LIMITED TIME SPECIAL OFFER: APPLICATIONS CLOSE BY DECEMBER 20TH

AVANTGARDE DESIGN

Boundary-pushing brand design that reflects you,
your mission, and your dream clients

/ Avant·gar·de / Forward Thinking • Innovative

Great design does so much more than scratch the surface.

As a brand strategist and designer, I’m here to give you more than a logo: I’m here to dig deep to reveal your brand’s true essence—then translate that into a cohesive identity that emotionally connects with your people on all the right levels.

In other words?

You bring your heart for service, I’ll bring my eye for design,

and together we’ll craft a strategic brand that accurately reflects where you’ve been and propels you where you want to go.

Sound good?

Barbara Caruso of AvantGarde Design working on cell phone

Offerings

Let’s create some brand magic together

Brand Strategy + Design

Never feel less-than-thrilled with your brand’s visual identity again. My proven strategy and design process will leave you with a custom brand identity rooted in research and calibrated for success.

LEARN MORE

Web Design

You’ve got the show-stopping brand…now where should it live? Let’s create a gorgeous, easy-to-use website that showcases your brand, tells your story, and speaks to your people.

LEARN MORE

Graphic Design +
Marketing Services

Need something a little different? I offer a la carte design services for things like flyers, presentations, and social media graphics, as well as hourly marketing support for launches, email funnels, and more.

LEARN MORE

Quick Q:

Ever wish you could just…

– Confidently shout your website URL from the rooftops?

– Proudly hand out your business card without hesitation?

– Stop stressing over the million-and-one digital marketing tasks on your plate?

…hi, have we met?

Did I mention I’ve been doing this for 10+ years?

Explore the AGD Portfolio
Brand identities, websites, print collateral—I’ve done it all. Will your project be next?

I’m Barbara Caruso,
the brand-obsessed strategist and designer behind visionaries like you.

After 15 years in the marketing and wedding stationery worlds, I decided to open my own brand design studio in 2015. Why? Because I was tired of watching design struggles keep incredible small business owners from turning their dreams into realities. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of launching dozens of custom brands into the world and watching them flourish—now, it’s your turn!

MEET + GREET

Barbara Caruso of AvantGarde Design sitting and smiling

VIEW THE WORK

Heavy on Women of Color Podcast business Cards

VIEW THE WORK

Don’t just take my word for it…

"I have had the pleasure of working with Barbara several times on projects varying from personal stationery to professional branding. Her creativity, attention to detail, and straightforward process exceed my expectations every time. She has the ability to listen to what I am saying and translate that into an impactful, functional, and beautiful design."

–Lauren O'Brien, Lauren O & Co.

Ready to tell your brand’s story in a way that actually connects?

Grab my free Crafting Your Brand Story Guide and start uncovering your WHY, your mission, and the audience who needs you most. Simple, clear, and totally doable.

Join the AGD Insiders

All my best brand-building resources, insights, and musings delivered straight to your inbox.

Barbara Caruso of AvantGarde Design sitting on couch, photographed by Carla Ten Eyck

Because sometimes the ✨magic✨ happens behind the laptop screen… and yes, behind every scroll-stopping design is a designer with 47 tabs open and an iced latte 😉

DM me when you’re ready for your magic moment 💃🏻✨🤍

Mid-week reflection ✨🤍
Creativity isn’t something we lose - it’s always within us. Sometimes, it just gets quiet, waiting for us to slow down enough to hear it again.

When you’re feeling stuck, maybe it’s not about pushing harder… maybe it’s about pausing. Breathing. Looking around and letting the world remind you how much beauty and inspiration it’s holding out for you.

A few gentle ways to reconnect with your creativity:

- step outside and notice the sky - really notice it - stare at the clouds
- let yourself get lost in a book, a piece of art, or movie
- shift your perspective and be open to seeing things differently
- spend time with people who light you up
- give yourself permission to play

Creativity is less about finding and more about remembering… what helps you remember yours?

this one was sitting in the drafts … posting just for fun ☺️🥰🤍 - did I miss anything? 😂

Cover photo: @c10ike
First clip footage: @c10studios @j10ike

Don’t be so busy worrying about failure that you never try - one of the most beautiful things in life is to do or try something and fail because it shows you pushed fear aside, or even looked fear in the face and did it anyways.

Failure leads you to learning and growing and ultimately, success.

When you fail, you actually give yourself the opportunity to try again in a different way and with some experience under your belt. Don’t be afraid of failure as half the time other people don’t know what was supposed to be happening anyways.

When you see someone’s success, remember that it didn’t happen overnight - it took a journey to get there and to keep going.

Take action and make some magic happen.

don’t mind me - just casually day dreaming of this view and ignoring my to do list 🫣😂
someone teleport me back 😉

Ps: I had some inspiring caption but to be honest this felt more like the vibes today 😂

No one talks about the messy middle enough.

