“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”- Aristotle
I always think of brand design like this- a brand is not just a logo but much more. As a designer that has worked with many brands in Cork, Munster and throughout Ireland to define their brands, develop their logo into a brand and to design according to brand guidelines, I am excited by the idea of branding. It is a subject most talked about in the design world, but it is often confused with logo design. Branding is like a number of ingredients, including your logo that come together to make a dish. But the brand recipe needs to be consistent so that it can be made by different chefs, in different kitchens and presented different ways but to give the same wonderful taste each time!
“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”- Aristotle
I always think of brand design like this- a brand is not just a logo but much more. As a designer that has worked with many brands in Cork, Munster and throughout Ireland to define their brands, develop their logo into a brand and to design according to brand guidelines, I am excited by the idea of branding. It is a subject most talked about in the design world, but it is often confused with logo design. Branding is like a number of ingredients, including your logo that come together to make a dish. But the brand recipe needs to be consistent so that it can be made by different chefs, in different kitchens and presented different ways but to give the same wonderful taste each time!
1.Colour Scheme
This is all of the colours you use and the symbolism behind those colours, for example purple to denote royalty, blue for clean, clinical, yellow for happy, etc
2. Mission Statement
This is why you are doing what you are doing and what you want to achieve
3. Values
This is extremely important when it comes to branding, walking the walk as well as talking the talk, and communicating what exactly you stand for as an organisation
4. Products/ services
What kind of products you sell, how do they work against the competition
5. Staff
Both how you treat your staff and how they treat the customers. What do your staff say about you?
6. Experience
What is it like to use your products or services?
7. Website
What is your website like/ is it easy to use/ is it responsive/ does it give the information customers want?
8. Pricing
How much do you charge? Are you a luxury brand or an affordable brand?
9. Reputation
How do your past customers see you- what do they say about you?
10. Tone of voice
This is an important one to establish when you are creating content. How do you speak to people in person/ on social media, etc
Throughout all of the uses of the brand, your logo and the visual elements need consistency. Consistency can sometimes make people feel that they must be rigid, however I don’t think this is the case. The visual aspects that represent the brand are what I call a Logo System.
I am going use a case study to go through an example of the difference between a logo and the visual elements of a brand. Check out the Argideen Communications website to help your business thrive.
So, this client came to me with her logo already designed by another designer, but she wanted to expand the logo into more of a brand design visually. Although she already had a logo, we started to create a visual brand to go with that logo design.
With that we designed a number of items from a colour coded suite of icons that represent her values, to photography that represents the tone of voice and the corporate nature of the brand, some brand guidelines that govern the use of the logo, and we created a shape that was inspired by the organic nature of the logo that we use in visual materials such as a powerpoint template that she can use in her client presentations, her social media posts, that gives the brand recognition as a brand. We also created a quick video that incorporates some of these elements that showcases her brand. Once we had the initial work done, it became a lot easier to create any content as we had established a visual system that created a brand.
Read the full Argideen Brand Design Case Study here.
Get in touch for any of your Graphic Design needs. I can also assist you with your logo design, brand guidelines design or stationery design.
If you have any questions about brand design in Cork, Munster or Ireland, please contact me or get in touch below. I would be delighted to chat with you.
I have a range of experience from GRAPHIC DESIGN to WEBSITE DESIGN and DIGITAL MARKETING.
If you would like to work with me on a brand design project, give me a shout and we can chat over zoom or you can call in to my Cork office on the South Mall and together we will create!
I love to work with a range of clients from the seed setting stage of a start up, which fills me with joy and optimism, to the strategic solutions for a more established business.
I also love to design for people, from a personal creative project you have in mind, to a book you wish to publish or bespoke stationery design for your wedding day.
I have a range of experience from GRAPHIC DESIGN to WEBSITE DESIGN and DIGITAL MARKETING.
If you would like to work with me on a brand design project, give me a shout and we can chat over zoom or you can call in to my Cork office on the South Mall and together we will create!
I love to work with a range of clients from the seed setting stage of a start up, which fills me with joy and optimism, to the strategic solutions for a more established business.
I also love to design for people, from a personal creative project you have in mind, to a book you wish to publish or bespoke stationery design for your wedding day.
