elevate your work

elevate

A one-of-a-kind mentoring programme for brand designers that will supercharge your creativity, help you bring more resonance, polish and commercial clout to your work and make your brand design business even more compelling.

Next course dates tbc.
Currently Closed for Enrolment.

COMING SOON

eight transformative weeks that will leave
a lasting impact on your brand design business

develop a distinctive portfolio
create more polished, resonant work

Add a new level of flair to your work and win new clients

one to one mentoring
supercharge your creative confidence

and transform your creative vision

curated content
elevate your process and own your space

game-changing content from an experienced agency o

'FIONA IS A TRUE VISIONARY AND EXPERT, WHO NOT ONLY SUPPORTS YOU WHEREVER YOU ARE ON YOUR JOURNEY, BUT ALSO SHARES HER EXPERTISE AND PASSION FOR DESIGN WHOLEHEARTEDLY. I WOULD RECOMMEND ANYONE WHO WANTS TO ELEVATE THEIR DESIGN OR THEIR BUSINESS TO SIGN UP WITHOUT HESITATION. I GOT MY MONEY’S WORTH IN WEEK ONE!'

Chandra Casali-Bell


a one-of-a-kind mentoring programme

a unique mentorship for brand designers of all levels

Brand designers at the top of their game enjoy commercial success. They don’t need to fight for work, compromise on their standards or allow themselves to be micro-managed by challenging clients. When you are an incredible designer, your portfolio glows with the evidence of your brilliance. It consistently attracts the right work and you get to enjoy the freedom that comes from stepping away from the hustle.

What does it take to be an incredible designer? Vision, flair and attention to detail are essential. What's also needed in spades is the consistent ability to deliver on the nuances of the brief and craft a brand identity that sets your client apart.

There is no shortcut or magic bullet to creating a thriving design business. It takes work, it takes dedication to honing your skills and requires directed, experienced and visionary feedback. This is where Elevate comes into its own.

"IN A WORLD FULL OF ENTREPRENEURIAL BRAGGING AND FAST WEALTH-BUILDING PROMISES, YOUR CORNER OF THE INTERNET IS A REFRESHING REMINDER OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO BUILD A BUSINESS BASED ON INTEGRITY, BEAUTY, AND DEEP SKILL."

Tiffany Eurich

create three show stopping brand identities for your dream projects

At the heart of the Elevate experience are the creative projects. This is your opportunity to create three, stellar brand identities in a safe space, under my Creative Direction.

You'll have nine elevated, inspirational and visionary briefs to choose from - designed to energise you creatively, plug those gaps in your portfolio and showcase what you're truly capable of.

Each week you'll submit your work and receive insightful and encouraging feedback, directly from Fiona. This is where the magic happens and these incremental shifts mean that you'll elevate at a rate of knots.

"Elevate is not a blueprint or formula to recreate someone else’s success, it’s about finding your own way"

Katha Zander

gain the insights you need to move your unique business forwards

Elevate isn't about giving you a blueprint or a formula to replicate someone else's success. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to building a thriving design business.

Elevate is about developing your own way of working, honouring your own style and setting you up to flourish as a designer. It's about facilitating a great creative environment and giving you the insights, tools and approaches you need to thrive in your distinctive space.

The course is designed to celebrate your strengths and allow us to quickly identify those elements in your work and your process that are holding you back.

You'll graduate from the programme with a more refined visual style, a more resilient creative process and a stronger ability to deliver truly resonant work. It's a winning formula that's only possible in this unique mentored environment with Fiona's expertise. It's the combination of this, that Elevate is renowned for.

"Elevate was a complete game-changer for my design business. Fiona’s insight and instruction is invaluable, and my process and work has really flourished as a result."

Haley Grand, Reformette

mentoring, feedback and incisive insights from one of the leading specialists in brand design

The true magic in Elevate, and what sets this experience apart, is Fiona's incisive, visionary and experienced eye. She is a passionate advocate of the power of powerful, resonant brand design and has dedicated the last ten years of her career to raising the industry up.

Fiona sold her design agency in 2012 and now works as a leading Creative Director for lifestyle and consumer brands globally. She is renowned for her unique, evocative vision and her innate ability to cut straight to the heart of a brand and pull the visuals back into resonance. Learning how she does this will enable you to work more efficiently, effectively and joyfully, and to serve your clients better.

