KYLEE ACKER BRANDING PROCESS
This is a behind the scenes peek at the branding process. The goal was to really showcase her initials since this is her personal brand. The trick was to make both the K & A recognizable because each letter is of equal importance. Th color palette combines classic neutrals with a slightly feminine, but not overpowering pop of pink.
Every designer has a slightly different process. Some designers like to share just 2-3 design concepts, and some like to share 10+. I'm somewhere in the middle and tend to share 4-6. I think that gives enough variety without overwhelming my clients. Too many choices can be paralyzing and ineffective.
Remember that hella stylish mood board I shared recently? This is a behind the scenes peek at the branding process. The goal was to really showcase her initials since this is her personal brand. The trick was to make both the K & A recognizable because each letter is of equal importance. Th color palette combines classic neutrals with a slightly feminine, but not overpowering pop of pink.
Which one would you choose?
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LOGO PROCESS • RLS FASTPITCH
I like to give six logo concepts to my clients, because this feels like the perfect number. It's the Goldilocks of branding ( not too overwhelming and more than just a few options ). I know everyone's process is a bit different. Some designers only give three logos. Some give 15+. But I feel like I can nail down enough concepts to get the ball rolling and have each be creative and unique with six. Too many more than six and my creative juice stop flowing. Plus, I have found that my clients often feel paralyzed by the decision if there are too many to choose from.
I thought it might be nice to show some behind the scenes details for those curious about my branding process. These are six logo concepts that I designed for RLS Fastpitch. Although we ended up going through a few more iterations before we nailed down the final logo, these were a great starting point.
I like to give six logo concepts to my clients, because this feels like the perfect number. It's the Goldilocks of branding ( not too overwhelming and more than just a few options ). I know everyone's process is a bit different. Some designers only give three logos. Some give 15+. But I feel like I can nail down enough concepts to get the ball rolling and have each be creative and unique with six. Too many more than six and my creative juice stop flowing. Plus, I have found that my clients often feel paralyzed by the decision if there are too many to choose from.
The other thing about my logo process is that all of these logos are black and white. I find that color can be distracting, especially in the beginning. Once a client nails down one or two logo concepts, I implement color in the next round. I sometimes include the color palette direction along side the black and white logos, which is what I did here. This helps give them an idea of the logos as a whole ( design + color ).
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5 SIGNS IT'S TIME TO LEVEL UP YOUR BRANDING
There are lots of reason to give your business a branding refresh. Depending on where you are with your business or blog, it may be time for you to rethink your current design identity. Here are five of the most common, and most necessary, signs that it's time to upgrade your branding.
There are lots of reason to give your business a branding refresh. Depending on where you are with your business or blog, it may be time for you to rethink your current design identity. Here are five of the most common, and most necessary, signs that it's time to level up your branding.
1 - You made a DIY logo because you have the philosophy that "Done!" is better than "Perfect"
You wanted to launch your business or product and didn't have time to invest in full-blown branding. Now that you've settled into steady business, you're looking for a more professional look that showcases your growing biz.
2 - You bought a pre-made logo
Etsy has some damn fine design, let me just say. If you are one of the many shoppers who purchased a pre-made logo from a creative market like Etsy, you may have a cute logo, but you may also share it with countless other businesses. Time to develop a logo that's unique to you.
3 - You've officially defined your niche
Maybe you are a photographer that started out snapping shots of everything from babies to interior design. Now that you've settled into your work, you've decided you'd like to focus on weddings and engagements. Make sure your logo reflects your niche market.
4 - It's outdated or you just don't like it
You may have created your branding materials years ago and feel that they just aren't working for you anymore. Perhaps you wanted your logo to follow a trend that now feels outdated. Put simply, you just don't love it.
5 - You're business has outgrown you
You started a one-woman shop but have grown into a small business with - yay! - employees. You may even want to change your business name from something that is personal ( ie: Kali Edwards Creative ) to a something a more over-arching name.
This isn't as daunting as it sounds. Finding a designer you jive with (heyyy!) and who will help you through the process will allow you to love your branding and continue to grow your business!
Any of these apply to you? More than one even? It may be time to consider giving your brand a simple refresh.
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BRANDING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Whether you’ve just launched your photography business or are a seasoned veteran looking for a brand refresh, there are four main ideas to help you find your focus.
1. Be distinctive
The kind of photography you focus on is the most important item to consider before you begin a logo or branding project. Are you a food and styling photographer, wedding and family photographer, or an urban street photographer? These are all such vastly different styles of capturing a moment that they will require completely different branding approaches. Now we can narrow it down from here.
