What is branding?
We hear the word "branding" all the time. Branding isn't just logo design; branding is about who you are, what your messaging is, and who your target audience is. While a portion of branding is visual — such as a logo, printed products, website, and staff uniform, a brand is more than just what you see. A brand is also the way that your staff answers the phone, the layout of a retail space, lighting, how customers are greeted, etc. A brand is an entire experience. For a brand to function properly and with purpose, it needs to be memorable. Consistency and repetition of memorable branding helps to form customer loyalty and interest.
Where our services shine for you
With over two decades of design industry expertise (and Tina has a 3-year Graphic Design & Advertising diploma), we've developed and fine-tuned our visual branding process to help us understand what makes your business unique. This enables us to create a strong visual identity that's original and customized specifically for you.
For a logo that's easy to recognize, simplicity is essential. The end result from our two Brand Packages is a strategic, researched, and cleverly developed logo that is accessible, flexible for the wide variety of media that exists today, memorable (Note: what appears as a "simple logo" is not easy to create. It is developed and refined from complexity and many concepts), and tested (on at least one application, such as business cards). We design with intention - from colour choice and typefaces, to balance and messaging. A strong logo with supporting variations and elements are the key in providing you with the tools needed to enable consistency and successfully build customer loyalty. Our brand services provide the foundation.
BRAND PACKAGES
BRAND ESSENTIALS
✓ DISCOVERY
Prior to concept work, clear communication is crucial in brand development. Our discovery questionnaire has specific questions that will guide us during your logo and brand creation. This form will be provided to you and should be filled out in as much detail as possible. Depending on clarity and specifics, additional information may be required.
✓ PROJECT SCOPE
An outline and agreement based on our communication, explaining what you can expect from us. Includes an estimated project timeline, cost, as well our terms and conditions.
✓ LOGO / BRAND IDENTITY DESIGN
CREATIVE PROCESS
Involves behind-the-scenes brand, competition and uniqueness research; sketches, development, font searches, concept refinement, vectorizing, creation of variations, etc., etc.
✓ DELIVERABLES
CONCEPT PROPOSAL
The strongest concept will be presented, and shown on at least one application (eg, business cards). Up to 2 rounds of minor adjustments are included (maximum of 2 hours).
BRAND ASSETS
These include the final logo design and all of its variations - usable on all print and web applications. Digital files will be neatly sorted and labelled. A list of deliverables will be included in your project scope / agreement.
MINI BRAND STYLE GUIDE (PDF)
Your Concept Proposal is finalized into a Mini Brand Style Guide (1-3 pages min.). Reference this guide to keep your brand consistent with logo usage, fonts, and colour palette.
BUSINESS CARD DESIGN (APPLICATION)
Double-sided business cards. Includes up to 2 rounds of revisions. Flattened, non-editable high resolution PDF press file can be provided upon request.
BUSINESS CARD PRINTING (Digital)
500 qty, double-sided, 16pt stock in one of our standard finishes: choice of UV gloss both sides, UV front only, or matte (Alternative and premium finishing options, such as foils, can be quoted separately, upon request).
CORE BRAND SUITE
✓ DISCOVERY
Prior to concept work, clear communication is crucial in brand development. Our discovery questionnaire has specific questions that will guide us during your logo and brand creation. This form will be provided to you and should be filled out in as much detail as possible. Depending on clarity and specifics, additional information may be required.
✓ PROJECT SCOPE
An outline and agreement based on our communication, explaining what you can expect from us. Includes an estimated project timeline, cost, as well our terms and conditions.
✓ LOGO / BRAND IDENTITY DESIGN
CREATIVE PROCESS
Involves behind-the-scenes brand, competition and uniqueness research; sketches, development, font searches, concept refinement, vectorizing, creation of variations, etc., etc.
✓ DELIVERABLES
CONCEPT PROPOSALThe strongest concept will be presented, and shown on at least one application (eg, business cards). Up to 2 rounds of minor adjustments are included (maximum of 2 hours). BRAND ASSETS
These include the final logo design and all of its variations - usable on all print and web applications. Digital files will be neatly sorted and labelled. A list of deliverables will be included in your project scope / agreement.
