Musings
Meet Robyn Hynes of Frontier 1862
I’m so pleased to introduce you to Robyn Hynes of Frontier 1862 for many reasons. One in particular, is that the timing simply “felt” appropriate. Hailing from South Dakota, Robyn’s aesthetic is this cool yet raw mountain chicness that I’ve always been drawn to. It elicits this type of feeling that you just want to be wrapped up in. One look at her Instagram and you’ll quickly see what I mean. It just oozes with all of the textures, light and beauty one might conjure up for an autumn mood board.
A mood board from Robyn’s South Dakota Studio
Email campaign for Tiina Smith Jewelry announcing her new digs on Newbury Street
But getting down to business…. Robyn and I worked together on some super special creative initiatives for Tiina Smith Jewelry. Tiina’s jewels are as MAJOR as they get. MAJOR. We’re talking Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Moussaieff and the like. Our focus areas were mostly with regard to e-commerce and email marketing, tools that have set Tiina up for success in a big way. Having just opened her doors on the illustrious Newbury Street in Boston, it’s safe to say Tiina is dreaming it and doing it, company we like to keep!
Some of Tiina’s dreamy jewels…are you drooling yet?!
What makes Robyn so skilled is the combination of her sheer eye and understanding of an elevated digital experience, but also her execution. Our work together felt lockstep throughout each phase.
Here, I leave you with a Q&A to get to know Robyn:
Share with us a little bit about Frontier 1862.
Frontier 1862 is my creative studio I started in February 2018. I was fresh out of college and had overheard some writers at graduation discussing freelancing, so I tried it out – and it took off! I evolved into working with interior & fashion designers as well as some people in the beauty industry doing their digital marketing & content design. The rest is history!
Paint the picture of an ideal Frontier 1862 client...
My ideal client is a stylish creative who loves exploring all aspects of beauty that the world has to offer. I love working with people who have great personal style in both their home and how they represent themselves through fashion. I really love working with fellow artists and creatives.
What excites you about fall?
RAIN BOOTS! I’m a HUGE fan of rain boots and wear them daily during the fall and winter seasons. I’m also really excited for cold crisp weather, fall candles from Swan Creek Candle Company and baking some great recipes!
For someone that has never been to South Dakota before, what are some musts when visiting?
I definitely recommend a drive down or hike in Spearfish Canyon if you’re in the Black Hills – or if you make it to the eastern side of the state, where I grew up, I recommend a visit to J.L. Beers. It’s your ideal midwestern local sports-bar dive with great food and drinks.
How can a brand elevate its aesthetic through graphic design?
I always say that good design evolves from good photography. Luckily, I work with a lot of brands that know the value of investing in a photographer. When the photography is off, it makes it super hard to have good designs for your marketing collateral and online content.
Typefaces you're loving as of late?
I’m obsessed with Lust Pro. I think the lightest weight in both regular and italic transformations is absolutely beautiful.
What does the natural world mean to you and how does it influence your work?
Out here in the West, our seasons are very extreme so I’m heavily influenced by the colors of each season. In the Spring, I’m definitely drawn to brighter colors like yellows, greens, pinks etc… In the fall and winter, I’m much more into darker burgundy colors, deep navy and green. I evolve in my work along with the seasons!
What is the biggest mistake businesses make when it comes to building their brand or thinking about their digital identity?
I have a heavy art background, so I’d say composition is everything. For example, if your online store has huge blocky fonts, poor images or nothing is spaced out and fits correctly, the composition can deter a potential customer or client. Having a balance between colors, imagery and typography is the most important thing. Websites are like the digital storefront. If a customer saw a messy storefront, they’re probably not going to step inside your store!
Most rewarding Frontier project to-date?
I’d say the most rewarding projects I’ve worked on are all of the clients who come to me after having a bad experience with another designer. I love fixing up a website or email campaign after someone feels all hope is lost and kind of gaining their trust in hiring a contractor again. I make a lot of work friends that way and I love to help people in any way I can, so those experiences are the most rewarding.
The best career advice you've ever received?
