Maeve’s Method: Behind The Scenes

Maeve shares behind the scenes of her recent rebrand, and sends thanks to those who helped!

I can’t believe it’s been over a year since I debuted my new website. Building it was a lot of work, but well worth the effort. One of the best parts was the photo-shoot where we took the principal photography. We had five shots planned for the day, and as my many years of watching America’s Next Top Model (yep!) have taught me, that’s an ambitious #goal, especially when the photo studio was none other than my tiny #studio apartment.

The day was long, but in the end, a huge success. A major shout out to Marla Kabashima for helping with everything, from selecting the perfect plants and flowers for props, to hand-arranging (and photographing) the small items display for our Get Started Page. #weloveplants

Special thanks as well to Andreas Gatterer, a more professional and fun photographer you will not find. To Evan Eisenberg, who helped me to design and build the shelves featured on the Maeve’s Method Blog. I had this brainiac idea to build old looking floating shelves that I’d mount on my wall when the shoot was done. Evan helped me from from conception to construction on this project, and I’m deeply grateful.

The Shoot

Big work in a small space.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a shout out to a few others who played a more silent, yet none-the-less important roles, including my friend David Dadekian, who has no idea he is going to be mentioned in this post. David picked out many of the pieces of furniture I have in my home about 15 years back, including the tan shelving unit featured prominently in my home page photo (IKEA circa 2001). Fifteen years ago I was brought to my knees with panic inside an IKEA, overwhelmed by choices. Level-headed David kept me on track. He also built my first website. Enough said.

And, of course, my grandparents, Bea & Sol Richmond, otherwise known as Nanny & Zayda, whose presence is felt in several of the items displayed on my blog shelves, including my Zayda’s paint brushes from his prolific art career. I miss you, I love you --- and thank you.

Making The Shelves

Evan lends a helping hand.

Then there was the mapping out and building of the site. I’ve got to tell you, it’s a lot of work! I have a highly visual brain, and do best when I can touch stuff. The only way I could go at this was to map the site on whiteboards and through hand-drawn line drawings, moving ideas around here and there until they felt right.

Marla was amazing through this, patiently helping me every step of the way. A favorite part was making a giant wireframe on my apartment’s white brick wall. Go ahead, post stuff up on your walls – there’s nothing that painter’s tape can’t do!

Mapping Out The Site

From white wall to white board

Finally, I need to give credit to my friend Joe Nagle. Joe was the mastermind behind my logo and re-brand four years ago. After going by Get Your House in Order for years, Joe was the first to say, “It's your method, why not call it Maeve’s Method”?

Joe has a gift for branding, and I had fun working through Joe’s brand decks and logo concepts in order to select the perfect design. I settled on a design with clean and clear motion that confidently represents my 5-concept method, with a light nod to my former logo, which I truly loved.

Joe also helped me to identify my brand colors. I spent weeks moving blues, greens, purples and accents of orange and silver all over my home and office. In the end I settled on colors that I feel are gender neutral and encouraging, and that represent the land, the sky, the sea, and the home: blues, greens and soft, gentle tones. The foundation we put in place has been guiding my company for years. Thank you Joe! #useyourcolors

Making The Brand

Testing things out

End Result

The making of Maeve’s Method – from brand to site and all the elements in between – was a true team effort. I am grateful to everyone who helped. Thank you for the energy and inspiration – I’m so proud of where Maeve’s Method has ended up! #teamwork Photo Credits: Evan Eisenberg, Andreas Gatterer, Marla Kabashima, Maeve Richmond