It couuuld just be me. But investing in branding was one of the most exciting parts of my business’s growth! I was so excited to finally have a color palette and a logo and even textures that were made for my brand.
So if you’re gearing up to invest in branding and web design for your creative business, then I totally get why you’d be super freaking excited to get started .
But before you do! I wanted to share with you some advice and tips about the process and what to expect. So, I brought the help of 6 top branding and web designers for creatives.
They’re here to offer their advice and expertise on the subject so you can make sure you get everything you want out of your branding experience.
The Branding and Web Design Studios for Creatives:
Before we get started, lemme introduce you to my all-star panel of branding and web designers for creatives:
Dani at Make Waves Creative
Dani is my sweet friend behind the Make Waves Creative Studio. She describes her brand design style as punchy, fun, friendly, and lively! (Umm, yes please. Sign me up.) She aims to be equal parts cute and cheeky.
I also highlighted Dani in my post on my top 5 Showit website designers!
Theresa & Cheyenne at Rain and Rose Co.
Theresa and Cheyenne are a freaking powerhouse duo when it comes to brand strategy and design for their clients. When I asked them to describe their design style, they said,
“We lean into warmth, heavily taking inspiration from our Texas and Arizona settings. Our designs as well as our approach pull from our settings and moments lived in daily routines or specially curated moments.”
Whitney at Wild Hive Studio
Ahhh the brand designer behind my own Sipsy Ink brand! Whitney has been a staple in my business journey almost from day 1. She is an incredible branding and web design, with a flair for working with eCommerce businesses
And hello. Her work has been featured in Vogue!
Whitney said she describes her design style as “modern and minimal, but with a twist.” (I think my beautiful octopus logo agrees!)
She also said she knows there are many modern and minimal brand designers out there who mainly focus on beige tones and a sort of ‘dreamy, romantic’ aesthetic. But, “when I look at my own work, I think it still has the timeless nature of modern, minimal branding but oftentimes I add an infusion of color and personality.”
Her big goal? She likes to create brands that feel high-end and professional but that still accentuate the brand’s unique personality.
Emma at Saltd Studio
Emma is my sweet friend and such an amazing brand and web designer for creatives! She strongly believes that design is the art of telling your brand’s story. And to do so, she draws on her style which she describes as very creative, full of texture, inclusive of meaningful symbolism or hand-drawn elements to set your brand apart.
Shannon at Sunday Muse Design
Shannon is another one of my fave branding and web designers for creatives, so I couldn’t miss out on hearing her opinions when it came to what you should know before investing!
She describes her brand design style as sophisticated, relaxed, and dynamic. “It’s a little artistic yet refined. Natural and effortless.” And I can’t think of a better combination!
What Do Your Branding and Web Designers Want You to Know Before Reaching Out to Them?
In all of your excitement to finally feel like your business has an identity, you might rush in reaching out to designers and branding strategists.
But so many of these top designers think you miiight wanna hit the brakes for just a moment.
Dani says…
“Brand strategy is the long game. Yes, there will likely be quick wins when you rebrand or brand your business for the first time. But the power of a good brand strategy lies in consistency over time.”
She goes on to say, “I think some clients are too quick to make changes when they don’t achieve results as quickly as they’d like. Some end up switching up their strategy too soon and hurt their long-term results by failing to commit. The phrase, ‘Trust the process,’ is nooooo joke!”
Theresa and Cheyenne think similarly, and they say…
“It’s common to think that obtaining your brand strategy and design will automatically lead to high sales and conversions, but this isn’t the case! Strategies take time to show results. Through it all, don’t give up – keep showing up!”
What Do They Suggest You Have in Place Before Investing Branding and Web Design for Creatives?
If you’re going to outsource anything in your business, then chances are there may be some homework involved before you do so.
Branding and web design for creatives is no exception! But there aren’t a lot of resources out there listing what your designers and strategists wish you had in place before your investment.
(Until now, obviously.)
Whitney says…
“Brand strategy is great for brands who either have a clear business model or that have spent some time building their business prior to investing. Strategy is built upon research and is more effective when the client has had some experience selling their services or products.
I think it’s best that clients have at least 6 months under their belt before investing in branding and web design. It gives you time to see what kind of clients you’re attracting naturally, and what your audience is saying about your products.”
