It ain't called southpaw just because I really like polar bears.

(although I do really like polar bears, now that you mention it)

Since day one, the focus has always been on my clients, so I don't get much of a chance for self care; but, as my best friend has always told me, you need to take care of yourself before you take care of others. So, when I got a spare moment I went all in on a long overdue brand (and website) overhaul.

I started out as a designer in print design and character development, working for and with wrestling companies around the UK and Europe. It was important to me to ensure that my roots were accurately and respectably portrayed whilst creating a brand that would both stand out and play well with others.

Client:Me!

Date:September, 2018

Type:Brand Development

Site:www.thinksouthpaw.com

The Design Process

  • Step 1.

    Identifying Problem Areas

    Initial user testing with focus groups showed that whilst my old brand was aesthetically pleasing, it didn't really have a strong link with my personality. Moreover, many people stated that the brand didn't stand out enough and it wasn't as memorable nor impactful as it should be.

  • Step 2.

    Propose Rebranding Options

    My main thought with the new brand was more colour! Design is (and should be!) a vibrant industry and so I felt that needed to be represented in the brand. I developed a complete branding set, from the specific colours within each of my communications to the exact typeface I use.

    Step 2.

    Propose Rebranding Options

    This stage incoporates the initial concept creation. Every brand starts as a page full of concepts and ideas. Somewhere in that mess of creativity-vomit will lie the seed that will blossom into a powerful brand. My main focus, at this stage, was to add more colour! Design is (and should be!) a vibrant industry and so I felt that needed to be represented in the brand. I developed a complete branding set, from the specific colours within each of my communications to the exact typeface I use.

  • Step 3.

    Execute The Plan

    With my heart set on a design, I set out to make sure that everything complemented each other. This largely involved creating a complete set of brand guidelines. The guidelines are important in to maintaining brand integrity and consistency across all forms of media. My brand was relaunched alongside a new website and a complete social media package. It was of utmost importance to ensure that the entire brand was launched in sync to retain brand integrity and ensure that the transition was as smooth as posible.

  • Step 4.

    Client Review

    The client review is normally what would happen next but, since I am both the designer and the client, I decided to do things just a little differently. I felt it was best to look to trusted colleagues and past clients to review the brand for me. These are representative of my target audience; in fact, at one point, they were my target audience, and so they are perfectly placed to help me in reviewing the brand. The good news is that, so far, I've had nothing but positive reviews!

    Step 4.

    Client Review

    The client review is normally what would happen next but, since I am both the designer and the client, I felt it was best to look to trusted colleagues and past clients to review the brand for me. These are representative of my target audience; in fact, at one point, they were my target audience, and so they are perfectly placed to help me in reviewing the brand. The good news is that, so far, I've had nothing but positive reviews!

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