Personal Branding isn't just about your logo, but let's talk about it...

From logo designs to colourways, why they're important.

To design is much more than simply to assemble, to order, or even to edit; it is to add value and meaning, to illuminate, to simplify, to clarify, to modify, to dignify, to dramatise, to persuade, and perhaps even to amuse.— Paul Rand,

Author, Graphic Designer, Teacher

When discussing the fact I work within the personal branding industry, many who are unaware of my services automatically assume that I must design logos, which I don't. Personal branding is a lot more than just a logo design, it's the living breathing air of who you are and what you do, and it's also what many people say about you when you're not in the room.

To develop your personal brand you have to think out of the box, starting with your why and your vision, however at some point you will have to hone in on your aesthetics, therefore this article is going to delve into design and the importance of it.

Now, Powerful Leaders wouldn't be where it is now without the backing of an insanely talented team and whilst I love talking about branding, who better to talk to than Powerful Leaders Lead Graphic Designer, Owen Mooney, about logo designs to colourways and why they're important.

Side note...As much as I believe my Canva design skills to be above par (thank you Melanie Perkins), I have to admit defeat when it comes to the technical eye of a Graphic Designer, so let's dive in.

What really is the importance of design?

What you see is often what you get, and Owen confirmed this further by stating that design is usually the first thing with which we interact with, from a website to a brochure, to someone's Instagram profile.

Research has stated that within the first seven seconds of meeting someone, people will have a solid impression of who you are, with some research even suggesting a tenth of a second is all it takes to start determining traits like trustworthiness. Now, although this stipulates meeting in person, as we all know this past year has changed the meeting game, with our first interaction being predominantly online-based, whether scrolling through a website or stalking a social platform.

Our online profile, or personal brand, sets the tone of the impression - or as Owen loves to put it - it creates an essence and a scene (very designer lingo).

The identity is instantly formed, therefore design creates the foundational elements whilst you build your brand and the mood in which you create are the stepping stones to understanding the vision behind the brand.

So how can you build this impression?

How to establish brand identity

As already mentioned, your brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room, it's what others understand about what you do and if you aren't clear on what you do, then they won't be either.

From defining your why, your vision and your offering you can then begin to start putting into play some of the more fun and exciting elements, from building vision boards to bringing your own wants and desires to life through the likes of Pinterest.

Owen discusses the importance of highlighting your colour schemes and really grasping what these colours mean to you, in fact...what they'll also mean to others. If you think about it, your brand colours are hopefully going to be omnipresent, therefore you need to LOVE what you see and not feel 'meh' about it.

From there it's about building out your logo, again - this will be everywhere, from the full shebang to a smaller signature or image, this is where it's key for a designer to support you, to not only create the big picture but think about all the smaller elements too.

From social headers to email signatures to what logos will be on your visuals for socials.

If you're still unsure here, here are a few questions:

• What image is currently at the top of your LinkedIn bio? Does it represent you and your brand or is it just a stock image?
• Do the colours on your social grids all link? Or are they just thrown together because 'why not?'
• When signing off an email, what's there?
• When you go onto your website, does it resonate with your vision and mission, or is it just there for a landing page?

At Powerful Leaders, not only does our Lead Graphic Designer work from an in-depth brief with our clients, they also work closely with our Lead Copywriter, ensuring there is a meaningful connection between words and visuals.

Here's an example of branding for myself:

Below is the visual for my Podcast Tile, the lines represent sound waves, which also represent my voice and the overall concept of 'Start A Movement With Your Message' - sound moves fast, it's powerful, as is our message.

The colours are connected to Powerful Leaders, so although they're the same, there are differentiating aspects from the liquid visuals on Powerful Leaders and the sound waves for Hannah Power.

& yes, Owen Mooney nailed it.

Understanding what you want is key for your designer.

As with everything, there are always the good and the bad, same with clients. Owen and I discussed the importance of understanding your vision before approaching a Graphic Designer.

Why?

Well, unless your designer is a mind reader, how will they bring to life your brand without a clear vision from you?

So to help you out, here are a few questions:

• What is the project?
• What is your aim?
• Where is your inspiration coming from?
• How do you want people to feel when they look at your brand?
• If your brand image could have a personality, describe it in 3 words.

Here are a few visuals from some of our clients.

Where is design going?

With more and more people becoming aware and conscious of design, it's imperative to be clear on yours.

Your identity and presence is being portrayed daily through design elements, along with your voice being amplified across various social channels. 10 years ago design was a lot more simplified, but with times shifting faster than ever, it's time to revisit your brand to ensure that you are standing out amongst the noise.

For more support on your brand identity, contact me at: [email protected]