What is brand identity?

Recently I had the opportunity to chat with some youth at a local gallery about branding yourself and creating a portfolio online. I enjoyed putting together content for us to talk through and I thought I would share tidbits here as well!

So, what is brand identity? Brand Identity is all visual elements associated with your brand. Having an established brand identity will help you keep your brand looking professional and consistent everywhere. Establishing colour, design, and logos can help you set your brand apart and dictate how your brand communicates to the world.

But, brand identity doesn’t start with a logo or choosing colours. You have to look deeper within your business first to ensure you’ll end with a brand identity you’ll be using for years to come.

Without these key steps, you may end up with something that’s aesthetically pleasing, but it could very easily be something your brand grows out of, or something that doesn’t resonate with your target audience at all.

When you hire a brand designer they aren’t just making you some pretty elements, they’ll also be researching your industry, your audience, and looking for all the little bits that will give you an edge over your competitors.

The visuals you see are actually the very last step when it comes to brand design and only a small portion of what you’re investing in, with brand identity coming at the very tail end of the project.