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Designing visuals for a business can be a challenging process. In the past, this work was largely done by professional designers. Companies would outsource the work or have their own graphic designers on staff.
In recent years, entrepreneurs and small business owners have shifted toward learning to do their own brand styling. For those without a background in design, knowing what goes into good design is only half the challenge. The other half: making a design to match your business.
Color
Color has long been used in the world of design and art to convey feelings and ideas. Little else is needed to inspire a basic emotion. Blue, for example, often evokes calmness, tranquillity, and peace. You often see it used by businesses in the healthcare industry. Red conveys passion and heat, making it better for a business in high-energy industries, like sports or fitness.
Shapes
Initially, shapes might seem like a simple thing to pick. Choosing the right shapes for your logo and other design elements is crucial for your design to work for your business. Like color, different industries often rely on similar shapes. Engineering companies, for example, typically stick to minimal designs featuring straight, precise lines.
Fonts
Fonts are a designer’s best friend. They also have to play nicely with your colors and shapes to create a cohesive visual style. A good place to start: look back at your shapes. Create harmony with your font. An elegant script wouldn’t look right next to minimalist color blocks, would it? On the other hand, if you already know the general style of font you want to associate with your business, find shapes that complement that style.
Layouts
Finally, it’s time to think about your content layout. This includes everything: your website, flyers, and other marketing materials. A consistent layout–working with your colors and shapes–makes it easier for your customers to recognize your brand before they even read your name.
Establishing a range of set layouts makes it much easier to keep your work consistent across the board. Luckily, this process is as simple as making some sketches. Having access to a good web design company like WEBX360 can make your life much easier as you start to go through this, giving you the chance to leave the hard work to someone else.
Brand Styling: Where It All Comes Together
Once you’ve finished working out these elements, you have the opportunity to see it all come together. Unfortunately, this can turn frustrating if you don’t have the skills or the interest in learning them to be your own designer. For some businesses, you might not need many graphics beyond a logo. Thankfully, there are a lot of DIY logo builders around the web, and many of these tools are free.
Whether you’re just building your brand or looking to refresh its style, these elements are the basics to brand styling. It’s a good idea to routinely ask if your designs match your business, or if they could be improved. Remember: as your business grows, it’s normal for some things to change. Just be sure everything stays in harmony and your visuals still work for you.
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