As a the bestselling author of two branding books, Fiona has inspired and influenced hundreds of thousands of brand designers and entrepreneurs with her approach. She has taught thousands through The Brand Stylist Academy and consulted for hundreds (if not thousands) of founders and designers over the years. This unparalleled understanding across the breadth of the brand design industry enables her to bring unique insights that will give you the edge.

When you join the Elevate programme, you'll hear it direct from the horses' mouth. Elevate is taught exclusively by Fiona, so you can be assured that when you enrol, you'll benefit directly from her insights.

"In a matter of 6 short weeks, I’ve learned to become my own creative director - from bigger picture questions such as whether my vision will resonate with the audience, to more technical decisions such as whether this font is giving off the right feeling."

Marion Tan

a tried and trusted programme for brand designers across the globe

We developed the Elevate concept in 2019 and since then have inspired scores of designers through our annual programmes.

Each year I welcome designers from around the world at all levels: from Creative Directors at globally renowned agencies to corporate designers in multi-national corporations. There are designers with 20+ years experience and plenty right at the start of their brand design journey, keen to begin their new careers from a solid foundation, and everyone in between. The beauty of Elevate is that it meets you where you're at and moves you forwards at an exponential rate.

Alongside the mentoring, we have developed a programme of timely, poignant and relevant content that will enable you to tighten up those areas needed to elevate. You'll learn how to navigate the contradictions and find clarity in a brief. To design with true intention and in a way that honours your distinctive style. And I'll show you how to present with flair in a way that gets your clients on board with your vision.

Weekly mastermind collectives, unique to your cohort, allow us to tackle the specific areas you're finding most challenging and to learn from each other in a safe, supportive space. It's a truly powerful programme and I look forward to welcoming you.

"IN A MATTER OF SIX SHORT WEEKS, I’VE LEARNED TO BECOME MY OWN CREATIVE DIRECTOR - FROM BIGGER PICTURE QUESTIONS SUCH AS WHETHER MY VISION WILL RESONATE WITH THE AUDIENCE, TO MORE TECHNICAL DECISIONS SUCH AS WHETHER THIS FONT IS GIVING OFF THE RIGHT FEELING."

Marion Tan

let's create brand magic

This is your opportunity to nail that portfolio, to refine your skills and to really push yourself to elevate. From the way you manage your clients to the way you present your work and every detail in between, this will make all the difference.

We begin in February 2024 and work together for eight weeks. Fortnightly brand identity design assignments will run alongside a carefully developed programme of content and individual feedback direct from me personally. Limited places ensures each participant who commits will benefit from optimum input and support.

enrol today

"I never imagined I’d have the confidence or ability to go in the direction I am headed - and that’s mostly down to you and your course. I’m so excited for where I’m planning to take my “new” business."

Gemma Andrews

"Elevate was a complete game-changer for my design business. Fiona’s insight and instruction is invaluable, and my process and work has really flourished as a result."

Haley Grand, Reformette

included in your experience

When time is at a premium, you need to know that where you invest your effort will give you the best return, so the emphasis for this offering is on guiding you through producing and presenting three stellar brand identities that you can take forward into your portfolio with pride.

  • weekly mastermind sessions

    Weekly mastermind sessions are created uniquely for each cohort and allow us to share insights, connect with the community and celebrate everything you’ve achieved in a safe and private space. As always these sessions are recorded and uploaded to this cohort's classroom for any students unable to join us live.

  • tailored one to one feedback

    You can expect feedback on your first draft and final concept for the brand identities you create during our time together directly from Fiona herself. This will rapidly elevate your work, help you to refine your process and develop a body of work that truly shows your clients what you're capable of.

  • carefully curated content

    A professionally recorded series of in-depth interviews exploring the practicalities of running a successful design agency. Laser-focused presentations on the topics that really matter. And an insight into using Colour Psychology to create intentional, elevated and cohesive work.

an investment that keeps on giving

  • lifetime access

    You’ll have lifetime access to your unique cohort’s classroom where you can revisit the seminars, replay the presentations and refresh your knowledge as often as you like.

  • an evergreen discount

    10% off all courses in The Brand Stylist Academy for life and 20% off a future Elevate programme. Just using your discount for The Resonant Brand Method alone would save you £425. If you used it for everything in the Academy - goodness, that would be a lot!