Learn to say no. It’s perfectly fine to want to take a break! Us creatives actually probably even need it to refuel our brains. Learning to say no in the workplace has really allowed me to refresh my perspective and have the time and mental energy to take on jobs I’m passionate about.
You work with a great deal of luxe fashion and jewelry brands. Who are your top two personal fashion icons?
I LOVE Nicole Kidman’s style – especially in her 73 questions, Vogue interview! It’s so romantic and ethereal. I’ve loved everything about her since seeing her in Cold Mountain like 5 years ago! I also love the style and beauty of the Gibson Girls, specifically Evelyn Nesbit. I think her story is so, so interesting and that she still presented herself with such elegance. She’s the epitome of natural beauty in my opinion!
THANK YOU, ROBYN!
An Autumn Moment
I snapped this picture last evening after returning home from a full day of creativity at its finest. Fall has settled in and I find myself embracing it more than I have in years past. My husband and I went out on the water after a Sunday spent working to drink in some salt air. The ocean was so quiet and visually intoxicating it practically seeped into my soul. Here’s to more of these moments, fall & beyond!
Meet Lindsay Fair of Woma Design
There are so many reasons Lindsay Fair of WOMA Design is on the C&C Short List. Lindsay is a talented web developer and graphic designer (based in Rhode Island just a skip away from Newport), and also just plain cool. It is rare to find “the whole package” when it comes to identifying and presenting a trusted partner to a client (as I discuss here), and she is all that and more.
Lindsay and I have partnered on various projects since the inception of C&C, from email marketing campaigns, brand identity projects, web development, packaging… the list goes on. As we have continued to partner on client projects together, my trust and faith in her capabilities has only deepened. But it’s not always serious business. We are in the creative industry, after all! We’ve celebrated many milestones together with a drink, healthy laughter and a mutual desire to keep the magic going. There is often an inexplicable energy that lends to success, and I find that energy often with Lindsay.
I invite you to get to know Lindsay with a little Q&A while peeking at some highlights from our work together:
Share with us a little bit about WOMA Design…
I began doing freelance graphic design and web development work in 2007, after a stint serving as an in-house web designer for a luxury floral and event production company in Newport, RI. Working amongst the mansions and estates in Newport, I suppose my eye and appreciation for luxury interiors, gardens and entertaining began with that job and is where I’ve found a niche to this day.
The most important thing for a web design client to understand from the outset of said project is...
Who the target user is, what their needs are, and how they want/expect to use your site.
How did you keep busy this summer?
This summer has been an extremely busy one for me. Between fulfilling some exciting client work, and keeping the weeds down in my sizable fruit & veggie garden, I’ve been trying to spend as much time as possible with my husband and two little girls (10 mos. & 3.5 years). We try to get in the ocean, either from the beach or from our boat, every day! We’ve certainly made precious memories, but I must admit that I’m looking forward to a slower paced fall.
What would you identify as one of the more gratifying WOMA Design client projects?
A gratifying project for me is one that I can be completely involved with, from conceptualizing the brand, building out collateral suites and web properties, to continual strategic check-ins. I love forging long-term relationships where I can actually watch and help the business grow over time.
What are the magic ingredients to a successful creative project?
Good communication, trust in the process, and shared a passion.
Mint or Basil?
Basil!
What does it mean to you to run a business in Rhode Island?
It means that chances are, if you also live/work in RI, we know some of the same people and instantly can find commonalities. I find that aspect very helpful when networking. It also means that you can quickly feel like a big fish in a small pond, especially compared to our neighbors in New York and Boston.
What are three Instagram accounts you're loving lately?
A selection of a branding suite completed for Bay-area artist Farell Beam.
A small snippet from an email campaign build-out for Mark D. Sikes.
A mood board concept for home & garden brand, Marchioness.
Musée National Picasso
We just returned from a quick trip to Paris to celebrate our wedding anniversary. There is truly so much to see and do, eat and explore, but we definitely made the most of it. I’m wanting to muse on many topics, but work is calling! Briefly, one highlight was certainly the Musée National Picasso which has been on my list for quite some time. I was bummed that we missed the Calder-Picasso Exhibition, but perhaps another time! Follow along the museum’s happenings, here.