Shannon says…
“Before creating a strong brand strategy, you need to know your brand’s purpose and values. Knowing these helps you create messaging and visual elements that resonate with your audience and differentiate you from your competitors.
Your purpose and values are also essential in guiding your decision-making as you develop and evolve your brand over time.
So here are some questions to guide you in defining your purpose and values:
- Why do you do what you do?
- What does your brand stand for?
- What makes you raving mad in your industry?
- What is one thing you would die on a hill to make sure your client or customer knew?
- What problem does your brand solve for your target audience?
- If you had to describe what your brand does to a toddler, what would you say?”
But if you’re struggling on defining your values, Theresa and Cheyenne say…
“It’s important to have clarity on your “why” so that together, we can clearly define your brand’s values and mission. Knowing why your brand exists outside of financially and what you seek to achieve is the foundation of building out the character of your brand through the different branding elements!”
Common Myths They’re Busting About Brand Strategy and Design:
You may have some preconceived notions about brand strategy and design, even if you haven’t established one yet.
Almost every single industry has these myths or rumors that run along the grapevine. But don’t worry! These fabulous branding strategists and designers are here to bust ‘em for you:
Emma says…
“A common misconception is that the moment you’re done working on your strategy or design, your business will change and grow overnight. Boy, do I wish that were true! But the truth is, it’s all about putting it into action and implementing the new strategy to inspire a noticeable change.
You’ll be doing yourself a huge favor by working on your brand strategy and design in the first place. But once you put it out into the world through your marketing, you’ll really see your business come to life!”
Dani says…
“You’ve probably heard this a million and one times, but it still stands: A logo is NOT a brand identity. It’s an important piece of the puzzle, but it’s only part of the marketing equation.
Everything from your brand identity assets, website copy, email copy, and social media presence must work in tandem to form a strong and complete brand strategy. That is how you get desired outcomes!”
And Shannon agrees, saying…
“So many people start with their brand’s visual identity. You know, the colors, the fonts, the graphics, the images.
But if you’re wanting to create a purposeful brand that makes an impact and is in it for the long-haul, the more intentional you are about your whole identity, the better chance you have that your brand is going to resonate and be seen as one-of-a-kind.”
And by whole identity, she means:
- Your messaging
- Your brand voice
- Your marketing efforts and strategies
- Your brand’s touch points
- And your brand’s visuals
When is the Best Time to Start Thinking About Brand Strategy and Design?
It’s one of the biggest challenges for any business owner – when should you invest in something. When will it make the most sense for your business? When will it bring the highest return on your investment?
The truth is, with most things, there’s no one right time to invest in brand strategy and web design for creatives.
But my pals do have some advice on the topic!
Whitney says…
“If you’re a business owner who is looking for more growth or specific growth (increased sales, more aligned customers, increased engagement, etc.) in your business, it’s time to invest in branding design.
And specifically for any product-based business, you’ll want to invest in branding as soon as you know what your products are. This is so that your branding can be complete in time to design the packaging of your products and have it produced before your launch date.”
Emma says…
“The best time to start thinking about your brand’s strategy and design is once you have clarity in the type of services or products you’re offering, how you plan to sell your offerings, and what problems you’re solving by putting your solutions out into the world.
You also should know who most craves the remedy to the problem you’re solving.
Having answers to these questions will be helpful to get the most out of your strategy and designs!”
And What About Copywriting? How Does That Relate to Branding and Web Design for Creatives?
I’ve collaborated with many brand strategists and designers for client projects over the years.
And one thing I always advise (and what many designers also advise)?
Have your website copywriting done before you start the web design process.
Your designers aren’t just making your website pretty. They’re also working to make it strategic. And part of that means they need to design around your strategic copy.
After all, the web design helps to keep your ideal clients on the page. But your copy is driving the sale. So you have to have some kind of website copy for your designer to, well… design!
Trying to decide if you should DIY your copy? Click here!
Featured Designers in this Blog Post:
Theresa & Cheyenne from Raine and Rose Co.
Emma from Saltd Studio
Dani from Make Waves Creative Studio
Whitney from Wild Hive Studio
Shannon from Sunday Muse Design