  • a beautiful welcome box

    My gorgeous signature box to welcome you to Elevate and mark the beginning of a very exciting journey together.

seize the day and prepare to elevate!

join the elevate collective

Elevate is run just once a year and we are currently CLOSED for enrolment.

instalment plans available

CURRENTLY CLOSED

What the Elevate collective are saying

5 star rating

Best gift of the year

Laura Grant

I began Elevate 2022 as a highly-skilled graphic designer looking to determine if I had what it takes to deliver the right brand for my dream clients. I gift...

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I began Elevate 2022 as a highly-skilled graphic designer looking to determine if I had what it takes to deliver the right brand for my dream clients. I gifted myself the experience knowing that Fiona's guidance and eye for design were exactly what I had been looking for. I was profoundly challenged and discovered gaps in my process that I would never have sorted out in my fast-moving work-life pace. In the weeks following graduation, I've noticed higher creativity, confidence, and vision for my work and my business. As a brand designer, I am so thankful for gifting myself Elevate. I recommend it to all designers! We can make this process so much easier on ourselves if we secure the right help. Thank you, Fiona!

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5 star rating

An amazing experience

Hannah Van Woert

Over my time with Elevate, I learned so much more not only about how to refine my creative process, but also about myself as a designer. This was money VERY ...

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Over my time with Elevate, I learned so much more not only about how to refine my creative process, but also about myself as a designer. This was money VERY well spent and I was honestly sad when it was over. Fiona was a powerful mentor and helped me gain confidence in my abilities. I'd do it again and again!

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5 star rating

So worth it!!!

rhea ornias

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5 star rating

LOVED IT!!!

Chrystal Fleming

Elevate was amazing, as is Fiona. It was just gold getting someone with such delightful style and creative knowledge to learn from and feedback on my work. G...

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Elevate was amazing, as is Fiona. It was just gold getting someone with such delightful style and creative knowledge to learn from and feedback on my work. Getting to work on such exquisite briefs was a dream come true!! The amount of experience and knowledge packed into this course was amazing!! Love, love, loved it!!

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5 star rating

Stratospherically good!

Jade Thomas

A brilliant course - a true elevation (sometimes to heights where the air was a bit too thin to breathe)! We all had the adrenaline fuelled 3AM inspirati...

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A brilliant course - a true elevation (sometimes to heights where the air was a bit too thin to breathe)! We all had the adrenaline fuelled 3AM inspiration moments and a fair smattering of crashing lows and soul searching - The phrase 'just keep swimming' was used a few times on our group chat! No swears in the chat though, so that’s something! … But, eggs and omelettes and all that. I think I have a real opportunity now to use my new skills, understandings and tools to great effect. Fiona has given me X-ray branding specs to look into a business, diagnose how it needs to feel and create an impactful brand that is right for them, their customers and looks epic in my portfolio. Thank you Fiona.

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5 star rating

Investing in my Growth

Christine Restivo

The best investment (along with Colour Psychology for Brand Designers) I could have ever made for my business. I am overflowing with inspiration and ready to...

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The best investment (along with Colour Psychology for Brand Designers) I could have ever made for my business. I am overflowing with inspiration and ready to apply my newfound knowledge to my projects.

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programme outcomes

what you'll gain

01
the energy To move your business forwards at an exponential rate and build your company from a foundation of excellence
02
the insight To elevate your work; to capture your clients’ imagination and build their trust from the get go.
03
the space To really challenge yourself, to hone your design process and to set your brand design business apart.
04
the confidence To be more creative in your work; to craft more distinctive design; to go after those dream projects and dream clients.
05
the support to develop a more robust and resilient process that will transform how you serve your clients
06
the knowledge To navigate the contradictions and find clarity in a brief and to design with true intention
07
the ability to create more strategic, visionary and resonant work that gets you noticed
08
the vision and confidence to lean into your distinctive style and take your business to the next level
scores of happy clients
WORD FROM THE ELEVATE COLLECTIVE

"I never imagined I’d have the confidence or ability to go in the direction I am headed - and that’s mostly down to you and your course. I’m so excited for where I’m planning to take my “new” business."

GEMMA ANDREWS

“Fiona’s strategic and emotional insight into brand design is brilliant and we are learning loads - definitely a huge elevation!”

JADE THOMAS

“I feel much more confident as a designer and that the calibre of my work was not only higher than I gave myself credit for, but it’s been heightened because of Elevate.”

