How to build an authentic brand in 7 Simple Steps - the process with Robyn
The Process behind the Project with Robyn's Virtual Desk, a Virtual Assistant based in Toronto
I still remember the first conversation Robyn and I had. We met over Threads, then took our connection to Instagram voice notes and DMs. It was early 2025, still Winter.
We had so many similarities which is how we first connected. We both were just getting started in our business, had a corporate background, are international girlies at heart, and we are both black women who wanted to support each other. To this day, I still talk about how much Robyn has been a dream client of mine, because we didn’t just connect business to business, but person to person 💕.
From the jump, Robyn had a clear vision: to support entrepreneurs with admin systems so they could focus on what really lights them up. Her energy was warm, intentional, and focused, all the qualities I knew we could translate into strengthening her digital presence.
And this wasn’t just another website project for me. This was about creating the foundations of a brand that felt like home for Robyn and her future clients.
So here’s how we brought Robyn’s brand to life in 7 aligned steps:
1. Start with what you have
Robyn had already built a website on Canva, a beautiful start that laid the groundwork. It had the essentials, but we both knew she deserved something more elevated. Our goal was to take what she had already created and give it a refined polish that reflected her calm, capable, and warm energy, all while inviting her ideal clients to work with her.
What this step really taught me: Progress over perfection is key.
The goal isn’t to throw everything out, it’s to build with what’s already working and lovingly elevate it.
2. Design with feeling in mind
We didn’t just jump into visuals. We first asked, “How do we want people to feel while navigating this site?”
That led us to a brand direction rooted in feeling grounded, ease, and clarity. These emotional anchors guided our process.
Typically, I design starting with this question or a similar one in mind. It’s just how the UX/UI Human-Centered Design world made me, lol. Always think of:
the end users,
the intention,
the solution,
only then, I work backwards.
Reverse engineer it if you have to. From this first question, I create the Brand phase with strategy, foundations, and positioning, then move to the Creative Direction phase, gather feedback, and finally, design. Then we test, gather feedback, and keep editing all in a loop as needed, till we’ve reached our goal.
When your brand evokes the right feeling, it creates trust. And that trust is magnetic, turning visitors into clients.
3. Choose a platform that supports growth
We chose Wix Studio—my platform of choice. Full disclosure, I am a Wix Studio Partner, but still, this platform is amazing, it’s like gold for anyone with backgrounds in UX/UI, coding languages, and or branding with integrations with products like Adobe Express and Figma.
It’s an advanced web design platform created for agencies and enterprises, perfect for delivering high-end design with easy client handoff. It’s a lot easier to build and maintain a website on a platform like Wix Studio, especially for those new to having a live site and are used to other drag-and-drop platforms like Canva.
It’s built to scale, from portfolio sites to full-service storefronts. Host your own courses, sell digital and physical products, have referral programs, be extra in customizing your site with your own code. You can pretty much do anything, build anything, and learn Wix Studio on the go with their free resources like Sandboxes (guided designs) and get free certificates in things like Design and SEO.
In comparison to its competitors, Wix Studio still comes out on top as the best platform for everyone from budding solopreneurs to fully built enterprises.
For Robyn, it gave us the flexibility to create a polished experience that she could have built by a designer, then confidently manage herself post launch.
4. Create a site that mirrors the brand’s energy
Robyn's brand is calm, efficient, and trustworthy so her site needed to embody this. We spoke about what inspires her, the emotions she wanted her audience to feel, ease, deep earthy greens, a cool-toned rosewood, an off-white cream that it’s not too stark but feels calm, with a hint of black to make elements pop in contrast.
The final result: a site that works just as beautifully as it looks. A single-scroll landing page with inviting copy, anchored by a clear sales flow to book, optimized SEO, and accessibility settings.
Design isn’t just how something looks. It’s how it works, feels, and how it aligns with the heart behind the brand.
5. Make the launch feel like a celebration
The best part? Seeing Robyn light up when the site went live. 😊 She shared a LinkedIn announcement that radiated pride and confidence. We co-posted the images here in this article in a carousel on Instagram. It’s always the moment of recognition and ownership that makes all the work feel so worth it. When your client sees their vision brought to life, it’s a reminder that this work matters. It’s transformative.
6. Leave space to grow
We didn’t stop at the launch. I created a mini brand guide so Robyn can maintain consistency as her brand evolves. It includes core colors, logo usage, and font styles to keep her visuals clear and connected. Great design makes it easy to stay consistent, building recognition and trust.
7. Reflect + Invite
This project wasn’t just about the website. It was about building trust, co-creating something beautiful, and reflecting Robyn’s intention every step of the way. I left this collab feeling inspired, proud, and ready to help more founders bring their visions to life.
Curious to see it live?
🔗robynsvirtualdesk.com
The Testimonial
And the most brilliant part, the sweet testimonial she left me 🥹🫶🏽 take a look below:
How would you describe your overall experience working with me?
Working with Alyah to design my website was such a great experience! She was incredibly communicative throughout the entire process—always quick to respond, open to feedback, and super clear with timelines and next steps. I also really appreciated how organized she was, which made everything run so smoothly. From concept to launch, she brought my vision to life and made the process feel stress-free. Highly recommend her to anyone looking for a talented and reliable website designer!
What part of the process felt the most supportive or enjoyable for you?
The most supportive and enjoyable part of the process was how collaborative it felt. Alyah really took the time to understand my vision and offered creative ideas that elevated what I had in mind. I felt heard and supported every step of the way, especially during the design phase when she translated my ideas into something even better than I imagined. Her calm, clear communication made the whole experience feel easy and exciting.
How satisfied were you with the overall quality of our service?
I was extremely satisfied with the overall quality of the service. The attention to detail, level of professionalism, and creative execution exceeded my expectations. Everything was delivered on time, and the final product truly reflects my brand. It was such a smooth and positive experience from start to finish.
Robyn’s words reminded me exactly why I do what I do. It’s about so much more than sites, design, or strategy. It’s about real trust, true collaboration, and cocreating something impactful. Meaningful. Heartfelt. And of course, revenue generating.
From the first voice note to launch day celebrations, this project was a full-circle moment. I’m so proud of what we built and even more excited for what’s to come 💫
