Branding: My Process from start to finish
Creating a memorable and impactful brand requires more than just a great logo. It’s about aligning every element with your vision, your audience, and your business goals. As a designer, I’ve developed a tried-and-tested process that ensures every branding project is deeply thought out, strategically aligned, and executed with precision.
In this post, I’ll walk you through my step-by-step branding process, from the initial discovery phase to the final rollout, and beyond.
Step 1: Discovery & Direction
Every successful branding project begins with collaboration and discovery. This phase allows us to understand your story, goals, and vision. We’ll dig into your business values, audience, and challenges to ensure we’re on the same page from the start.
Brand Discovery & Questionnaire
To help guide the process, I’ll send you a strategic questionnaire that covers your core values, tone of voice, market position, and vision. This document is designed to clarify your brand’s direction and serves as a reference point for all design decisions moving forward.
Moodboard Development
Before we dive into creative work, it’s important to align visually. I’ll curate moodboards that reflect the visual direction we want to take. These moodboards serve as inspiration and a starting point for typography, colour palette, imagery, and overall design direction.
Step 2: Brand Development
Once we’re aligned on moodboards, it’s time to move into the creative phase. This is where the magic starts to happen.
Focused Brand Work
With the moodboards approved, I’ll begin creating two distinct brand directions. These aren’t just logos, but full brand systems that include typography, colours, and practical brand applications (e.g., social posts, mockups).
Presentation
I’ll present the concepts to you through a Loom video, where I explain my thoughts and intentions behind each direction. You’ll receive a comprehensive document with mockups, examples, and design assets, so you can fully envision how your brand will roll out. After receiving your feedback, we’ll refine the direction and take it to the next level.
Step 3: Core Brand Identity
With a clear direction in place, we’ll fine-tune your brand’s core elements to create a cohesive, adaptable identity.
Logo & Variations
The logo is the heart of your brand, but it’s not the only element. I’ll design:
Primary logo: The main logo that represents your brand.
Secondary and simplified logo variations: To ensure your brand works across different platforms and sizes (from digital to print).
Typography
I’ll choose carefully selected typefaces that are legible, accessible, and that fit the character of your brand. The right typography will complement the logo and add to your brand’s overall identity.
Colour Palette
A strong, balanced colour palette is key to creating the right emotions for your brand. I’ll design a colour system that resonates with your values and reinforces the emotions you want to evoke.
Print & Stationery
Designing practical print materials like business cards, letterheads, and contact cards that align with your brand’s identity. These assets ensure your brand is cohesive across both digital and print platforms.
Step 4: Digital Assets
Your brand needs to be adaptable for digital platforms. In this phase, I’ll create assets that ensure your brand maintains consistency across all channels.
Illustration & Iconography
Custom brand icons and visual elements are essential to supporting your messaging online and in print. These unique assets will help give your brand a distinct personality and make it easily recognisable.
Social Media Graphics
To help you maintain a consistent digital presence, I’ll design:
Profile and cover images
Content and post templates
Highlight icons
These assets will make your social media stand out and ensure that your branding is consistent across every platform.
Editable Templates
I’ll provide editable templates created in Adobe Express or Canva, so you have the flexibility to create future social media, email marketing, or presentation materials with ease.
Step 5: Refinement & Rollout
After you’ve approved the core direction, we move into the refinement stage. Here, I’ll work with you to ensure that the brand feels perfect before launching.
Revisions & Feedback Process
We allow for two rounds of revisions to ensure you’re happy with everything. This is a collaborative process, so we’ll explore options, reflect on feedback, and refine the final identity until it feels just right.
Brand Document & Rollout
Once approved, I’ll deliver a brand document that includes all of the final files and assets:
Logo files in all formats
Brand colours & typography
Ready-to-use social content and templates
All design assets created during the project
With everything in place, we’ll also assist with the brand rollout to ensure you can launch your new identity confidently.
Ongoing Design Support
Branding isn’t a one-off event — it’s an ongoing journey. To help your brand remain relevant and adaptable, I offer ongoing design support. This includes everything from:
Social media content and promotional materials
Brochures, flyers, posters, and newsletters
Website updates, blog post graphics, and digital banners
Print & merchandise design, including business cards and event materials
As your brand grows and evolves, I’ll be here to provide brand growth assets, new templates, illustrations, and even create sub-brands or campaign-specific identities as needed.
The branding process is a journey, and I’m here to guide you through it. From discovery to rollout, my goal is to create a brand identity that reflects your values, speaks to your audience, and stands out in your industry.
If you’re ready to create a brand that makes an impact, I’d love to help.
