5 things you need in place BEFORE enquiring with a Brand Designer
Are you ready to take the first steps towards your dream brand?
Before you reach out to your brand designer (that's me!), let's have a chat about the key ingredients for a logo and brand identity that truly speaks to the heart and soul of your business. In this blog post, we’re unwrapping 5 must-knows to prep BEFORE you enquire with a brand designer. So, if you're in Auckland, New Zealand or somewhere else in the world and are on the lookout for a new brand identity and logo design for your business, check out the below!
01. A clear vision and objectives
Your vision and objectives serve as the foundations of your visuals. Without this, your designer is flying blind. Though we designers can still make your branding look good, trendy and consistent, the risk here is that the final output will not truly reflect who you are at your core, what you stand for and what you aim to achieve. These are the non-visual elements that allow your brand to flourish for years to come without relying on trends.
So before you reach out to a designer, spend some time defining your business vision and goals by mapping out a business plan. Research the hell out of everything because the more research and planning you’ve done when first enquiring with a designer, the more successful that first meeting will be (and the more the designer will love you for it).
I can honestly say, there is nothing worse than jumping on a call with a possible client who is unsure about their vision. So get clear on what you’re setting out to achieve with your business, define what problem you’re solving and set some goals BEFORE you reach out, this is how we achieve results!
02. Target audience insights
By having a clear understanding of the target audience BEFORE reaching out to a designer, means you can provide the designer with valuable insights into the problems, needs and behaviours of your intended clients / customers. While a designer can certainly contribute valuable expertise to the process, your understanding is fundamental because you are the expert on your business, it’s goals and WHO you’re wanting to work with.
This info enables designers to create visuals that resonate with the right people, capturing their attention, building trust and encouraging a meaningful connection.
An understanding of the target audience ensures that the design not only reflects the visions and values of the business, but also that it speaks directly to those who matter most - your audience!
03. Narrow down on your competitors
This step is often missed but it’s imperative so you know where your business sits in the market! Be sure to dive into your competitors or business out there doing similar things to you and learn absolutely everything you can so you can identify what sets your business and brand apart. Knowing and understanding the competitive landscape, BEFORE enquiring with a designer will enable the designer make more informed and strategic design choices.
Your designer will also dive deep into your competition, looking at what they’re doing well, not so well and finding gaps in the market for your branding to visually shine through. This is how we will create a unique and distinctive brand for your business that highlights your unique selling points (USP’s) and makes yourbrand stand out.
Essentially, we show off what makes you special and we need toknow your competitors to help make this happen.
04. Have a budget in mind
Determining the cost of branding might be unfamiliar territory, especially if this is your first business venture. However, at least having ballpark figure in mind, before enquiring with a designer is so helpful. It provides a foundational element for both you and the designer to figure out if your needs align and helps us customise proposals, ensuring we can tailor options that are actually going to work for you and your business.
At Sylvia Creative, we custom price each branding project because no two projects are the same. We find there are many factors that come into play that allow us to work with different businesses with different budgets and this is why we have our budget conversation upfront on our first call together.
05. Visual inspiration
While a designer will bring the creative expertise to the table,we still want to hear all your ideas and inspo! You have beendreaming up this business long before you reached out to adesigner and your passion & collaboration is important to us!
So BEFORE reaching out to a designer, gather ideas and inspo intothe vibe, aesthetic and style of the branding you’re envisioning. Thiscollaborative approach will help guide our design process, allowingus to create a brand you love, while also ensuring your audienceforms a deep connection with it too.
This is Sylvia Creative’s purposeful approach to branding.
Working with a graphic designer for your branding marks an investment in your business's future. However, before you initiate this exciting journey, there's some groundwork to cover. No need to stress; points 1 - 5 won't require an extensive deep dive. Yet, having a grasp of these essentials before your initial chat with a designer ensures a smooth conversation and positions you and your business for success. Who doesn’t want that!!!
Are you ready to bring your dream brand to life?!