2. Brand it, #boss
How do you take your unique photography niche and turn it into a beautiful brand?
Answer: Style. Find that emotional connection your style has with your customers. A bride-to-be has seen your most recent engagement shoot and just adores the way you captured the couples love. She wants that romantic feeling for her engagement shoot, too. Allow your branding to reflect that romance you bring to your photography. Show this bride-to-be and any other that when they hire you, your photography style will make her swoon. Maybe that means using calligraphy in your logo or creating a soft and feminine color palette. Keep asking yourself throughout the process, "Is this in line with my style?" This emotional tie into your branding elements will give clients a sense of your approach before they even chat with you.
3. Work your website
As a photographer, your website is so important. This is the best place to showcase your photos. Organizing them into galleries and recent shoots will help your future client visualize their own photos. Continue the emotional experience of your brand by telling a fluid story to your customer. A good example may look like this:
Click … HomepageIntroduction to Drizzle Food Photography and Styling, where I am inspired by ingredients and abundance in the kitchen.
Click … Gallery A collection of gorgy examples of past photo shoots for dreamy clients and delish dishes.
Click … Contact How to get in touch to book my unique and valuable photography services.
Let the photos do the talking. On your website, the branding should act and an important accent that underscores your photography style.
4. One step further
As the savvy photography business owner you are, you know there’s more to branding than just the logo and website. Social media (styled photos anyone?), photo flyers and media kits are all places to expose your branding and your business. Think about each client’s experience from beginning to end. From finding you on Instagram to thank you stationary, gather all your pieces and review what you have. Make sure it conveys the emotion and style of the photos you take.
In the end, it should all be in line with your vision, mission and fabulous photography.
BRANDING FOR FLORISTS
I'm starting a new blog series called "Branding for...". In these posts, I will highlight a creative industry and zero in on some key how-to's for:
• Communicating your mission
• Translating your passion into a unique brand identity
• Inspiring your dream clients to work with you
• Creating a winning website
• Finding the "joy" job (you know, the client and project that ignites your passion!)
Let's dive in, shall we?!
I'm starting a new blog series called "Branding for...". In these posts, I will highlight a creative industry and zero in on some key how-to's for:
Communicating your mission
Translating your passion into a unique brand identity
Inspiring your dream clients to work with you
Creating a winning website
Finding the "joy" job (you know, the client and project that ignites your passion!)
Let's dive in, shall we?!
Branding for Florists
Whether you've just launched your business or are a seasoned veteran looking for a brand refresh, there are four main ideas to help you find your focus.
1. Be distinctive
What makes you unique? What is the thing that makes your floral business stand out from all the rest. Is that you grew up in Hawaii and have a deep-rooted love for all things bright and tropical? Is it that you are a hopeless romantic at heart and derive deep joy from bringing a wedding to life through floristry? What makes your clients love you and your work?
2. Brand it, #bossbabe
How do you take your unique-ness ( see above! ), and turn it into the most fantastic florist branding ever?
Answer: Emotion. Find that emotional connection your style has with your customers. A bride-to-be has seen your whimsical hanging eucalyptus installation on Pinterest and has fallen in love. She wants that romantic feeling for her big day, too. Allow your branding to reflect that romance you bring to your floral design. Show this bride-to-be and any other that when they hire you, your floral arrangements will make her swoon.
You create an emotional connection through your branding based on the patterns, colors and fonts you choose to marry into a uniquely perfect fit for your business. Done right, clients will have a sense of your style before they even chat with you.
3. Work your website
Branding doesn't stop with your business cards. Your brand needs to carry through to your website, too. Now is the time to consider your dream client's journey through your site. Yes, I said journey. Think about where they will start (homepage, blog?) and where you want them to end up (contact page, portfolio?). Continue the emotional experience by telling a fluid story to your customer. A good example may look like this:
Click ... Homepage Introduction to Sweet Pea Floral Design, where my mission is to create seasonal arrangements that are whimsical and romantic.
Click ... Portfolio A collection of gorgy examples of past work for dreamy clients.
Click ... Contact How to get in touch to book my unique and valuable services.
Thinking about how a potential customer will wander through your website will allow you to create the right structure, content and navigation.
4. One step further
As the savvy floral business owner you are, you know there's more to consider. Social media ( header images, profile pictures, behind the scenes Instagram shoots ), advertisements and media kits are all places to carry over your branding. Think about each client's experience from beginning to end. From ribbons to store front signs to thank you stationary, pull everything together and review what you have. Make sure to ask yourself if it sends the signals to the right kind of clients. In the end, it should all be in line with your vision, mission and style.