These are a few of the lessons I had to learn before things started to click - and tbh, I’m still learning (but with better boundaries this time 😉)

Have one of your own? Drop it below - let’s normalize the missteps just as much as the milestones.

Photos: cover, 2 and 6 by @c10ike

4 years ago I walked in to @provisionstatecoffee after a workout class, ordered a honey oat latte and sat at a table beaming with joy because I just knew that this place would be one I would not only frequent but fall in love with. After many weeks of visiting (almost daily) I was right - it became my favorite place to go, not just for the coffee either. It was my little escape to do work or read, visit with friends and connect with new people. The vibes, the atmosphere, the people and obvi the coffee and food are all amazing.

Last year, I had the opportunity to work with Pam, the sweetest human and owner, on helping her implement her already incredible branding into real life marketing - creating social templates and other graphics as well as sharing some of my favorite photos from my visits there. Fast forward to this year and I got to capture some content for their new summer drinks, creating a few reels and have fun with the crew.

I can’t say enough nice things about PSc and I’m incredibly grateful that God connected us because this place is like my home away from home. And if you know me, you know this already. lol

Swipe to see what Pam had to say about working together. 🤍

Sunday night thoughts…Stop thinking so hard about everything, stop over analyzing. Just go, just do. If it feels good - go with the flow. If it feels wrong - don’t think about it anymore and walk away.

You have this one life and you need to do the things that make your heart happy, things that set your soul on fire.

Surround yourself with people who are going to love you, challenge you when necessary, open your mind to new perspectives and thinking, but most of all - allow you to be you, and remind you to love yourself even when you don’t think it’s possible.

Please don’t waste your time here thinking you need to be like anyone else or do what they are doing just because that’s what you’ve been told in the past - my goodness, if I can share one piece of advice - let go of the idea that you need to have everything done by a certain age or be in the same life phase as your friends. Your journey is yours and it’s going to be wonderful and truly amazing.

Go make magic in your life - you’d be surprised what incredible moments start to unfold when you’re focused on your contentment and fulfillment versus watching and looking at everyone else.

xo, B

Toning yourself down to be digestible - no, we don’t do that anymore.

Your softness isn’t weakness. Your depth isn’t too much. Your intuition is your innovation. The more you own your full truth - messy parts and all - the more magnetizing you become. ✨🖤

Xo
B

👀 Trying might look awkward… but it’s also where the magic begins.

Don’t be afraid to be seen trying.

Trying isn’t something to hide, it’s proof you’re in motion.

The rough drafts, the hiccups, the “well… that didn’t go as planned” moments? They’re all part of the story that actually gets you somewhere..

The ones who make it? They kept showing up.
Not perfect. Just persistent.

So go on, take the shot and try - it might just inspire someone else to do the same. ✨🤍
.
.
Photo in slide 2 by @c10ike

.
.
#avantgardedesignct #weeklyinspiration #womeninbusinessct #dontbeafraidtotry #ctbrandingstudio #ctbrandstrategist #womenentreprenuers #ctwomeninbusiness #agdbranding #ctbranding #ctgraphicdesigner

me just sharing more of my work… that’s all. ☺️ That’s the caption lol kidding 👇🏻 peep below for some more deets

A fun little design project for CT River Museum @ctrivermuseum - a wedding and event guide for them to share with their potential couples.

They reached out needing a refreshed and revived guide to share that felt more aligned with the work they do. This guide allows them to confidently share the options and also visually display what is possible with their property.

And I got to work with a pretty dope client, then again, all my clients are. 😉

.
.
#graphicdesignerinCT #ctgraphicdesigner #ctbrandstrategist #ctbrandstudio #avantgardedesign #agdesign #ctrivermuseum #ctbranding #ctbranddesigner #ctdesigners

a chaotic scroll through my notes app + a glimpse into my photo archives… ✨💃🏻
as always, take what you need 🤍

I often find myself having moments of “pinch me, is this real”… 🥹 if the Barbie from two years ago, even last year, could see this version of us today - ugh, baby girl would be crying… actually, I was crying then anyways lol and who am I kidding, I’m crying typing this 🫣

The struggles never seem like they’ll end when you’re in that darkness, questioning if you’ll ever see the light - reaching for mere glimpses of it. Wondering what else you could be doing, or even how you got here. Not understanding any of it. Questioning if what you’re even doing matters, if you matter.

And slowly, and I mean slowly - you start to feel yourself coming back together - piece by piece, layer by layer, and you realize all along that your journey was breaking you apart, to shed the unnecessary, to make room for more goodness, to show others that there’s beauty in the breaking.

There’s a Japanese practice called Kintsugi - it’s the art of mending broken pottery with gold.

