Grateful Trees & Bees
Rebrand + Web Design
YEAR:
2024
MY ROLE:
Branding
Strategy
Web Design
Copy Editing
COPY:
Jennifer Socey
PHOTOGRAPHY:
Grateful Trees & Bees
WEB DEVELOPMENT:
Julie Ragsdale
Grateful Trees and Bees are paradigm-shifters.
Jake and Jennifer run their business as artists. Guided by The Grateful Dead’s ethos and traditional craftsmanship, Grateful Trees and Bees honours the spirit of trees while offering “compassionate and practical care” for trees and more across Durham, NC and the surrounding areas.
They came to me seeking an upgrade to their 11-year-old logo -which had been made in PowerPoint (for non-designers… props, you know?!) - and their website. They already knew their audience, their differentiation, and their values; they just needed someone to bring it all together.
After a few discovery sessions, it was clear: GTB’s digital presence - and potential clients - were missing the poetic depth and authenticity that define who they truly are.
Whoever you are - client, contractor, employee, or hell, even a sentient being like a tree - Jake and Jennifer approach you with respect and kindness. I wanted GTB’s new brand to reflect their reverent, relational, magical, and paradigm-shifting nature.
This project was incredibly meaningful for me. Simply being in their company deepened my resonance with the trees and the values that define meaningful relationships. Super grateful for this one!
“We believe that stewardship is both a science and an art, and that best practice is to listen to the trees and the stories the land tells.”
– Grateful Trees & Bees
“Justine is fluent not only in the digital design sphere but also in the language of human. She's funny, communicative, insightful and instantly relatable.
When we first opened our small, family tree company in 2013, we made our first logo ourselves in PowerPoint. Working with a digital designer to rebrand for our 10th Anniversary was a dream come true. She took the time to really get to know us and our business. She held a genuine curiosity about our business, its culture, and its relationship to our local community and the larger culture.
Justine took every opportunity to make our experience luxurious, to make us and our brand feel truly seen. We are beyond thrilled with her beautiful and insightful deliverables.”
— Jacob Pressley & Jennifer Socey, Co-Owners, Grateful Trees and Bees