JENNIFER TURNER

“I am beyond excited and grateful for what these past few weeks have unfolded and revealed .. truly inspiring .. your incredible eye and experience has made such an impact!”

DAWN TERRIZZI

I have really enjoyed Elevate, it literally has elevated my design style and thinking, so much so that I am now looking at other designers work that I have previously admired and thinking ‘oh if that font could be a smidge smaller or different’, ‘you could just tweak that’...”

CHRYSTAL FLEMING

“I’m in love with this experience Fiona!! Really been able to stretch my creative muscles beyond typical projects for me.”

KATIE ZUPAN

Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely, yes. I've had lots of successes with brand designers at the beginning of their journey and the course is structured to meet you at whatever level you are at. You will need a solid understanding of a professional design programme (I recommend Adobe Illustrator and InDesign) as we are designing fast! Having a grounding in design fundamentals before we begin (I suggest working through Design for Go-Getters) will stand you in great stead.
This programme is non refundable.
You can work through this course from any location and around your unique commitments. I genuinely can’t think of a reason why you’d be unable to complete the course so treat this project like any new client coming on board and make the space in your schedule now. I promise you that the rewards will be worth it!
Good question! I’ve made the very intentional decision not to screen applicants for Elevate. This class is designed to elevate your work, your process, your confidence and your style, from whatever level you are at. If you are currently selling your services as a brand designer or brand stylist, or you’re planning to, this is for you. Through a series of highly inspirational briefs, incisive creative direction and informative content, I’ll help you create more elevated, intentional and compelling work that will set your design business apart and serve your clients better. I’ve worked with students from all backgrounds, with all sorts of creative styles and levels of experience. What I’ve found is that it’s those students who are committed to showing up, week after week, producing the work and responding to the feedback are achieving incredible things. It’s seriously exciting stuff, for the designers and for the industry.
Firstly, absolutely, yes. Each cohort is different but they always come to Elevate with a wide range of experience, outlooks and creative styles. We generally have students in their 20’s and 30’s as well as 40’s, 50’s and sometimes 60’s. There really is no ‘set’ group dynamic. Secondly, whilst there is the opportunity to connect and support each other, both inside and outside of the group, Elevate is about you. It’s about nurturing your unique design style, playing to your strengths and carving out a strong space for you. In this programme you are encouraged to bring and share your unique creative vision and bring meaning to your work, and that comes about always through being you. You’ll fit right in!
This is such a hard question to answer because so much of it will depend on you, your process and the way you work right now. Effectively, you’ll be creating a full brand identity in weeks One, Three and Five, so you’ll want to allow at least two clear days in those weeks with time spare to work on polishing and refining your work, perhaps more.
Briefs are issued first thing Monday morning and the assignments due in Sunday at midnight, so you’ll have the full week available including evenings and weekends.
In weeks Two, Four and Six, you’ll be refining your work, so my hope would be that a couple of hours would be enough in these weeks. It should just be a case of a few tweaks!
There’s no question that this will require a level of commitment but the rewards are immense. I guess the point is, if it were easy, you would have done it already. This programme is about giving you the support, inspiration, momentum and focus to create a stellar portfolio, boost your creative confidence and get your business in a great place for the year ahead.
I like your thinking! But no. As this is a programme with a strictly limited number of places, there is an expectation that when you sign up, you are committed. This programme is about preparing your business to elevate in the longer term. It’s about raising you up and giving you the opportunity to prepare to thrive. Particularly for those of you stuck in the rut of being ‘busy’, often on the wrong projects with the wrong clients, this is about being able to escape the hustle. To see the value of your investment, you need to commit to seeing it through. Your business will thank you for it! If you're a long time member of the community based in Europe, you will probably remember that pre-Brexit, VAT was also included in your course investments. Since January 2020, when the UK left the EU we have not charged VAT on products and services in Europe. Either way, what you really need to know is that wherever you are based, the headline price of the course is as listed! Nothing is *added on* for tax.
Seminars are held weekly and recorded for those of you unable to make it live. When planning the timings, I try to take into account the location of the cohort. In 2021 we had participants in Australia and the Far East as well as the USA and of course, UK and Europe so I held seminars at 9.30am one week and 2pm the next to give everyone the chance to join us live. You can absolutely catch up on the recording if the timings don’t work for you so there is no pressure to join us live.