Category: Design

As designers and entrepreneurs, we’ve all had our share of projects that didn’t go the way we thought that they would. Sometimes the project just wasn’t the right fit to begin with, sometimes there are unpredictable obstacles, but most of the time problems start with a lack of communication and honesty on both sides.
The first thing we tell our clients before we show them new designs is that they can’t hurt our feelings. Design is art and we put a little bit of ourselves into each project we take on. However, that work is only improved through constructive criticism and other points of view. When working with our clients on a logo or other creative project our goal is to communicate effectively, not just to make something look nice.
So if you’ve ever worked with a creative to get a design project done – whether it’s a logo or the interior design of your office, here a few tips from us to make the process easier:

1. Pay attention to Details

So you’ve had all of your discovery meetings, you’ve talked through your vision, and it’s time for the big project reveal! You’re excited to see what your designer has come up with, but when you’re looking at the final product, all you can focus on is the fact that you don’t like the font. Before you point this out, take a breath and take in the entire work. Ask yourself if it’s just the font, or are there other things that just aren’t working for you? Make a mental list of any and all details you don’t like, and give them to us all at once. Like we said before, you can’t hurt our feelings. We want to know every little thing you may not like about the design right upfront so that the next draft can come that much closer to meeting all of your needs.

2. Be Specific

If you don’t like the color scheme because it reminds you of your grandma’s living room, tell us that! When it comes to working together on a creative project, the more information the better. Even if it seems silly, any reason is better than, “I just don’t like it.”

3. Have Examples

If your vision is inspired by somewhere you’ve been, or something you saw online, don’t be afraid to share it with us! We of course would never steal a design, but we find inspiration all over the place and the more guidance the better!

4. Tell us what you DO like

We can always use the elements you do like in a project to help guide future choices when fixing the things you don’t.

If you check all four of these boxes when giving feedback to your designer, videographer, or photographer, you’re sure to get where you’re trying to go a little faster, and it will help everyone stay on the same page for the remainder of the project. Giving good feedback can help save you time and money, and achieve your creative goals.

If we were to put a group of small business owners in a room and ask them what good branding is, we would immediately get a list of examples. They would list companies like Apple, Target, Nike – Huge multinational corporations with locations all over the world, stock options, and billions of dollars in assets. When it comes to small business, most people look at these examples of “good branding” and just think it’s not for them – It’s for big companies with marketing teams and influencers. But if we were to ask them to define branding, we would get blank stares or answers all over the place.

Branding isn’t just logos and letterhead. Branding is actually better described as an emotional exchange. It is the way customers and clients feel when interacting with a company through websites, social media, in-person and every layer in between. Every business has a brand, whether they’re aware of it or not. A brand is built by a business’s audience with every interaction. Designers, photographers, and branding teams  like us lay a foundation for them to build on. Without the foundation of a brand identity, a company’s message can be inconsistent and out of control. Once control of a brand has been lost, it’s very hard to get back.

We understand that small business can feel like a footrace in cement shoes and creating a brand strategy is the last thing anyone is thinking about when the tasks are rolling in. In fact, this is something we understand more than most as a company made up of small business owners. The truth is, taking the time now to establish a brand identity and brand strategy will only help in the long run. Here are a just few things that a brand strategy can help businesses achieve:

Promote familiarity and recognition

People like to buy from businesses they are familiar with. Successful branding shows clients a company’s personality and helps connect with them on an emotional level, making people more likely to buy and refer their friends.

Sets you apart from the competition

While we have actually run into businesses that have no competition, this is extremely rare. We live in a world with options. Branding adds a layer of personality to a business that can help a customer choose between those options.

Helps make decisions

A company with a clear brand can use that brand to stay focused and make decisions about how they run their day to day business. If they know how they want to be perceived and how they want their clients to feel, small and large decisions become easier to make. This isn’t only for business owners but also for anyone they employ or plan to employ. Having a brand message keeps employees motivated and gives them direction.

Manages client expectations

There’s nothing worse than when everything goes right and a client still walks away unhappy. With clear focussed branding, businesses can help clients understand what to expect from them.

Guides marketing efforts and SAVES MONEY

This is the bottom line – The number one reason why small business choose to forgo professional branding is the cost. We get it, starting a new business is scary enough as it is and upfront costs can be high, making anything other than the bare necessities seem frivolous. However, branding helps guide marketing strategy and will save time and money in the end by eliminating costly advertising mistakes.