In today’s competitive market, a strong brand is more than just a logo; it’s a carefully crafted identity that speaks to the values, personality, and promise of a business. At Ono Creative, we take pride in guiding clients through the exciting journey of turning a concept into a tangible, impactful brand. Here’s a look at the branding process we follow to bring ideas to life - from initial concept to the finished product.
1. Discovery and Strategy: Laying the Foundation
Every successful branding project begins with an in-depth discovery phase. Before we dive into design, we work to understand the client’s business, their vision, their audience, and their unique position in the marketplace. This first step is all about building a foundation for the creative process, ensuring that the final brand will resonate with the intended audience and align with the client’s objectives.
Client Workshops and Interviews: We meet with our clients to discuss their goals, values, and brand aspirations. Through workshops, interviews, and sometimes site visits, we aim to understand the business from the inside out.
Market and Audience Research: We study the client’s industry landscape and target audience, looking at competitors, market trends, and consumer behaviour. This research ensures that the brand will stand out while meeting audience expectations.
Brand Positioning and Messaging: Based on our findings, we craft a brand positioning statement and messaging framework that define the brand’s voice, tone, and unique value proposition. These strategic elements serve as guideposts throughout the branding process.
The discovery and strategy phase is critical for setting the direction of the branding project, ensuring that every decision aligns with the client’s goals and speaks directly to their audience.
2. Concept Development: Where Creativity Begins
With a solid understanding of the brand’s foundation, we enter the concept development phase. This is where our creative team begins to explore visual ideas that bring the brand’s essence to life.
Mood Boards and Inspiration: We create mood boards to explore themes, colours, and design styles that could capture the desired feel of the brand. This visual brainstorming stage allows us to consider a range of creative possibilities before narrowing down to specific ideas.
Initial Sketches and Rough Concepts: Once we’ve defined the visual direction, our designers sketch initial concepts. These sketches may include logo ideas, typography choices, and colour palettes that reflect the brand’s personality. These early drafts are shared with the client to gain feedback and gauge whether we’re capturing the right tone.
Client Feedback and Refinement: Branding is a collaborative process, and client feedback is essential at this stage. We work closely with our clients, incorporating their insights and making adjustments to ensure the design feels authentic and aligns with their vision.
The concept development phase is where creativity and strategy intersect, setting the stage for the final brand identity.
3. Design Execution: Crafting the Brand Identity
Once we have a concept that resonates with the client, we move into the design execution phase. This is where the brand identity truly starts to take shape, transforming rough ideas into polished visuals that communicate the brand’s message clearly and effectively.
Logo Design and Iconography: The logo is often the most recognisable element of a brand, and we put great care into crafting a logo that embodies the client’s unique identity. Alongside the logo, we may also develop supporting icons and graphics that can be used across marketing materials.
Typography and Colour Palette: Fonts and colours play a significant role in setting the tone of a brand. We select typography that complements the brand’s personality, ensuring it is both aesthetically pleasing and practical for various uses. Our colour palettes are chosen to evoke the right emotions and create a cohesive look across all brand elements.
Brand Guidelines: To ensure consistency, we create comprehensive brand guidelines that outline how each element of the brand should be used. These guidelines include details on logo usage, colour codes, typography rules, and other visual standards, helping the client maintain a consistent brand presence.
The design execution phase brings the brand identity to life, creating a visual language that will represent the client across all platforms and touchpoints.
4. Implementation: Bringing the Brand to Market
With the brand identity in place, we assist our clients in rolling out the new branding across all necessary platforms. This stage involves working closely with the client’s internal teams, suppliers, and, where needed, external partners to ensure a seamless transition.
Digital Assets: We create and deliver digital assets for the client’s website, social media profiles, and online advertising. These assets are optimised for digital use and designed to maintain the brand’s integrity across platforms.
Physical Collateral: For clients who require printed materials, we design business cards, stationery, brochures, and packaging that align with the brand identity. This physical collateral enhances the brand’s visibility and provides a tangible connection with customers.
Website and Social Media: If the client’s branding project includes a new website or social media strategy, our team handles the design and layout for these platforms, ensuring a consistent and cohesive brand experience.
The implementation phase is where we see the brand take flight, with every piece working together to create a unified identity.
5. Evaluation and Support: Fine-Tuning for Success
A brand is not static; it evolves as the business grows. After launch, we continue to provide support and evaluate the brand’s performance, helping our clients adapt to changing markets and refine their brand as needed.
Ongoing Brand Support: We offer ongoing brand support, assisting clients with any additional design needs or updates. This includes refining materials, designing new assets, and providing brand management advice.
Performance Analysis: We help clients measure brand impact through analytics and customer feedback, providing insights into how the brand is performing and where there may be room for improvement.
Strategic Adjustments: If needed, we work with the client to make strategic adjustments to keep the brand relevant. This could involve updating the visual style, evolving messaging, or refreshing specific brand elements to reflect new market demands.
Evaluation and support ensure that the brand remains strong, relevant, and responsive to both client goals and audience needs.
Conclusion
At Ono Creative, we understand that branding is more than just aesthetics; it’s about creating a memorable identity that resonates with audiences and drives business success. Our comprehensive process—from discovery and concept development to design execution, implementation, and ongoing support—allows us to guide clients from concept to reality, building brands that stand the test of time. By focusing on both strategy and creativity, we bring each client’s unique vision to life, creating a brand that not only looks impressive but also connects with its intended audience on a meaningful level.