Your Brand Identity is more than just your logo, It is everything words cannot say!
It is made up of a collection of visual elements that together create a cohesive visual language to communicate your brands visual vibe and personality.
It is what will set you apart from your competitor and shows your potential customer what they can expect from working with your or purchasing from you.
First impressions count and in those quick seconds your potential customer will visually see how your business looks at a glance.
The minimum branding essentials that every business should have for their Brand Identity:
LOGO
The logo is the most recognisable element of your Brand Identity. Having a visible logo that is meaningful for your business helps you be seen as professional and credible.
Having variations of your logos will give you greater flexibility for your visual branding.
(Main Logo, Secondary/Horizontal, Sub-Mark/Icons, Brand Marks)
Example: Having your primary main logo shrunk down to use as your social media profile picture will not look good it also won’t be visible. This is where you would use an icon or sub-mark in this space.
COLOURS
Brand colours are important we remember brands with colours and how they use their combinations with that brand.
When you choose your colours ensure the match overall brand, message and personality for your brand.
Once you have your colours have the colour break-up codes for Web applications use (RGB/Hex Colours) as well as for print (CMYK codes). Some designers may provide you with PMS code also.
When you have these in place be consistent with them, as customers will remember you and this is how you build brand recognition - changing your colours always will confuse your potential customer, will make your brand feel less trustworthy & not professional.
TYPOGRAPHY
Just like with your colours, you want to be consistent with your Typography. How you use them to effectively communicate your message as well as the ones you select to represent your brand.
VISUALS (PHOTOGRAPHS / ILLUSTRATIONS / ELEMENTS)
The visuals you use helps sets the mood for your brand - this maybe photography or patterns &/or illustrations that you will use or both photography as well as Illustrations.
Consider the emotions you want these to evoke & express through your brand’s imagery.
Keep consistent with the style of photographs or illustrations you use.
Example: Photographs will they be dark/moody feel or bright images.
If you are working with a designer, they should provide you with imagery style examples as well as if they have created your illustrations/patterns they should provide how to use them for your brand.
BRAND /STYLE GUIDELINES
Is the document to refer to remain consistent with your brand.
The documents to help you how to use your fonts, colour breakup codes, logos and images should be the minimum covered in a Brand/Style Guide if you are working with a designer.
Hope you found this helpful, if you would like to chat about your Brand you can book a FREE 30minute consult with me or email me at hello@effieanadesign.com
Effie x