Building a strong brand – Leave the fidgeting to us

Everyday of our lives we are bombarded with information, from email and tv to social media, it can be stressful to stay on top of what is expected of us socially and commercially. Unfortunately with the adopted trends of the millennial generation being the first of many to not know a world without internet, digital stress and expectancy is going to become a normal attribute in our youngsters personalities as we get deeper into future technological innovation.

As a creative agency however, we naturally accept this stress in our work, for this is our role as communicators and creatives, to know the ins and outs of the world around us. Each day we are surrounded by technology, from the software and hardware we use to the gadgets and gizmos we must have in our lives, this innovation and need to know or own seems to have become part and parcel of our everyday existence and creative personalities. This particular need to be up to date is an integral component in maintaining a reactive and informed marketing strategy, as well as being well informed about the latest design trends and crazes to ensure we are on the top of our game.

Every day a new trend emerges and this past year has presented yet another craze causing a media frenzy. The nation has literally been put in a head spin over the latest little gizmo, especially the parental consumers among us, who have been hounded by their children to buy the new toy known as the ‘fidget spinner.’

The spinner

The quaint little gadget comes in an array of colours, materials and designs, adding to the market of stress relief objects to help aid the digital strains our youngsters deal with today. The little device has been available since the 1990’s but only this year have we seen the popularity rise dramatically. As well as stress relief, an opportune purpose has emerged, said to help alleviate conditions such as ADHD, to improve concentration and clarity. A great little device that seems to relieve a very real problem with the children of today. But how does this observation effect our brands?

The need to fidget

As humans we naturally adapt to any and every situation, technology or environment and this openness and capability is an excellent quality to have in terms of evolution, however it does mean that we can eventually become immune to everyday occurrences such as ads and marketing strategies due to the vast quantity of them. This in turn makes us feel bored and somewhat anxious at discovering the next big thing. Take the Netflix generation for example. How many of us will admit once our series has finished, a sort of panic sets in, as we search through the endless options for the next juicy series to get our teeth into? It’s frustrating right? However, just like we are with our down time choices, the same goes for how we worry about our commercial problems and one particular requirement that every agency will have inevitably touched upon is of course the major project of creating a brand.

The negatives of designing your own brand

Naturally as creatives we want to ensure we get the best solution for our clients and we will always go that extra mile to communicate and make a solution as strong as possible. When creating an identity however, the rules change putting the final choice back in the clients hands. Designing a brand for a client is much like designing them a child, not only is it a very personal process but we must expect lots of opinion and amends on its development and upbringing. However occasionally we see clients take the parental reigns and try to design their brand themselves in hope that it will save them time and money.

Understandable when we think of our cultural convenience structure, where we have access to everything we would ever need at the touch of a button, where we feel a sense of DIY ownership. In terms of branding however, this belief is a myth and this is why:

1. Lack of process

Workflow is a massive asset to acquire and with most basic tasks this can be managed easily. Creative workflow however, can be very different especially for those that may not be familiar with it. Design is a beast, it comes and goes as it pleases so planning for this can be difficult if not familiar with the process. Creating an identity can be a lengthy process taking a lot of research, industry knowledge of trends and development from drawing to in team critique. So getting the right formula is integral to developing the best result.

2. Biased and emotionally connected

On a personal level, a brand is a client’s baby and sometimes being so close to something can blur the true potential. An outsider is therefore unbiased, they won’t let emotion or external opinion cloud their vision for your brand, creating a more unique solution.

3. Too much opinion

The consumer has got more power than ever before, from reviews to blogging we value opinion and feedback above all other forms of data as it helps us grow as a business. So it comes as no surprise that we will inevitably share our brand’s design with our peers. However the problem is knowing when to listen and take note and when to bat comments away. Too much opinion can dilute and confuse the process, making it harder to make a decision.

4. The fidget gene

We are all natural fidgeters when it comes to our personal lives, always striving to get the best possible solution and perfected method or outcome to make our lives easier. This need to fidget can slow down the branding process for those that take this process upon themselves.

5. Loss of excitement

Growing a brand from the ground up is an exciting time, it should be nourishing to your confidence and excite you in starting something new. Worrying about the design of your brand, how it looks and what others think can take the fun part out of the process altogether.

5 reasons to leave it to the professionals

Creatives love nothing more than a challenge. Partnering with a great group of passionate individuals like our team here at Bopgun is an exciting way to explore and build a brand that makes you proud. But what are the advantages, what can we do for your brand?

1. Save you time

In such a busy world our time is precious, so why lose any? Designers are familiar with tight deadlines, fluent with design software and love to develop, which makes getting to the final solution a lot quicker, giving you those precious hours back.

2. Create a reactive brand

We are all aware of certain trends and crazes to a degree, but when it comes to specific industries you may need a little help. Our designers lives are dominated by industry inspiration and innovations and tapping into this knowledge will ensure you get the most up to date identity that will only make you sync more with your audience.

3. Maintain consistency

So many new brands are great at their release stage but majorly let down by the brand roll out that comes after. Our designers consider every little detail, from creating multiple versions of a logo to work across all medias to developing brand guidelines, using certain fonts to ensure your brand is consistent in all future collateral. Consistency is key in maintaining customer recognition of your brand, otherwise you could risk confusing and possibly discouraging potential consumers.

4. Brand longevity

Being so close to a brand can make it hard to see things long term as you can get so hung up on getting the job done that it can be easy to miss simple aspects that could complicate your brand in the future. The team are great at spotting potential troublesome elements, identifying and tweaking a solution to make it open to future possibilities.

5. Getting you excited again!

We want to create the best possible design we can for our clients, as well as making something beautiful enough to be proud of, we are natural perfectionists. This need to impress comes as a major advantage to clients as we always give our fullest efforts in all client work and branding is no different. We love nothing more than to talk through ideas and adapt designs to your opinions until we get that one identity you love and can be proud of. We believe the process should be exciting for both parties as we love to design and you love your brand. By letting our designers take charge of the visual, will relieve the pressure, allowing you to concentrate on getting excited about your brand.

So, no need to fidget with your identity anymore. Require a rebrand, refresh or a brand new design? Contact us and receive an array of creative flair with a breadth of experience and ideas, on 01225 351715 or studio@bopgun.com. Think of us as your own personal branding fidget spinner!