If you've ever felt like you are too many things to fit into a neat label, you're not alone. We're often told that the key to a successful brand is to narrow everything down. Find your niche, define your ideal client, and position yourself neatly within your industry. Here we believe the niche is you. Your work is shaped by the way you move through the world: the things you notice, the references you collect, the values you hold close, the experiences you want to create, and all the seemingly unrelated moments that make you you. Those things aren't distractions from your strategy; they are the strategy.
We built Kern & Ink because we wanted a business that gave us more of the life we actually wanted to live. Not only doing work we truly love everyday but also getting to spend every single day together and every weekend and school break with our daughter. And that truly means everything to us. And we want the same for everyone we work with. We believe your business shouldn't become another thing you have to perform. At the heart of everything we do, We want to make running your business feel clearer, easier and more like you.
We realised the things we'd been trying to tidy away were actually the things that made us different. Our taste, references, values and weird little obsessions. They make up the way we see things. Once we started building from those instead of trying to fit ourselves into an industry-shaped box, everything became clearer. And that changed the way we worked with our clients, too. We noticed that so many talented creatives were doing exactly what we'd done — trying to turn themselves into something more “marketable” when the most valuable parts of their brand were already sitting right in front of them. So we created the Unearthed Framework, a way to get underneath the surface, find the things that make your business yours, and turn them into a brand your people can actually feel and connect to.
When I started Kern & Ink over 6 years ago, I felt stuck. I kept questioning what I should be doing, how my brand should look, and who I should serve. I was so busy trying to do things “right” that I forgot to be myself. Eventually, I flipped the script, changed my process, mindset, and approach, and focused on what actually felt true to me. That’s when everything shifted. I started attracting dream clients, getting booked out, and even had people saving up just to work with me.
That growth came from making my brand personality-driven. Clients saw themselves in it. Design is now my full-time job, and my fiancé even quit his job to join the team! From broke, “unemployable,” college dropout (twice) and single mum, to a full-time biz owner supporting a family team on this income alone. I built this freedom for us, and now I want to help you do the same, with a brand, and more importantly, a life you’ll fall in love with.
meet sarah - lead designer / co-owner / founder
Hey, I’m Scott — the newest (and first!) member of the Kern & Ink team. My story might sound familiar… I left school, took on an apprenticeship, and spent 10 years in a job I didn’t love. Constantly flipping between day and night shifts took a huge toll on both my physical and mental health. I was tired of planning my life around sleep just to make ends meet, it wasn’t cutting it anymore.
That’s when Kern & Ink came in. I decided to take the leap and join Sarah to help grow the business, and honestly, it’s the best decision I’ve made. I’m the organised one (Sarah’s the chaotic creative), and together we make a solid team. I’m here to make sure your project runs smoothly from start to finish, keeping everything on track and running behind the scenes so Sarah can focus on being creative and help you create the brand you’ve always dreamed of.
project manager / co-owner
3) SUCCESS TO US MEANS FREEDOM AND SPENDING EVERYDAY TOGETHER.
1} WE ARE A INCLUSIVE SAFE SPACE FOR ALL... ALWAYS!
2} WEIRD QUIRKS AND INTERESTS AND THE HUMAN MESS OF IT ALL AND IS WHERE THE MAGIC is
You constantly compare yourself, overthink every decision, and keep tweaking things that never quite feel settled. Not because you’re untalented. And definitely not because you need to sound more like everyone else in your industry. It’s that your brand hasn’t really grown from your own roots yet. This is the place where we strip away the noise that never belonged to you in the first place. Where self-doubt quiets and the pressure to sound “right” loosens its grip.
Brand Unearthed™ isn’t about becoming louder or just a new logo design. It’s about becoming so deeply aligned with who you are that outside noise no longer has the power to pull you away from yourself.
our values:
‘But Can't I Just Use a Template Or DIY It myself?’
