On track
And getting really real
I listened to a podcast over the weekend that was a conversation between miniature enthusiast Becky Gannon and Dr. Dalia Iskander, a medical anthropologist and associate professor at the University College London who has studied miniaturists and the benefits of crafting. It was very aligned with my interests!
Around 36 minutes in, the discussion turned to a topic I’ve written about numerous times: the stigma of craft. Becky observed:
“We put such a premium on working—that’s important. And exercising—that’s important. But when you talk about doing something that’s creative, sometimes people feel like they have to justify it…It’s hard to tell people ‘I’m going to spend this time…doing creative [work].’”
Yessss! I loved hearing the thesis of Practice come out of someone else’s mouth, and get reinforced by an anthropologist’s research.
But the real “wow” moment came 2 minutes later, when Becky said:
“We track exercise…and I wish we had a creativity tracker. I feel like Americans value what we can track.”
I laughed, messaged Ben immediately, and thought: we do need a creativity tracker! And that’s why we’re building Practice.
I also realized I was erroneously thinking in hypotheticals. We are post-pitch. I am days away from inviting Becky to an app where she can track her creative work, get inspired, and build community. So I DM’d her on Instagram and set up a time to chat.
Because Practice is real.
Really real
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been collaborating with my friend Christopher Morben of Sumner Studio to refine Practice’s look and feel to make it really real. We started with the basics: reviewing what we had done in the past, pulling inspiration, talking about the vision, mission, product, etc., and even listening to music. Our goal was to isolate and amplify what it is that makes Practice…Practice.
At one point while we were brainstorming, I began scribbling on my iPad, creating swirls and making marks. They captured the energy and passion behind Practice, but also felt too chaotic, loud, and messy.
Because yes, Practice is bold and energetic, but it’s also about calm intentionality. And a respite from the noise of the outside world.
Christopher built upon the scribbles and honored that tension. He layered brushstrokes, color, and texture in a way that kept the energy but added peace and balance.
The result is still playful and bold, but more refined. And a better reflection of what Practice is right now.
We’ve already rolled out the first iteration of the updated look and feel to our website, pitch deck, and upcoming app store assets.
It’s not perfect, but it feels pretty good. At least, for now.
Evolution
For many months, Practice looked completely different. It was orange gradients, neon green accents, bold graphics. Switching to this new identity has been an adjustment. While I love the new look, it’s not the same Practice we used to know.
It’s fun to think about each evolution of Practice’s brand, and how it felt right at the time. Past iterations look unrecognizable now, but they weren’t “wrong.” They were exactly what they needed to be at the time.
And I know that what feels right today may not be right tomorrow.
That’s true for all brands, but also for people, for creative work, for hobbies. Styles shift. Preferences evolve. What once felt essential may later feel outdated. That’s not failure, it’s growth.
Which reminds me of Becky’s comment on her podcast: “when you talk about doing something creative, sometimes people feel like they have to justify it.”
I think part of that pressure comes from the fact that creative making doesn’t always look consistent. It evolves. It meanders. You may make something, decide it’s not quite right, and make it again. But that doesn’t mean it was a waste of time. Just like a brand, or a company, or even a person, our creative work will always keep changing. And past iterations were still valuable because they were part of the process. They deserve to be celebrated!
So when I look at Practice today, I see more than a refreshed brand and a sharper story. I see a reminder to honor past iterations, embrace the messy middle, and keep building a future where creative making is recognized as self-care—not something you need to justify.
And now, it’s something you can track.
Want to be part of our initial private beta? Email me at erica@practicemaking.com
🧡 the vibe of all these new creatives! You can immediately tell there's real soul behind the brand and I admire how intentional you are every step of the process. Excited to try the beta!
Exciting to be reading about your serendipity confirmation and seeing your progress and evolution, Erica. Big congrats on moving forward with each iteration!