Finding Help to Build Your Brand: POV from a Graphic Designer
If you’ve already read “Why You Shouldn’t DIY Your Brand”, then here’s another post from a designer’s perspective just in case you needed more reassurance. Also, some tips to help build a better connection with your designer.
The design world can be brutal! There is so much out there in this day and age, it’s hard to know what’s trending, what works, what doesn’t, what colors mean, and what looks good. It can be a mess and Google doesn’t always have the answers.
A designer’s first job is to make the client happy. Sometimes that can come at a cost, navigating a client’s wants all while giving them quality products can be a tricky road. The second job as a designer is to find that middle ground with the clients. This means meeting their wants and needs all while giving expertise of what’s going on in the design world. If you run your own business, you know that this is always the hardest part. When branding for a client it’s important to have them know it’s their company and brand, as a designer we’re just here to help.
When looking for designer, always ask for portfolios or websites. Don’t be afraid to ask if they’ve done other branding projects and see if you can be shown those. Build a relationship and be sure to check in with the designer. Get to know them and let them get to know you. This is a great way to know if both of you are on the same page. If not, keep looking. You want to have a designer that is open to listening and can use the information you give them to provide you with branding that fits your company’s needs.
Once you have a designer chosen, the next step is to provide them with information on your company. Maybe give them past projects if you have any. Or give them an idea of what you want your company to look like. If you have a mission statement or philosophy this would be good to provide to the designer too. It even helps to provide examples of logos or branding that you want to use as inspiration for your brand.
The more you give the designer to work with, the more they can relay that into the brand. You want the “voice” of your company to speak for itself and standout. You don’t want your company to blend in with everything else. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and make sure the branding speaks for itself.
Guest Blogger: John Kolarik, SunSpin Media
John Kolarik is a Graphic Designer who Graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia. He grew up in NY in the Catskill Mountains, he began as an intern for SunSpin Media, located in Buffalo, New York in the Fall of 2020. He was then hired on as Design Consultant and Marketing Assistant.