There are some gorgeous templates out there, but when hundreds of businesses are using the same layouts, your website can start to feel interchangeable. Your brand deserves to be built around what makes you different.
A logo is one small part of a much bigger picture. Your positioning, messaging, visual language, imagery, personality and client experience are what make people remember you, choose you and recommend you. DIY could never.
Your website is one of your hardest-working business tools. It should help the right people understand you, connect with your work and feel confident choosing you and get you leads on auto pilot with SEO. Why leave that up to chance?
Your website needs to do more than look good. It needs to understand your client's journey, answer their questions, communicate your value, build trust and make it easy for the right people to take the next step.
Brand strategist, copywriter, designer, UX designer, SEO expert, developer... suddenly you're wearing every hat. We bring all those moving parts together so your website feels cohesive, intentional and actually works for your business.
If your current website has left even a handful of ideal clients unsure, unconvinced or clicking away, it could be costing you far more than the investment in getting it right. And any investment in marketing (whether time or money) is probably costing you if they click that 'X' in the corner soon as they get to your webiste.
Some of our most recent projects, click on the project below to view the gallery.
Hannah felt her website didn’t reflect her depth of knowledge or extensive portfolio. As not only a wedding florist but also creates incredible floral installations for brands, set designs, & music videos. Hannah’s portfolio includes NASA and Solange Knowles (what!), and her past work is nothing short of incredible. By leaning into positioning Hannah as more of a world builder, we not only got to show off her folkloric personality but also her depth of knowledge and expertise. The entire project focused on building atmosphere, with thoughtfully considered portfolio pages that truly showcased Hannah’s wedding & commercial work.
Anna came to us with so much passion for what she wished she saw more of within the wedding industry. It was clear Anna is a protector of her people, so we leaned into that. Throughout her copy, we focused on a strong, protective energy so her people knew she had them—especially around inclusivity and gender roles. The brand became a mix of coastal and earthy tones, creating a calming yet grounded energy to balance her passion, because we knew that while Anna is passionate, she definitely isn’t loud or in-your-face. The website became the perfect blend of grounded, safe energy with a quiet “I’ll fight for you if I need to”—which is truly so Anna.
Alessandra came to us wanting a brand that reflected her love of medieval fantasy, alongside her Italian and Celtic roots. We developed the phrase “love too loud to be labeled” to connect with inclusive people—those who don’t break labels for the fun of it, but because they’re so full of life and love that they naturally don’t conform. We made sure the copy was packed with whimsy, romance, and medieval vibes to suit Alessandra’s personality.
Maelynn came to us wanting a brand and website that reflected her dark, moody energy. As we worked together, we uncovered that Maelynn also cares deeply about emotional safety: when you’ve found a place to breathe and be yourself, you have the power to live and love freely and fully. This is at the heart of everything she does. We leaned into that message throughout her copy and created plenty of whimsical, romantic moments within her dark, moody brand.
I am finally bringing in inquiries from people I truly want to work with. This is such an exciting step in my business!
I just got an email saying "The couple took one look at your website and loved your vibe. The energy, tats, colors, and flow were so aligned with their tastes as well. A moody artistic edge with fun and quirky vision is definitely a match for their personalities." I am finally bringing in inquiries from people I truly want to work with. This is such an exciting step in my business and I cannot thank you enough for bringing it all together!
by abby dahlberg
view the project
I felt so well taken care of, loved, and heard. I am truly so impressed. I already showed a few friends and their first response was, "OMG THAT IS ALL SO YOU!" And that's exactly what I wanted - a brand that is ME to my core.
I couldn't believe how I would mention an idea or a little tweak during the process and then Sarah just completely knocked my socks off with what she provided. She is such a talented artist. "I never felt like a "number" and felt like I was working with a small business who truly cares about me!"
by emma wynn paul photography
view the project
So, what is the Unearthed Framework? Simply put, I took the usual brand strategy designers use and decided F*ck that, and did things differently. For small businesses like ours, run by passionate individuals, it’s different. Instead, we dig deeper. We ask: Who are you, really? Who are your people emotionally? Your ideal clients aren’t defined by what they buy or where they work, but by how they feel and what they believe. This guided workbook experience helps you focus and reconnect with what matters most, what excites you, what you value, and what you believe and find the common message beneath it all. From there, we build your brand world together.
