I treat every identity individually using a combination of research, exploration, refinement, and execution.

My approach to brand identity design keeps the process nimble, allowing me to push beyond the expected. The process itself is a series of steps that will take us from a blank slate to something remarkable. You’ve probably heard similar things from other designers, but hey it works.

What You Can Expect

  • Get in Touch

    Please fill out the form on my contact page as best you can. I’ll use this information to speak knowledgeably about your business when we talk. I’ll respond quickly and schedule a brief call to meet you. We’ll talk broadly about your business and the problems you are trying to solve.

    Proposal and Contract

    After we talk, I’ll send you a proposal for the identity design package we’ve decided upon. Typically I’ll ask you for a 50% deposit to begin work with the balance due upon completion, net 30.

  • Fact Finding

    Every project begins with an information-gathering session with you and any team members you want to include. I’ll ask about your company background, goals, audience, and competitors. We’ll talk about what makes your company different. I typically use Zoom to conduct this session, but I’m happy to use any platform you are comfortable with.

    Discovery Workbook

    We’ll use some materials that I will distribute ahead of time to guide our session. We’ll try to define your brand personality and how you’d like to be perceived and document the tangible things like product, price, place, promotion strategy, target audience, and competitors.

    Research

    I’ll review any existing brand materials that have and those of your competitors and begin to identify opportunities where you can stand out.

    Brand Identity Brief

    I’ll present my findings and provide insights to guide your identity design project. I’ll incorporate your feedback into a brand identity brief. This document will contain the big ideas to inform your brand identity system going forward.

  • I’ll take the creative brief and synthesize it into understandable visual concepts that you can respond to.

    Initial Design Presentation

    I’ll show you what your emerging brand identity could look like from a few different directions. Sometimes I present one concept, but that’s really quite rare.

    Concept Finalist

    The goal of exploration is come away with a single concept to take forward. I’ll ask you to pick a concept, and I’ll bring your feedback into the next step as I continue the process.

  • I’ll take the Concept Finalist and refine it, incorporating your feedback. I’ll design the kit of parts that make up your brand identity system and simple rules to guide their application.

    Final Design Presentation

    I’ll show you the final system in context across a variety of applications. Those applications that matter most to you like social media, website, and packaging.

    Approval

    I’ll ask you to approve the Final Design, so I can move forward with the final step of the project. I will continue to iterate over the Final Design, incorporating your feedback, until you are happy with the result.

  • Kit of Parts

    With the approved concept in hand, I’ll create and assemble all the parts that make up your brand identity system into a file repository. This repository will include production files for your logo and its variations, illustrations, icons, and any other graphic elements. If necessary, I’ll coordinate photography and purchase fonts on your behalf and add them to the repository.

    Brand Style Guide

    I’ll write and deliver a brand style guide tailored to your identity system. In it, all the parts that make up your identity system will be specified: strategy, logo, typography, color palette, icons, your style of images and how to produce them, example layouts, etc. This valuable reference will keep you on-brand as you implement your identity. You and your vendors will know how to make new experiences look consistent.

    Applications

    Finally, I’ll apply your brand identity system to any add-ons included in your contract. Things like websites, print collateral, pitch decks, packaging, and social media.

Project Timing

Allow 3-4 weeks for a typical brand identity design project. If you’ve asked me to design something using your brand identity system, like a website, add another 1-4 weeks. Each item will have its own requirements, schedule, and approval process.

Let’s get started.