Bye-Bye DIY: My Creative Business Just Got a Killer Brand Makeover
Sometimes, you have to let things get pretty convoluted to arrive at the right solution.
See this awesome little logo?
It’s simple and clean, with that little off-centre dot.
But today, let me show you a peek behind the scenes of how complicated it can be to get there.
Why I Decided to Redesign My Brand
I would describe myself as a pretty typical “company of one”: multi-passionate, running several business strands, and a highly competent DIYer.
When I first set up this website and business, I chose to create my own colour palette from a photo I loved using Coolors.
It was all good enough, fine when I’m only just getting started and finding my voice.
But I knew it was just a placeholder.
I had learnt from creating the logo and brand look for my language business that creating a pro-level brand identity is a huge step forward for any business.
Choosing the Right Brand Designer for My Creative Solo Brand
It’s not just about creating something pretty.
For me, working with a professional designer is about
saying YES to what I want to represent to my clients
showing confidence in my business and its direction
recruiting that brilliant collaborator who becomes deeply invested in creating this with you
I wanted a collaborator, not an AI or a logo marketplace. When I spotted Emmelie Coulson’s work I knew that her joyful style was just what I would need.
The Collaborative Process of My Brand Design
Emmelie’s professional approach started with an in-depth questionnaire, covering topics like:
What I like and don’t like about my current brand design
What I stand for, and what I want to show people with my design
Colours, fonts, words, elements that would be important to include
Where I see my business going and who my target customers are
She also instructed me to create a Pinterest board of ideas and designs I like.
Selection of the graphics I selected as inspiration for my brand designer.
My brand is not just for “coaching” or “courses” or “services”. it had to be
fun, bold, and creative, just like me and my clients
versatile enough to be used across platforms and products
confident and professional, so it works in any environment
Finally, I also wanted to pull in one of the colours from my language brand to show the connection. We did do that - look out for fuchsia pink!
Building the Logo in 3 Steps
Next, Emmelie got herself to work and sent me her draft of a look. We didn’t hit the perfect element in one strike, but I had faith that through revisions and iterations we could find the right look.
And…it did take all three revisions to get there. The finished product looks nothing like our draft 1, 2, or even 2.5.
Emmelie was a brilliant open communicator, adjusting her process to experiment throughout. On our deadline day, we started exchanging pictures and doodles in chat messages.
That’s when it all came together in our simplest design yet.
For me, the biggest insight was that it takes courage to remove something from your designs. As a multi-passionate creator I know this feeling all too well.
Creativity is about what you do with a restricted space, and the new brand we created represents how much is possible when you say yes to it.
Unveiling the New Brand
Bold colours that make people happy.
Energy in a small space.
And a circle containing fluid shapes with one small circle on the side, hinting at side gigs, new ideas, and individuality in each of my clients.
Emmelie also pulled together great fonts and a selection of brand designs that I can use wherever I like.
Brand Design: Would Recommend?
Developing my brand identity was about more than just a fresh coat of paint.
It required self-discovery and commitment to what I truly represent. Branding is backing yourself, and learning what you want to stand for at any time.
As my husband put it when I showed him draft #4 and he didn’t like it: “Too complicated is bad. You want someone to doodle your logo and everyone knows what it is.”
If you're considering a brand makeover, I encourage you to take the leap. Trust in the process, find the right partners, and get that delightful result of seeing your vision come to life.
