My branding process.

This is a wee “behind the scenes” for both clients and aspiring designers to learn a bit more about what to expect when hiring a freelance designer.

Design is a complex process that involves understanding the client's needs, brainstorming ideas, and crafting visuals that not only look good but also effectively communicate a message. In order to do that you’ll need a solid structure to your workflow. I’m going to show you my standard process, step by step, for taking my clients thoughts and bringing them to life.

The Call

When the client reaches out, the initial contact is crucial for understanding their vision, their goals for the business, a bit more about them as a company and the scope of the project. I’d say the best way to do this is over video call, this shows professionalism and immediately builds your clients confidence and puts them at ease. However I sometimes offer a normal phone call or just to continue by email depending on how the client feels. The bottom line is, you need to gather all the information necessary in order to deliver branding that exceeds your clients expectation.

Moodboard

Moodboard from my outdoor brand - Turadh

Once the project is defined, I dive into the creative process. I send all my clients a collaborative moodboard on Pinterest - creating a visual collection of images, colors, and styles that inspire and guide the design direction. This allows the client to have more input and ensures their preferences are reflected in the final product.

Design is a very personal thing, allowing the client to be involved from the beginning keeps them in the loop and means there will be less chance of revisions later in the design process.

Exploartion

Exploration of letterforms for the Randan branding

With a solid foundation in place, the exploration phase begins. This involves brainstorming ideas, experimenting with different elements, and considering various design approaches. This can come in many forms, for example, above is one of my collage prints used during the Randan project. The idea here was to gather letterforms from images of people out partying. Some of these shapes were later built into the final logo. This is one of the many ways I explore options for my clients, but the goal is always to create a diverse range of concepts that align with their vision.

Concepts

3 Logo concepts I made for the artist Kaia Laurielle

Based on the exploration phase, initial design concepts are presented to the client. These concepts showcase different interpretations of the project, allowing the client to provide feedback and refine the direction before building out the branding further. Depending on the design package selected by the client I would usually offer 1 to 3 branding options.

Presentation & Mockups

Some mockups from my Turadh project

Once the client has selected their preferred concept, I create a range of mock-ups to strengthen the branding. These mock-ups provide a realistic representation of the final design, allowing the client to visualize the project clearly. I use these mock-ups in my final branding presentation along with logo options, colour palettes and fonts. The presentation provides a detailed walkthrough of the design elements and new branding. This is presented to the client via video call or email depending on their preference.