The Secrets to Keeping Your Brand Design Fresh

By Sharon Lee 

Branding can significantly impact a business's success. A study by Lucidpress found that a consistent brand presentation across all platforms can increase revenue by up to 23%.

 

"Your brand is the single most important investment you can make in your business." — Steve Jobs

 

Achieving balance in branding is crucial because it ensures that your brand's message resonates with your target audience while maintaining brand consistency and clarity across all platforms.

 

When your brand strikes the right balance and consistency, it effectively communicates its values, identity, and offerings with a fresh approach without being boringly overwhelming or alienating your audience. This equilibrium helps builds interest, trust, loyalty, and a strong emotional connection with your buyers.

 

So, how do you define a balance so that you will not design yourself into a box? 

 

 In this blog post I will share nine steps to achieving and maintaining a balance. 

1.   Establish Brand Guidelines—define your brand's core values, mission, vision, and personality. Formalize this by creating guidelines for your visual elements (logo, colors, typography) and the tone of voice that captures these essentials. By developing this foundation you will achieve consistency while providing a framework for creativity. 

 

2.   Flexible Visual Identity—design a versatile logo and visual elements that can adapt to different contexts. For instance, consider variations of your logo within guideline standards or a theme that allows for different design options while remaining recognizable. 

 

3.   Embrace Modular Design—use a modular design system that allows for flexibility in layouts and compositions while adhering to brand guidelines. This approach will let you mix and match elements for various applications without losing brand identity.

 

4.   Focus on Storytelling—create narratives around your brand that can evolve over time. This enables you to introduce new ideas and concepts while maintaining a consistent brand message.

 

5.   Stay Informed About Trends—keep an eye on design trends and industry changes. This awareness can inspire fresh ideas and innovations that align with your brand's essence without straying from its identity. Continuous improvement is a must!

 

6.   Gather Feedback—seek feedback regularly from your target buyers and internal stakeholders. Understanding their perceptions can help you adjust your design approach while ensuring that it remains aligned with brand values. 

 

7.   Adapt to New Channels—adapt your brand's messaging and visuals as new platforms and technologies emerge. This way you can keep your core identity intact while preventing your brand from feeling stagnant.

 

8.   Encourage Internal Collaboration—foster collaboration among different teams (such as marketing, design, product development) to ensure a holistic approach to brand consistency. After all, diverse perspectives can lead to innovative ideas that still respect the brand’s core identity.

 

9.   Iterate and Evolve—allow your brand to evolve naturally over time. After all, consistency doesn't mean rigidity; it means staying true to your core values while being open to change and adaptation.

 

By following these steps, you can maintain brand consistency while still allowing room for creativity and innovation, ensuring your brand remains relevant and engaging without being confined to a narrow design box.

 

Achieving a balance in brand consistency while avoiding design constraints requires a strategic approach.

 

Thanks for reading.

 

And see my blog posts, What Types of Branding Are Best for Your Business and Starting Right With Good Design, if you are a relative newcomer to branding. 

 

Let us know what you think about this blog post.