ARTICLE SUMMARY: Despite popular belief, when it comes to branding, there’s more to it than meets the eye. Ideas just don’t flow from the heavens above while a designer is looking up for inspiration. While inspiration is a part of it, it’s just the beginning.
The work begins when a client comes through your door struggling to define the problems they have or the desired outcomes they are looking for, no small order. To give your client your best, you need to be methodical, you need to be organized, you need a plan, a playbook that keeps you moving forward in an orderly and timely fashion.
“Here’s The Branding Playbook We Used to Design 40+ Successful Brands” by Akash Kalra takes the mystery out of creating successful brands by sharing his design playbook that took years to develop. A few of the topics discussed are:
- The First Touch(point)
- The Onboarding
- Creative Direction Development
Part of the challenge in branding is answering two big questions, what is the Brand’s Story, and what is the Big Idea. By answering these two questions the designer ensures that every user interaction is grounded in meaning, consistency, and emotional resonance.
This foundation transforms a product from simply being functional into something that feels purposeful, something users can connect with, trust, and remember. It guides everything from visual identity to tone of voice to UX decisions, making sure the brand experience is not only coherent but also compelling at every touchpoint.
This article has a lot of good information for both new and seasoned designers alike. Let us know what you think in the comments.
