POV: New Site Launch!
Launching my new website and a look into the design process with Tributary Design Studio founder, Marielle Claire
I’m beyond excited to share my new portfolio website with new brand identity for Alison Wu! This new site showcases my work as a multidisciplinary creative spanning a variety of industries. I’m always eager to connect with potential clients, whether you have a new or seasoned brand or need help bringing a personal event or experience to life, please get in touch!
This is something I’ve been slowly working on getting out into the world. I originally was building a deck to send out to potential clients, but decided to pivot and create a website instead. Doing this will allow more people to find my work organically and also makes it easier to share with people I’m interested in working with. I wanted a pretty straightforward site that illustrates the breadth of my offerings while highlighting some of the projects I’ve worked on in recent times. Since my work is very visually driven, I wanted the brand identity and website to compliment the vibrant visuals without feeling like they were distracting in anyway. Overall, I wanted the new branding and website to feel fresh and relevant but also be something that could grow and evolve with me.
I’m super happy with the results! And excited to share with you today a little about the process and an interview with Marielle of Tributary Design Studio, whom I had the absolute pleasure of working with on the brand identity and website design and build.
For both the brand identity and website design/build, Tributary works in an intensive weeklong format. We began on a Monday and by Friday the full brand identity package was ready to go! The same for the website design process, which we worked together on a month or so later. I really loved working in this way, as it kept everything succinct and I was really able to drop into the process and be fully immersed in it. Not to mention, if you are looking for something with a tight turnaround, you can have a full branding package and website launched at the end of two weeks! Marielle and her team did such a wonderful job of bringing my vision to life, and the presentation and feedback process felt seamless and easy everyday.
Sharing the moodboard and inspiration behind the logo and website below:
Some images of my work pulled by Marielle and team:
The final logo and color palette:
I had the chance to sit down with Marielle to get to know her a little better and hear about all the inspires her in design.
1. Tell us about yourself and how you got into design.
Creativity has always been a huge part of my life. As a kid, I was obsessed with color—painting my room to look like an underwater Hawaiian scene, playing with bold outfits, and constantly making things. But like many of us, I grew up hearing that creativity wasn’t a “real career.” So, I took the practical path and eventually landed in Public Relations and Marketing.
It wasn’t until that career drained me that I started seriously exploring a shift. Creativity had remained in my orbit and I often found myself collaborating with designers on branding or marketing projects. The more I learned about their work, the more I felt pulled toward it.
After a ton of research, I enrolled in an intensive design boot camp. I hit the ground running—balancing client work alongside my full-time job until I landed a project that changed everything: a full brand and custom illustration for a national sports organization. That project gave me the push I needed to make the leap.
I quit my job in San Francisco to start Tributary Design Studio, and I’ve never looked back. Since then, I’ve had the honor of helping clients transform their vision into brands that connect with their audiences online, on shelves, and beyond.
2. What inspires you in design?
For me, design is all about thoughtfulness and problem-solving. I’m endlessly inspired by design that transforms how we interact with a space or an object—like a perfectly designed small living space that feels expansive or a beautifully crafted product that elevates everyday life.
But more than anything, I’m inspired by the brands I collaborate with—each bringing a unique challenge and story to tell through design. Whether it’s a personal care brand breaking through a crowded market, a gender-neutral swimwear or periodwear brand seeking a sophisticated edge, or a female diagnostics company positioning their brand for male investors, every project pushes me to craft meaningful, strategic design solutions.
My background in photography also plays a huge role in how I see the world. I’m drawn to light—how it hits landscapes, interiors, and cityscapes—and how those natural palettes and compositions influence my design choices. Whether I’m walking my dog through the neighborhood or traveling somewhere new, I’m always taking mental (and actual) notes of color.
I love pulling inspiration from print collateral and IRL design experiences—magazines, street art, signage, and packaging design in retail spaces. Seeing how design functions in the real world—how it feels, how it connects—is where I get some of my best ideas.
3. What’s your favorite part about working in an intensive format like the way you do at Tributary?
One of the biggest frustrations I hear from clients is how often they’ve been ghosted by creatives or stuck in drawn-out projects with no clear timeline. That’s exactly why we created our intensive format—to deliver high-impact design, quickly and collaboratively.
At Tributary, we offer:
1-week intensives for full brand identities, website design, packaging design, and custom illustrations.
Design days for smaller scopes, like social media graphics, marketing collateral, or packaging extensions.
