HOW TO BRAND YOURSELF AS A DESIGNER

As a designer, you spend a lot of time helping your clients or the company you are working for to brand themselves effectively.

When it comes to our own brand image, it’s a bit like the old saying about the painter and decorator, they paint and decorate so many other people’s homes that they don’t ever have time to o their own homes.

True!? Well, I guess we just have to look at ourselves to answer that question.

Image is everything.

It is very important that we have a good image out there in the world, and this means looking at what we do, who we do it for and how people will find out about us. Something that we focus on with our students is all about the development of their own brand – personal brand and business brand, after all, they are both the same in terms of you. After all, it is both about ‘You’. So what do you need to do to start developing your own brand identity and how can you be sure it is going in the right direction?

What is a brand?

It isn’t something only large, well-known companies have. It is a necessity for any person or business from freelancers to international e-commerce sites to establish themselves as an authority in their industry.

Neither is it just a logo; it’s a reputation. It’s a way to attract and communicate with your audience. Because people are often exposed to your brand before actually interacting or doing business with you, it also acts as a way of setting expectations.

To effectively brand yourself, you first need to understand the different components involved, why they are important and how to properly implement them. Below are some of the essential aspects and steps involved in successful branding, regardless of your industry or budget.

Clear mission statement

Building a successful brand begins with uncovering who you are and what your purpose is. Your mission statement is the core of your brand. Every decision you make stems from it — a few lines that clearly state the goal of your brand and, in turn, also reveal your style and tone.

Unique value

It is important to know your competition so you know how to position yourself amongst them. What do you offer that others can’t? Don’t just focus on what makes you great, but rather what makes you different. Search for other well-established businesses in your industry to see how they are marketing themselves. Learn from them. What are they doing that you like? Mimic those tactics. What can you do that is different, better?

Quality logo

If there is any step of your branding you don’t want to skimp on, it’s your logo. Is it eye-catching? Does it look too similar to other brands? Your logo is how people identify your brand, and one of the most frequently used and seen elements, so it needs to be high-quality and accurately representative of your style.