How to Create Unique Branding that Stands Out
Finding Your Own Sources of Inspiration to Create Unique Spin on your Business Branding
I know you see the trends! Scrolling through small business social media right now pretty much feels like deja vu every couple of seconds! It makes it so hard not to be tempted to follow what’s in right now in terms of aesthetics and design. So, the most important question of the day is, "How do I create unique branding for my business?" Let's talk about it!
Since I started my business, it has been so important to me to pull originality through in each brand design and web design project I tackle. The temptation to follow the crowd is so real, but I feel like I’ve found the secret to unique branding:
The most important things are to 1) look beyond Pinterest, 2) allow your business and yourself to be your biggest sources of inspiration, and 3) find the unique intersection between what makes you, "you" and good design.
I know that may sound obvious, but think about it this way—there are so many facets to a business and the person who founded it that can translate into something visual. Whether it’s a part of their mission, a part of their journey, or even something like an important tattoo they have, I can guarantee there is a visual representation of that thing that will make the branding unique.
When you look to create your branding, start by digging into who you are.
What makes you tick?
What do you enjoy?
What's part of your brand story?
These are all key questions to ask yourself that you can then take small snippets out of and infuse into your design!
I've done that with many of my clients, and I'd love to share two of my favorite projects as examples:
Ada’s Ice Cream Shop
Ada’s was named after the American Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of disability, and the shop is specifically designed to employ people with disabilities! A big part of their branding that I connected this to was the clean, geometric shapes in the icons. I chose these intentionally to be visually soothing to an individual with a disability. They are the ones to be working in the store, after all!
Alex Elise Photo
On our first call, Alex told me how her journey as a photographer began in O’ahu, an island in Hawaii. She said that was the place she really fell in love with capturing beauty through a camera. I started with a hand-drawn mark of O’ahu, and decided to infuse it with the rest of her branding! So the mark you see in the middle is an outline of O’ahu.
These are the pieces that are connected to a little piece of the business and business owner! It really pulls heart and soul through branding, which is as original as it could ever get.
