Part 2: Who wins – time or perfection?

Are you forever torn between your time available and showcasing your best?

back to TIME SAVER #1

TIME SAVER #2 Beautiful colour & graphics

Simple use of your bespoke logo and beautiful brand colours can help to create a consistent look and feel. So I’d always recommend starting with these design assets.

Think about:

• headers
• backdrops
• highlighted text
• text boxes
• borders

Work with your brand colours to create an association with your brand, and add a neutral colour (white / cream / brown / beige / grey / black) to your colour palette to create breathing space and balance.

When you are ready to take it to the next level there are opportunities to create something very unique – creating your world in full colour! Depending on ‘what’ and ‘how’ you provide your solution these bespoke brand assets can breathe new life into your brand experience. What could you create with your brand?

Illustration & Graphics

Add a professional edge to your posts, articles, and presentations with a bespoke illustrative style, and start to build upon your brand assets.

This could be:

• a seasonal backdrop – colour / texture / pattern
• infographics to simplify a thought process, results or instructions
• collection of bespoke icons to help with navigation between topics, services, or calls to action. These naturally help readers to identify the relevant sections for them
• perhaps even a brand character!

…has that sparked your imagination?

It can be a really effective and expressive way to connect with your audience.

A great example is the gorgeous Radley brand – with their signature Scottie dog, who features as a tag, within patterns, appliqué designs on the designer bags and accessories, packaging, and window displays. (There’s even been opportunities to meet and pose with the real live Radley Scottie Dog!). This brand has worked its way into the hearts of their female audience.

Photographic Style

Keep a folder on your desktop or somewhere handy, that you can quickly add your own photos you’ve taken and stock imagery for commercial use, as and when you come across key ones that look and feel like your brand.

Think about:

• the subject matter
• lighting
• style of photo
• what emotions does it evoke?
• does it tie in with your brand and client aspirations?

Themed photos can work really well for a related series of content – seasonal / activity / colour etc.

There are many different sites you can find stunning free photos for commercial use when you need something on the go, as well as great local photographers for stylised product and collection shoots. I love stylising these – you can really add a personal touch and let your brand shine through. (More on this lovely area another time).

Tip: Remember to repurpose your photos and graphic design assets within the different content you create, as social media posts, with inspirational quotes etc.