Graphic Design & Illustration
Graphic Design & Illustration
My Role: Web Designer, Asset Manger, Illustrator
Project Time: 4- 12 weeks
Background
When it comes to designing for social media, my focus is on more than just aesthetics; it's about building a digital narrative that breathes life into brands. Through captivating visuals and storytelling techniques, I strive to not only showcase products but to encapsulate the essence of each brand, enabling them to connect with their audience on a deeper level.
I extend this narrative onto the digital landscape, crafting websites that are both visually compelling and functionally seamless. Each website launch is not just an endpoint but a milestone in the brand's digital journey, a testament to the power of design in conveying stories and fostering meaningful connections.
Discovery Phase
The process to start a design package is based on a discovery phase first. This starts with a consult call to see if we are a right fit. We want to understand the user the target, market competitors and the need of the clients business asking questions to learn about you and balance personalities. During the meeting we can share our screens over zoom to share what we learned. Gauging to find out, what they stand for, what they live by, their mission statement, vision statement and find out some criteria for our goal.
What is the measure of success
More leads
Brand awareness
More sales
More impressions
Retain customers
Gain customers
Using Simon Sineks golden circle we ask
Why your company does something
How your company does the things that it do
What the thing that your company does
Stylescape
A style scape is like a mood board it tells a story. It is a curated set of images focused around the user that translates words into visual direction. Putting words into visual direction. Bridge between discovery phase and initial design inspiring my client with the potential of where there design. Introducing
Logos
Patterns
Signage
Symbols
Typography
Icons
Adding a flow of potential design options. Giving the client a picture in their mind after the style scape is done.
Logos
Logo design is the first impression of the brand. A logo is for identification not for communication and it helps with memory association. Simple is better, and works in many spaces - making sure it’s responsive. So it can fit on a billboard(product) or an app icon.
Starting with research on competitors, looking at their brand message and marketing and trying to differentiate from them. Elements we think of:
Typography
Icon Mark
Color
Vertical and horizontal
White space
Legibility
Responsiveness
Simplicity
How can it move? How can it function in different aspects of a brand? Referring back to the style scape, informing the direction of the logo. Getting inspiration from pintrest and behance. I begin to do a lot of sketches after that.
Doing word maps, word clouds to help me spark ideas for the logo. Then we pick the top 5-6 sketches for logo ideas and then I bring it into illustrator to make it clean and look professional.
Having a cmyk version of the logo as well as an rgb version for print.
Branding
For branding we try showing the logo in context, putting it on high quality mock-ups. Making things simple to highlight logos patterns and colors of the brand. Going into Adobe bridge, showing a presentation.
Recapping on the discovery phase and findings we uncovered, bringing the brands and logos to life. Aiming for the users, showing the identities concept. Opening us to the next steps for revisions and a final.
All while keeping it relevant to the context.
Distinctive Assets
By creating silhouettes that are distinctive, Illustrations stand out and are identifiable for characters and specific for the brand. Creating memory associations with favorite players, coming into contact with personality, teams and color. Using this for products, branding and social media.
I crafted illustrations that were usable in a brand centric approach via this sports brand study.
Delivery
During the file hand off and exchange we usually get on a call or email and discuss all the files that will be delivered. Double checking all images.
Some clients can even request a screen recording on details of everything we’ve done.
For transfers there will be created a dropbox, google drive, weTransfer or another platform to handle the files since they could be so big in bit depth compression.
For off boarding on a final call I gain feedback. Send instructions with a training on how to use the files and how to implement them. With a clean and simple folder structure.