In every booking—whether a full week or a single day—we’re fully focused on one client at a time, giving them our full attention, fast turnarounds, and a clear process from start to finish. I love that this format helps businesses get everything they need, exactly when they need it, so they can stay focused on growing their business—not getting stuck on design roadblocks.
This approach brings:
Momentum: Deep, collaborative work leads to faster, more inspired decisions.
Clarity: No more wondering when you’ll see progress—you get your brand, website, or campaign materials in days, not months.
Creative Focus: With one project at a time, our team fully immerses in your brand—delivering cohesive, thoughtful design solutions.
More than anything, intensives make the process exciting, efficient, and fun—for both our clients and our team—which is exactly how building your brand should feel.
4. What was the process of working with Alison like? What inspired the direction you took for the branding and web design?
Working with you (Alison) was such a joy! I’ll admit, I was a little nervous at first because I’d admired your aesthetic for so long. But from the start, it felt like a natural collaboration—we tapped into your rich library of imagery and content to uncover a personal brand that feels unique to you.
A key challenge was distinguishing this brand from Wu Haus while staying true to your creative essence. You wanted it to stand apart as a reflection of your current vision—sophisticated, layered, and timeless—so we:
Leaned into cool, calming tones to create contrast with Wu Haus’s warmer palette. After following your work, we noticed your content was already leaning cooler—a reflection of your evolving style.
Designed a custom logo that blends sophistication with an organic feel—the playful “W” squiggle symbolizes your creativity’s ebb and flow, while reflecting your gentle, femme, and health-conscious nature.
Shaped your new website to communicate your core service offerings—Creative/Content, Event/Experiences, Design/Hospitality —with image galleries that showcase your range of work and bring clarity to your services.
Integrated videos throughout the site to tell a deeper story of your process and showcase the impact of your creative work.
This project embodies what we love most at Tributary—helping service-based creatives shape a brand that feels deeply personal while clearly communicating their offerings. The result is a brand that stands apart from Wu Haus but remains fully, unmistakably Alison Wu.
5. What are your favorite resources to use in your process? (Places you get inspiration, favorite type foundries, other designers you admire, etc.)
Pinterest is still my go-to. As an image search engine, it’s unmatched—constantly improving its ability to surface high-quality, relevant content at a scale no other platform can compete with. Whether I’m searching for typography inspiration, color palettes, or unexpected visual references, it’s an endless well of ideas.
I also pull a lot from print collateral—magazines, posters, and even street art. There’s something about seeing design in a tangible format that sparks new ways of thinking.
For typography, I love foundries that push the boundaries of type design while maintaining functionality: Pangram Pangram, OH no Type Company, Klim, COLOPHON, Commercial Type, and Dinamo.
And then there are the creatives who inspire me—not just because of their work, but because of how they build and evolve their personal brands over time:
Alex Proba (textile designer + also paints pools!)
Real Fun. Wow! (playful, expressive illustration)
Molly Baz (chefs as brand-builders fascinate me!)
Anna Alexia (fashion + photography inspiration)
What draws me to them isn’t just their aesthetic—it’s their ability to show up consistently across everything they do. Whether they’re launching a new product, expanding into a different medium, or building a content platform, their brand identity is instantly recognizable yet never stagnant. That’s something I deeply admire and a philosophy I bring into my work at Tributary—helping brands craft a visual presence that feels both timeless and adaptable as they grow.
6. Anything else you’d like to share?
I love working with thoughtful, creative people—whether they’re entrepreneurs building something from the ground up or part of a larger company shaping its next chapter. The most rewarding part of what we do isn’t just delivering a beautiful brand—it’s seeing the businesses we work with grow, evolve, and thrive over time.
At Tributary Design Studio, we take a strategy-first approach, ensuring that every design decision—from color palettes to typography to digital presence—is intentional and built to connect. But beyond creating something visually compelling, we design brands with room to evolve, so they can grow alongside you as your business expands into new opportunities.
Nothing brings me greater professional fulfillment than seeing a brand we helped create gain momentum, attract the right audience, and open new doors. If you’re ready for a brand that feels like home—one that truly represents you and resonates with the people you want to reach—I’d love to collaborate.
Absolutely loved working with you on your rebrand and website design Alison! You're a dream collaborator and am so glad we got to bring your vision to life. We're here anytime you need as this next phase of your career/life grows. Looking forward to seeing where your journey takes you. <3