My Blog Manifesto & How To Create Yours

Hey, you gorgeous creature. What have you been up to this week?

In case you were tempted to actually answer, the thing that you’re reading this on is a screen – which means I can’t hear you. It’s an entirely redundant question, aimed at making you feel special and like I value you. It’s a cold-hearted, manipulative trick designed to emulate a personal relationship between us, which in turn causes you to become more emotionally invested in my writing and, in a wider sense, my blog.

I’m channeling my inner Justin Trudeau.

Regardless . . . so recently I’ve been on a bit of a mission to do as much blog-related Graphic Design as possible. (If you don’t know why, go check out my post Graphic Design Portfolio Ideas & Planning – SEND HELP.)

It’s actually a really fun challenge to set myself and (I hope, at least) it’s a great way to upgrade my blog with real quality images and content. Today’s post is really all about one of my favourite projects that I’ve ever done for graphic design . . . a manifesto!

Did you instantly groan and think politics when you heard manifesto? Can’t blame you.

What is a manifesto?

A manifesto is a public declaration of your intent and values; it’s almost a party mission.

You can use your manifesto to visually convey who you are as a person, what you believe in and what you aspire to do/provide.

Why create one?

Well, for one . . . they look great. But – I suppose more importantly – they’re a great way for you to be able to see your mission statement and stick to it. The process of creating a manifesto forces you to sit down and think about what it is you’re trying to achieve and create.

Plus, once you’ve actually done it, people just finding your blog have an easy way to understand who you are and what your blog is for.

Here’s an example of my favourite manifesto.

How to create a manifesto?

First of all, your manifesto doesn’t have to be visual. Not at all. It can be read almost as a mission statement or a set of brand values.

Source

My advice when you’re creating a manifesto is to answer the following questions:

• What do you want to achieve?
• What are your values?
• What are you committed to doing?
• Who are you?
• Why are you blogging?

The beautiful thing about manifestos is . . . kids, they’re all up to you! I can’t tell you how to live your life; you’re free to do, to say, to write whatever you want. If you want to make it absolutely gorgeous, you go for it! If you want it to be minimal, do that too! If you want to write out an essay, well, I can’t promise you I’ll read it!

My Blog Manifesto

And so we reach the final hurdle of this post; the last leg of the race. If this were the relay in the Olympics, this is where we would just stop running and gaze at Jamaica beating us all in awe.

Here is my blog manifesto first draft:

For branding purposes, (I know, you’re sitting there like “Mia, what even is your branding?” but all will be revealed in time . . . or as soon as I’ve actually finished everything. Same difference.) I wanted to use these photos as they have the perfect colour scheme.

While I liked the idea of the first draft (I liked that it was all my handwriting; it made it feel very personal), I didn’t like how it looked. I think it was a bit too busy – and I don’t think having me in it added anything.

My next idea was the one I liked the most; using one of the images in my (admittedly still developing) branding pack, I wanted to create an almost scrapbooking effect. It’s simple and to the point – and it looks pretty! Plus, a lot of my blog content is around stationery and artsy-crafty things, so I think that having an arty manifesto was a nice way to tie that all in.

I apologise for my, frankly, terrible photography. I have no excuses; I’m just not a photographer. I know, my parents are disappointed too.

Anyways . . . that’s my manifesto! Do you think it’s an accurate depiction of my blog? Am I meeting my aims or am I just a terrible human being, the entire reason that Donald Trump is currently the president of one of the most powerful countries in the world? Would you create your own blog manifesto? What would be on it? Let me know your thoughts down below!

Peace,

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