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Brand design for musicians is all about turning you into your biggest marketing asset.
I bet your wondering what the heck “brand design” is at this point. It’s easy to get confused when terms like “brand strategy,” “brand personality,” “logo design,” and “visual identity” are used often and interchangeably at times. Talk about a headache.
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As a brand designer, I want to clear up any confusion of how I help my clients, and what you should expect from any brand designer worth their salt. I've listed some common terms and misconceptions about branding below with some fun art to go with.
So first off, what's a brand?
A brand is how a company is perceived.
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Your brand is what people will think of when they first hear your music, see your merch, or your show. Your brand is your reputation, and it’s influenced by your values, your mission, personality, how you interact with your fans and audience, and with other musicians.
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Your brand’s reputation is shaped by how you act in person and online. It also includes your visuals, like album art, merch designs, website, logo, and business cards. Anything and everything your audience, fans, and potential collaborators see and hear of you is your brand.
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Or simply put, your brand is the character you play in a game. The act of “branding” is the meticulous effort put into creating your character. You can’t control what other people will say about you, but you can give your audience a good impression of you.
What's a visual identity?
The visual identity of a brand is how it appears in visual and verbal elements.
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Your outfit and your speech style aren’t your personality, it’s just a part of it. Your visuals and verbal elements are how you communicate to your fans.
A brand style guide is a handy document that is the equivalent of a character sheet. It’s a record of your brand’s visuals, down to the exact colors, type choice, logos, and how they should be applied across marketing pieces like your website, socials, merch, and more.
(You can buy this template in my Shop. Click the button below to go to my Shop.)
Why aren’t logos your brand?
A logo is a simple picture that represents your brand.
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There’s a common misconception that logos are all there is to a brand, when a logo is just the face of your character. There is so much more to you than just a pretty face, but people who know you will always recognize your face first.
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A logo is a symbol your fans can easily recognize and mentally tie to you and your music. For musicians, logos tend to be more type based than visual, but there’s nothing wrong with that.
Still have questions about branding? Check out my FAQs by clicking the button below!
What’s a brand designer’s place in all this?
Brand designers use research and strategy to create the elements of your brand.
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Brand designers are the guides on your journey of character creation, from set up to your outfit, and how you should play it. During character set up, you can expect a personality test, which will help brand designers:
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a) find out more about you,
b) serve as the base for your brand.
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Using your test, they’ll research your alternatives, then present some ideas on how you can stand out from them visually and verbally. After this step, they’ll then move to the fun part of designing your character: your logo, colors, type choice, and more. ​
Some brand designers also offer website design, product design, copyediting (editing the text on a website), and more. Additional services will vary depending on their skill set.
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For my clients, I offer websites and digital support pieces like electronic press kits, brand mood boards, business cards, and some basic album art.
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Want to read more about my unique perspective on branding? Check out my blog!​
Benefits of working with a brand designer
Maybe you’re a band that’s just starting out in the music industry, but you’re lost in social media. Or maybe you’re a seasoned pro, but you want to advance your career to the next level, like landing celebrity collaborations or being headliners in big festivals. Whatever your level, your character will need a guide to take them to the next step before the final boss.
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Brand designers know that, regardless of your level, you will need a brand. Your brand is you and your business, and it is an investment. They are willing to guide you, answer any questions, and help you on your journey of branding or rebranding (recreating your character).
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Your music alone will not be enough to stand out on social media. You know how algorithms are. One post and it disappears into the boss’s stomach, never to be seen again. Branding is how you stand up to the final boss, and your character will use their superpowers to thrive in a fight against the final boss.
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Are you ready to start beating the algorithms at their own game? Click below to visit my packages!
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