How to Construct Your Own Visual Identity
The concept of visual identity has become increasingly important in the modern world. Visual identity solutions provide a cohesive set of brand elements that work together in the creation of a consistent brand presence. Visual identity solutions are critical in helping to improve business visibility and recognition, making it easier for customers and potential customers to identify and interact with a brand. A well-designed visual identity solution conveys your company’s mission and can boost the confidence of customers and potential customers in the service or products offered.
Constructing a visual identity is a powerful tool for small business or large companies alike. It helps create credibility and visibility for your business by establishing a recognizable look, feel, and tone that your target audience can easily identify. Taking the time to craft a strong brand identity will help you develop a unified voice and image that differentiates you from your competition. Here we outline ten tips for constructing a strong visual identity for your business.
1. Establish Objectives
Before beginning to construct your visual identity, you must establish your objectives. What do you hope to accomplish through the creation of this brand strategy? Identifying what you want the visual identity to do for you can help narrow the choices that you make and provide clarity when deciding which elements are right for you.
2. Understand Your Target Audience
Knowing your target audience and understanding their needs, desires and behaviour is key to creating the most effective visual identity for your company. Delve into who your target customers are – what age are they, what level of education do they have, what socio-economic group do they belong to and what is the likelihood of them engaging with your brand? Answering these questions and any others that you have will help you create a visual identity that appeals to your target audience and resonates with them on an emotional level.
3. Analyze Your Competition
Analyzing your competition’s visual identity can be a good exercise to complete before beginning to construct your own. Take a look at what the leading brands in your industry are doing and examine how they’re using their visual elements to create a powerful impression. To make your visual identity stand out from the competition, it’s important to look at their identity solutions and identify spaces in which your identity could do something different.
4. Choose Colours
Colours serve an important role when it comes to constructing a visual identity as each has its own distinct psychological connotations. To create a successful visual identity for your company, it’s important to research the different colours and their effects on human behaviour and choose colours that best exemplify your brand. For example, research has found that green, blue and purple can evoke a feeling of trustworthiness, making them ideal for businesses that rely on customer loyalty and security for success.
5. Develop Your Logo
Your logo is likely to be the most visible piece of your visual identity and should be created with this in mind. To create an effective logo, it needs to be simple, memorable, and representative of your company’s mission and values. It should also convey the emotions you want your customers to feel when they come in contact with your brand. Consider hiring a professional designer who can create a logo that is tailored to your needs.
6. Develop Your Tone of Voice
Creating a tone of voice for your company is just as important as creating a logo. Your tone should be consistent across all communications and platforms, to ensure that your company’s message is transmitted with the same personality regardless of the medium. Finding a tone of voice that resonates with your target audience is key. For example, if you are targeting young professionals, having a more casual and relaxed tone could be the way to go.
7. Choose Typefaces and Fonts
Typefaces and fonts are important components of any visual identity. Selecting the right typefaces can help create an identity that communicates the desired message to your target audience. To create a more consistent look, consider using one or two font families for all of your design elements. This will help create a consistent look and feel for your brand.
8. Use Graphic Elements
Graphic elements can become strong visual signifiers for your brand, helping it stand out from the competition. Consider developing a few key graphic elements that you can use on all marketing and communications materials, such as a custom pattern, texture, shape, or icon. Having these elements establishes a visual identity that is recognizable to your customers.
9. Keep Your Visual Identity Consistent
Once you’ve constructed your visual identity, it’s important to ensure that your identity is kept consistent across all platforms. This will help your customers easily identify and interact with your brand, regardless of the medium. Consider establishing a set of brand guidelines that clearly define the elements of your identity and the ways in which they should be used.
10. Monitor Your Visual Identity
Monitoring how your visual identity is performing and adapting it accordingly is critical to the success of your brand. Monitor how customers are responding to the identity, look at how it’s being used across different media platforms, and measure how it’s impacting the overall perception of the brand. This will help ensure that your visual identity is meeting its objectives and helping you reach your desired audience.
Constructing your own visual identity can be a daunting task, but with adequate planning and research, you can create a powerful brand that resonates with your target audience. Take the time to understand your target audience, research your competition, and create a cohesive set of brand elements that work together to create an identity that is recognizable and engaging. Doing so will ensure that your visual identity is an effective tool for distinguishing your brand from the competition and helping you reach your desired goals.