The gold highlights the scars and cracks, transforming them into a unique and valuable part of the piece, reflecting how we can find strength and beauty in our own imperfections and challenges.

So when you fear you are breaking - know that you are being strengthened and made more beautiful by your experiences. Be gentle with yourself. You have not failed, you have been challenged to find purpose in your journey.

Keep going.
All the work you’ve done and are doing is preparing you for all the amazing things that absolutely will happen FOR you!

so grateful for my journey and for the incredible people who I’ve met along the way and who’ve been here through it all. 🤍

Xo
B ✨

There’s a certain kind of tired that feels… different.
Not burnout. Not running on empty.
But the kind that comes from building something that matters to you.

The kind of tired that says,
“I’m in it. I’m growing. I chose this.”
And even on the hard days — especially on the hard days — that’s worth celebrating. ✨

Keep going. You’re worth achieving your dreams. 🤍

Photography: @c10ike
Content + BTS: @c10studios
Creative wall genuis: @geor_geni
Makeup: @kate_kissandmakeup + @kissandmakeupct
Cake: @themixingbowlbyjules
Assistant: @amandajenningsweddings

.
.
.
.
#avantgardedesignct #agdbranding #agdesignct #ctbrandingstudio #ctdesigner #ctsmallbusiness #ctgraphicdesigner #ctbrandstrategist #ctbrandingagency #womeninbusiness

little trip to Naples to fill my cup and recharge my soul.
Like many things - we also need to unplug ourselves - so here’s your reminder to take a break, reset + recharge.

Go play and have fun. ✨🤍
Oh and get the gelato 😉
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#agdpersonal #avantgardedesignct #naplesbeachflorida #naplesflorida #unpluggedtimeaway #eatthegelato #agdphotography #agdbranding #ctbrandingagency #ctbrandingstudio

oh so moody… loving on this green moodboard. 👌🏻
Don�’t forget to create for yourself too ☺️
.
.
.
Images sourced from Pinterest and belong to their rightful owners.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#avantgardedesignct #agdbranding #agdesignct #graphicdesign #thebeautybar #beautybranding #ctbrandstrategist #ctbrandagency #ctbrandstudio #ctdesigner #creatives #makersgonnamake #digitalmarketinginCT #designisinthedetails #brandingstrategy #smallbusinessbranding
#womaninbusiness #brandingtips

Mood: lattes and low-stakes decisions.
Like what playlist to romanticize my life to today. 💃🏻✨🤍

ps: make it a great day 😉

Last year, I shared a post that came from the depths of a really hard season.
A season that taught me more than I ever asked for- and stretched me in ways I didn’t think I could bend.

This past year felt different. This year feels different.
Not because life suddenly got easier, but because I got stronger.
Because I gave myself time. Grace. Help. Rest. (Thank you therapy!)
And slowly… I found my way back to myself.

While some days the darkness creeps in, the light does too.

And if you are in a dark place - I need you to know, it does get better.
Maybe not all at once, and maybe not in a straight line…healing is possible.

Mental Health Awareness Month isn’t just about the struggle—it’s about the strength it takes to rise, again and again.

Here’s to showing up for ourselves.
To asking for help.
To feeling the feelings—and still choosing to move forward.

You matter. Your story matters. And the light will find you again.

If you need anyone to talk to, I’m here for you. If this gives you strength to ask for help, I’m proud of you. If this helps you feel less alone, my job here is done. ✨🤍
xo, B

Friday reminder: You’ve been hyping everyone else up—now it’s your turn. 💃🏻

Plot twist: investing in yourself isn’t “extra,” it’s the main character move. And playing small? Yeah, we’re done with that.✌🏻

So here’s your dare (served with love and a side of sparkle): Bet on you. You’re the magic. The moment. The whole thing. ✨🤍
Xo
Make it a great day/week/month/life boo 😘💃🏻

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

Boundary-pushing brand design that reflects you, your mission, and your dream clients

/ Avant·gar·de / Forward Thinking • Innovative

Great design does so much more than scratch the surface.

In other words?

Let’s create some brand magic together

Brand Strategy + Design

Web Design

Graphic Design + Marketing Services

Ever wish you could just…

Explore the AGD Portfolio Brand identities, websites, print collateral—I’ve done it all. Will your project be next?

I’m Barbara Caruso, the brand-obsessed strategist and designer behind visionaries like you.

–Lauren O'Brien, Lauren O & Co.

Ready to tell your brand’s story in a way that actually connects?

Join the AGD Insiders

​

Follow along on Instagram

Boundary-pushing brand design that reflects you,
your mission, and your dream clients

Graphic Design +
Marketing Services

Explore the AGD Portfolio
Brand identities, websites, print collateral—I’ve done it all. Will your project be next?

I’m Barbara Caruso,
the brand-obsessed strategist and designer behind visionaries like you.