This is where we uncover what no longer feels aligned in your business, branding, and creative direction. The pressure to fit into industry expectations, the things that feel performative, and the more profound creative identity underneath it all.
This is the deeper story behind your work. The experiences, frustrations, turning points, and beliefs that influenced your perspective and influence the way you approach your business today.
Your brand nature explores the emotional atmosphere naturally embedded in who you are, the things you’re drawn to, the way you see the world, and the themes that already connect everything you create together.
This section uncovers the people naturally drawn toward your world, not through demographics, but using shared values, emotional connection, and the things they quietly crave more of.
This is where your perspective becomes messaging. We reveal the emotional truths, opinions, themes, and conversations your brand naturally wants to create so your content and communication feel recognizable and deeply connected.
Your rituals are the intentional details and experiences embedded throughout your business. This section studies how your audience feels when interacting with your brand and how your process can feel more aligned, thoughtful, and immersive.
This is where we connect your perspective directly to your business structure. you'll explore the emotional transformation underlying your offers and how to create services rooted in alignment rather than industry expectations.
Clarity replaces second-guessing
You know exactly what you stand for, how to communicate it, and what belongs in your brand and what doesn’t. Content flows more easily because your voice is clear and consistent, not forced or performative.
You attract the right couples
Your messaging resonates with people who see themselves in your work and value your perspective. You stop chasing every lead and start hearing from clients who are ready to book and invest.
You stand out by being you, not louder
Instead of blending in, your brand feels distinct, grounded, and unmistakably yours. By the time couples reach out, they already understand your value and feel connected to your vision.
Confidence replaces price anxiety
You can speak about your work and pricing with clarity, without awkward silences or second-guessing. No more constant tweaking or rebranding. Instead, you move forward with clarity and self-assurance.
The Rooted Experience is for businesses ready to feel fully established, aligned and confident in how they show up. Across a dedicated week, we’ll build a unearthed brand identity and a beautiful 7-page website that brings your vision, personality and values to life. Everything is thoughtfully connected, so you’re left with a brand that feels unmistakably you and a website that builds real trust that makes you the obvious choice for your audience.
Seedling is the mini version of Rooted — a lighter, more streamlined brand experience for businesses that are just getting started or aren’t quite ready for the full transformation. You’ll get the essential brand foundations and a high-converting one page website, giving you everything you need to show up now, with room to grow into Rooted when your business is ready.
Brand Unearthed is for businesses that have outgrown their current brand and are ready to uncover what’s been there all along. We’ll dig deeper into your story, personality, positioning and purpose to create a brand that feels more distinctive, intentional and true to where your business is heading — bringing clarity to what makes you different and turning it into a visual identity you’re proud to own.
01/ After Your Inquiry
02/ Unearthed workbook
03 / intensive day or week
05 / Launch
04 / Feedback
Once the website is in your account you can follow along our tutorial to make any changes you want. Once your done, follow our tutorial to connect your domain, set up your blog.
We’ll choose a date that gives you space to be present, then set you up with your own client portal, brand questionnaire, audio and video guides, Pinterest prompts, contract, and invoice, all in one place.
Before visuals, we dig deep. Guided prompts, audio reflections, and soulful questions help you clear the noise, reconnect with your values, and root your brand in what truly matters.
Starting with video overview of your brand direction to get us aligned. Then we design & refine your brand and website together over the day / week, with two rounds of revisions.
We start with a homepage preview to confirm the vibe, then build out your entire site. You’ll see progress, give feedback, and watch it all come to life, complete with SEO.