Ahhhh, what a year it’s been! Huge thank you to all of my clients and folks who have shared our work. I truly wouldn’t be able to make this my full time job if it wasn’t for your outpouring of support and trust. Can’t WAIT for another year of creating work together!
This is just a little grouping of work from the past year that I had at my finger tips — I’ll be sharing some more soon (some businesses & projects haven’t quite launched yet, so more sharing will happen then!)
ALSO A HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT: remember when we said when we get to 1k on Instagram we will be doing a raffle giveaway? Well, that’s happening SO soon and it will be bigger than we even thought! Stay tuned to hear more details of how to enter and what the prizes will be. It’s no joke.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ANOTHER SUPER EXCITING YEAR, CHEERS EVERYONE!
(also just realized after posting we forgot to add some images, so this is DEFINITELY a part 1 — more coming in another reel 😉)
SUN HOUSE CAFE — Branding just dropped! Sacramento, get ready for your new favorite cafe opening SPRING 2025 ~ they will be serving up ceremonial grade matcha, coffees, teas + offering small bites. Plus, they will have MERCH, MENUS, CARDS + SIGNAGE that we worked on to make sure the look is as fun as it can be for you all.
Congrats to Leandra + company for opening this spot up, we can’t wait to see it come to life!
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This branding bundle is out ESSENTIALS PACKAGE (logo suite, colors, font pairings PLUS custom illustration, merch design, menu + business card design, and signage)
Reach out for inquiries!
