How to Plan Your Brand’s Visual Identity from Scratch
Building a brand from the ground up can feel like a monumental task, especially when it comes to planning how you want your brand to look and feel to the customers.
Much of the groundwork comes from your hair extensions branding. Sure, your products have to be of high quality, but there is more to it than that.
If you're an entrepreneur who's just dipping your toes into the world of branding, this might seem like a foreign language. 😳
But don't worry—we'll break it all down into manageable steps and guide you through the essentials of creating a visual identity that reflects your brand's personality and connects with your audience.
What Is Visual Identity Anyway?
Visual identity is like your business's outfit and personality all rolled into one.
It's made up of everything visual about your brand—logos, colors, fonts, and even the type of images you use, and any other visual elements that make up your brand's appearance.
It's what helps people recognize your business instantly, like spotting a familiar face in a crowd.
Imagine you're walking down a street, and you see a bright red can with a white script.
You don't need to see the name to know it's Coca-Cola.
That's the power of a strong visual identity.
This identity is crucial because it's often the first thing people notice about your business, and it helps them form an impression before they even interact with your products or services.
Why Is Visual Identity Important?
First impressions matter—big time.
Your visual identity sets the tone for how people perceive your brand.
Is it fun and quirky? Professional and reliable? Your visuals tell that story before you even say a word. Having a cohesive visual identity also builds trust.
When everything looks and feels consistent, people are more likely to believe you're serious about your business.
It's like showing up to an important meeting well-dressed and prepared—you look the part, so people trust you more.
Step-by-Step Guide to Planning Your Visual Identity
Understand Your Brand
Before we even talk about colors and logos, you need to get crystal clear on what your brand stands for.
And you might get this a lot, but ask yourself these three questions.
- What are your core values? (Think about what's really important to you.)
- Who is your ideal customer? (Are they young, old, women, or all?)
- What emotions do you want your brand to evoke? (how do you want people to feel when they see your brand? Do you want to be seen as fun, serious, luxurious, and approachable?)
Write these down. They'll guide everything else.
Get Inspired
Now that you know what your brand is about, it's time to get inspired.
Look around at other brands you admire. What do you like about their visual identity?
Maybe it's their bold colors, design, or fonts.
Save these ideas—it's like gathering ingredients before cooking up your own unique recipe. If you are having trouble, Pinterest is a goldmine for inspiration. Search for your industry and then create a mood board.
A mood board is a collection of images, colors, and typography that capture the essence of your brand. It will help you visualize the direction you want to take and serve as a reference throughout the design process.
And you can stretch this identity to Hair Product Labels, Extension Silk Bags, and more!
Choose Your Color
Colors have a powerful impact on how people perceive your brand.
Color theory suggests that every color evokes different emotions and tells different stories.
For instance, blue often conveys trust, and green is more associated with food and everything else. Yellow is the color of happiness and energy.
Color is not a big deal but also has a large effect.
So, here's a quick tip: Pick a primary color that represents your brand, and then choose a couple of complementary colors to round out your palette.
These will be the colors you use on your Hair Website, social media, and marketing materials. Do not deviate from them.
Design Your Logo
Your logo is the foundation of your visual identity.
It's often the first thing people associate with your brand, so it needs to be memorable and reflective of your brand's personality.
The biggest tip you need for logo design is to keep it simple. A cluttered or overly complicated logo can be hard to recognize and remember.
There are also three major logo styles.
- Wordmark (text-based)
- Icon (symbol-based)
- Combination (text and symbol)
Remember, simplicity is key. You want your logo to be memorable and versatile—it should look good on a Business Card, a website, or even a billboard.
Select Typography
Typography might seem like a small detail, but it plays a significant role in how your brand communicates.
Choose fonts that reflect your brand's personality. If you're looking for a modern and minimalistic feel, a clean sans-serif font might be your go-to.
If you want something more traditional, a serif font could be a better fit. But please limit yourself to two or three fonts.
A primary font for headings, a secondary font for body text, and maybe an accent font for special uses. Consistency in typography helps create a cohesive look.
Define Your Imagery Style
The images you use—whether they're photos, illustrations, or graphics—should all align with your brand's personality.
Are you using bold, colorful photography or more subdued, black-and-white imagery?
Are your graphics playful or sleek?
Having a consistent imagery style ensures that all your visual content feels unified, which helps reinforce your brand identity across different platforms and mediums.
Create Brand Guidelines
Now that you've got all these pieces together, it's time to create a style guide.
This is a document, a bible, that outlines your visual identity. They should have your colors, fonts, logo usage, and imagery style.
Think of it as the rulebook for how your brand looks and feels. This document serves as a reference for anyone who works on your brand, from designers to marketers.
A style guide ensures that no matter who's creating content for your brand, everything stays consistent. Everyone will be on the same page.
Apply Your Visual Identity Consistently
With your brand guidelines in hand, it's time to apply your visual identity across all touchpoints.
This includes your website, social media profiles, packaging, business cards, and any other materials your audience interacts with.
Consistency is key—it helps build recognition and trust with your audience.
Remarkable Brand Identity
Planning your brand's visual identity from scratch might feel overwhelming, but by breaking it down into these steps, you can tackle it with confidence.
So take your time and be thoughtful, and you will be able to create a visual identity that looks great and also resonates with your audience. ❤️🔥
Get Custom Edge Control Branding with your new identity now!
