Not sure where to start?

Maria Ekstrand founder of Ekstrand Creative Portland Oregon brand consultant"

Most businesses don’t begin with strategy—they begin when something stops working. A website refresh, a marketing push, a growth initiative.

But the real issue usually sits underneath it.

The business hasn’t fully clarified what it does, who it serves, or how to communicate its value.

I help business owners establish the foundation everything else depends on — strategy, marketing, and growth.

How we work together.

  • Something isn't working, but you're not sure why.

    You’re investing in marketing — but it’s not landing the way it should.

    The issue usually isn’t execution. It’s the foundation.

    Brand Strategy defines your positioning, audience, and message so every decision that follows is grounded, aligned, and easier to make.

  • Your business has evolved, but your brand hasn’t.

    What you’re putting into the world no longer reflects how you actually operate.

    The gap isn’t just visual. It’s misalignment.

    Brand Identity + Design translates your strategy into a visual system that reflects your business today — and supports where it’s going.

  • You have the ideas, but nothing feels consistent.

    You’re creating content and materials, but it feels disconnected or harder than it should be.

    The issue isn’t effort. It’s the absence of a system.

    Brand Systems + Marketing Tools create the structure behind your marketing — with templates, materials, and practical tools that make consistency easier to maintain.

  • You need a structured way to figure this out.

    You’re not ready for a full engagement — or you want clarity before you invest further.

    You don’t need more information. You need a way through it.

    The Authentic Brand System is a guided process to clarify your brand, refine your message, and create work you can immediately apply in your business.