MINI BRAND STYLE GUIDE (PDF)
Your Concept Proposal is finalized into a Mini Brand Style Guide (1-3 pages min.). Reference this guide to keep your brand consistent with logo usage, fonts, and colour palette.
BUSINESS CARD DESIGN (APPLICATION)
Double-sided business cards. Includes up to 2 rounds of revisions. Flattened, non-editable high resolution PDF press file can be provided upon request.
BUSINESS CARD PRINTING (Digital)
1000 qty, double-sided, 16pt or other stock, in your choice of standard or any available premium finish - including UV gloss, matte, spot UV, foil, painted edge cards and more.
PMS COLOUR MATCHING
(Pantone Matching System) Your brand palette will include PMS matching so that you have everything you need to keep your brand colours as consistent as possible.
SOCIAL COVER IMAGE
One responsively designed Facebook (or other) cover image. We can work with a provided photo, or a stock image (sub-licensed/non-transferrable). Includes 2 minor revisions.
BRAND PATTERN
Your iconic new logo or icon with a complimentary background colour that you can use in social media, promotions, and other brand collateral.
LOGO DECAL
One 12" (wide and/or high) logo decal done in a full colour print and kiss-cut OR solid black or white cut vinyl. Ideal for vehicle, window, or almost any smooth surface. Produced on premium vinyl and prints are UV-laminated for added durability. Fade-resistant and scratch-resistant. Includes installation within Lambton County.
STICKER SHEETS
Three 12"x12" sheets of various sized kiss-cut logo/icon stickers. Produced on premium vinyl and UV-laminated for added durability. Fade-resistant and scratch-resistant.
Brand Package Add-Ons
Ideas of items that can be added to your custom Brand Package (Design only. Print products are quoted separately):
- Logos, colour palette, and fonts set up in Adobe Express to keep your brand consistent.
(*Not all fonts are available. May require a Premium subscription to use certain fonts.) - Adobe Express (or Canva) Templates - designs to match your brand, with elements that can be reworked and adjusted for future posts
- Facebook, Twitter, Etsy, YouTube or other Social Cover
- Letterhead
- Envelope
- Signage - Fascia or other
- In-store POP Display
- Vehicle Graphics
- Banner Stand
- Pop-Up Tent
- Outdoor/Indoor Display (flags, tablecloths, etc)
- Brochure/Flyer
- Package Design
- Poster
- Sell Sheet
- Sticker Sheet
- Brand Pattern
- Apparel
- Thank you cards
- Website Maintenance
- 3D logo
Brand Packages Exclusions
Logo files will be provided in vector; however, all products are priced as end-products. No layered files are provided unless agreed upon and written into the Project Scope prior to signing. If necessary, layered files may later be considered and negotiated for an additional cost, with limitations. Brand packages do not include the following items:
- Layered files
- Fonts (the exception is fonts that come with Adobe Express or Canva templates)
- Stock images (the exception is images that come with Adobe Express or Canva templates)
- Access to software
- Software or editing training
- Printed products or alternative print finishes (unless otherwise quoted in Brand Package)
- Additional work and revisions. These will be billed at our hourly design rate
- Copywriting (unless requested and agreed upon in advance)
- Trademarking or any guarantee that your approved design(s) is trademarkable
- Additional support and consultations outside of the project scope will be billed at our discretion
Beginning the process...
If there's anything else that you'd like us to know before we begin, in regards to the project, or your company, please send us a message.
There are two things that we think are both beneficial and important before we move forward:
- If you haven't done so yet, please check out our work throughout this website and on social media. We don't have one set design style (this is a good thing, because clients' companies shouldn't look like each other), but our online posts should provide an idea of our capabilities. If you're uncertain about anything, please ask us about our experience and previous work. Links to our socials are in the footer (icons) below.
- Please take a look at our terms and conditions. They will tell you what to expect from us, and vice versa. Transparency is important. We also include these in our project scope and agreement. Again, if you have any questions or concerns, we're more than happy to clarify.
Let's book you in!
When you're ready to move forward, a non-refundable booking retainer of $350 is required. This fee reserves your spot. It also goes towards the initial portion of the process.
Once the entire project has been completed, the booking retainer fee will be used as a payment towards the final invoice.
BRAND BASICS
LEAD DESIGNER: DUNCANFor a more casual and simplified logo design process, we offer a BRAND BASICS package.
This package is right for you if you're looking for a streamlined design process and budget-friendly alternative to our brand packages above. It provides the main logo files (minimum), including high resolution vector pdfs for print, as well as jpg and transparent background png files for web and social media.
When we design from scratch, your logo will always be uniquely created. No templates. No reused designs. Just a one-of-a-kind logo to suit your business!
PROCESS:
✓ Communication (email preferred)
✓ Project Scope / Agreement
✓ We design what you envision
✓ 1 or more strong logo concepts*
✓ Mockup on requested products*
✓ Deliverables include main logo pdf, jpg, png. Additional orientations and files may be requested if applicable or needed.*
✓ Hourly Rate ($90/hr) for work and revisions
✓ Can accommodate smaller budget (be sure to mention your budget at the beginning)
✓ Can accommodate tighter timelines (please mention any deadlines at the beginning)
✓ $250 non-refundable downpayment required before work begins
*Depends on budget.
A visual brand is an investment
Things to consider when choosing how your visual identity is produced:
- Businesses don't all exist for the same reasons. They come in all sorts of sizes and varying intentions. Some prefer to stay small; others want to grow. Some are side-hustles, and some want to show that they are the very best in town! Some businesses have a tight budget, while others are able to invest. We understand this, and offer solutions to suit your budget. If your budget is limited, we're happy to work out a plan that gets you exactly what you need to get your business rolling. See our Brand Basics section for details.
- Re-branding is expensive and can come with the difficulty of maintaining customer loyalty. If done well, it can still boost an established brand.
- When selecting a designer, look for skills, branding experience, and one who has your long-term interests in mind (as we do). Check testimonials and get referrals.
- Crowdsourcing websites are famously quick and cheap for logo design. We've had clients come to us with logos they've purchased online. With a little research, we've found out that other business's logos contain the exact same images. Quick and cheap often means reused, templated, and stock imagery. You can't stand out if you look the same as someone else.
- We don't use AI to design logos. Our logo designs are original and created from scratch. If you're choosing AI, please keep in mind that there are issues that can arise. You may not notice them at first. Logos are only as good as the designer behind them. Educated and experienced designers know what goes into the logo, and how it should function. Additionally, AI logos are generally not made well (inconsistent spacing, widths, proportions, etc), not flexible for various media, and not accessible. Furthermore, potential customers may look down on AI usage for different reasons (eg: environmental, art theft), which can stunt a business's customer base off-the-bat. AI can be beneficial for inspiration, and to visualize and explain ideas to bring to a designer.
- If trademarking your logo is important to you, steer away from stock images, crowdsourcing and AI. AI is mainly stolen images (trained on public images without the owner's authorization).
- We have expertise in not only design, but also print and web/online media. We're extremely knowledgeable and well-rounded when it comes to design, print, and web. In fact, we work with print partners, and we also have commercial wide-format equipment, and other equipment (eg: our multi-needle embroidery machine) in-house. We can work with you on everything from signs, vehicle graphics, stickers, product labels and packaging, stationery, and apparel. We even design and host websites.
- Local designers = better accountability. We've read many horror stories online about designers in other provinces/states/countries ghosting clients, and sometimes after providing an outcome with quality that looks unexpectedly different than what's shown on the designer's social media. We guarantee that won't happen with us.
- Working with local designers also includes many of the following benefits: same time-zone, same currency, designers/printers (like us) who donate to local initiatives / charities / organizations, keeping money within the local economy, local designers are more aware of your local competition and surrounding area (this is a big leg-up when it comes to logo development).