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Lindsay Marsh

This course covers all aspects of the brand design process. From sketching to portfolio presentations there is not one thing this class leaves out. It is massive covering topics such as:

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This course covers all aspects of the brand design process. From sketching to portfolio presentations there is not one thing this class leaves out. It is massive covering topics such as:

  • Understanding Client Briefs

  • Learning to Ask the Right Questions

  • Client and Competitor Research

  • Finding a Target Audience

  • Creating a Customer Persona

  • Finding a Style Direction

  • Finding a Brand’s Position in the Market

  • Word Association Exercises

  • Word Mapping and Other Brainstorming Activities

  • Sketching Concepts

  • Learn How to be Creative

  • How to Select Concepts for Further Development

  • The Entire Logo Design Process

  • Picking the Right Typeface

  • Gridding and Finalizing Our Logos

  • Creating a Logo System

  • Creating Typographic System

  • Creating a Flexible Color System

  • Understanding Color Psychology and its Effect on Brand Design

  • Working with Projects and Mockups to Further Develop Color Palettes

  • Applying Our Brand Systems to Real World Projects

  • Learn How to Write Ad Copy for your Brand

  • Creating and Writing your Brand Voice and Language

  • Creating Photography Rules for Brands

  • Developing a Full Client Presentation

  • Creating a Behance Portfolio Case Study

  • Understanding the Basics of Brand Standards and Brand Guidelines

The brand development process plays a critical part of the marketing and success of a company. I want to show you not only what successful brand design looks like but also how to brainstorm these concepts and ideas to finally turn that spark of an idea into a fully finished project ready for the client presentation, your portfolio and the world. This class gently guides you through this process with a practical real world branding project using a case study for a sushi restaurant and delivery service. I created this course so you can start to offer branding packages to land bigger higher paying clients and propel yourself to the next level in your design career.

This course gives you the tools to know how to spark creativity, ideas, concepts and put them into motion. We go over several tools to help prevent creators block and to make it easy to come up with ideas that are relevant, authentic and meaningful. Looking at blank pages never have to be scary again. You will feel confident filling those pages with finished polished content that will wow your potential clients. We will work on building a finished case study presentation for you to start building a strong portfolio. We will work on creating both a client presentation and a brand guidelines manual to help people know how to use your brand design and identity system you developed. This course has a nice balance of theory and practical software projects. This class is for those who have taken any of my software courses or have basic knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator or Adobe alternatives design programs as we will not cover the beginner level software basics.

This course comes loaded with a 50 page brand design guide that details the entire class in an easy to read accessible pdf. This course comes with style presentation Adobe photoshop template, an Adobe Illustrator brand presentation template and an Adobe Photoshop Behance portfolio template and more. Ready to start changing more, elevate your design offerings and change the direction of your career? Want to be a designer that understands both the business and design aspect of the branding process to craft strong brands. I will see you in the first lesson.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • The entire branding process from sketch to finished client presentation
  • Understand everything about client briefs
  • Learn to ask the right questions to the client
  • Learn to conduct client and competitor research
  • Find your target audience and product customer profiles and personas
  • Find your style direction and produce stylescapes, moodboards and other presentations
  • Find a brand’s position in the market
  • Work through word association exercises, word mapping and learn how to brainstorm
  • Learn how to sketch and sketch various concepts
  • Learn how to select concepts for further development
  • Work through the entire logo design process
  • Learn how to choose the right typeface
  • Develop a typographic system
  • Create a flexible color system
  • Understanding color psychology and its effect on brand design
  • Working with projects and mockups to further develop color palettes
  • Applying our brand systems to real world projects like t-shirt and bag designs
  • Learn how to write ad copy for your brand
  • Creating and writing your brand voice and language
  • Create photography rules for brands
  • Create a full client presentation
  • Creating a behance portfolio case study
  • Understanding the basics of brand standards and brand guidelines
  • Show more
  • Show less

Syllabus

Course Introduction
Course Guide and Student Facebook Group
Brand Design Theory (Downloadable Files for this Section in Lesson 1)
Introduction to Brand Design
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Covers the entire brand design process, from initial client briefs to final portfolio presentations, offering a comprehensive understanding of the field
Teaches how to develop a brand voice and language, which is essential for creating a consistent and recognizable brand identity
Explores color psychology and its effect on brand design, which is useful for creating effective and emotionally resonant visual identities
Requires basic knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator or alternative design programs, which may pose a barrier to entry for complete beginners
Includes templates for style presentations, brand presentations, and Behance portfolios, which can save learners time and effort in creating professional-looking materials
Features a case study for a sushi restaurant and delivery service, providing a practical, real-world example of the branding process

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Reviews summary

Comprehensive brand design process masterclass

According to learners, this Masterclass offers a comprehensive journey through the entire brand design process, from initial ideas to a finished client presentation. Many reviews praise the course's practical approach, centered around a real-world case study, which helps solidify understanding. Students found the structure effective and appreciated the balance of theory and hands-on application. The course is frequently noted for helping learners build their portfolio and increase confidence in offering branding services, making it a valuable resource for professional growth. While the feedback is overwhelmingly positive, be aware the course requires basic familiarity with design software, focusing on the *process* rather than beginner tool skills.
Assumes basic familiarity with design software.
"You need to have basic working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator before starting."
"This course focuses on the process, not beginner software tutorials."
"It's important to know your design tools beforehand."
Includes helpful templates and a guide PDF.
"The included PDF guide and templates were extremely useful."
"Having the templates saved so much time and helped structure my work."
"The extra resources added significant value to the course."
Effective balance of concepts and hands-on work.
"It has a great balance between theory and practical, real-world projects."
"The course explains the 'why' (theory) and then shows you 'how' (application)."
"Appreciated how it combined the business thinking with the design execution."
Learn by working on a real-world branding project.
"Working on the sushi restaurant case study was a fantastic way to learn and apply concepts."
"The practical project made the theory much easier to understand and implement."
"I loved having a real project to build as we went through the course."
Helps create a strong case study for your portfolio.
"I walked away with a solid case study piece for my Behance portfolio."
"Great for building up a professional portfolio to show clients."
"The client presentation and portfolio sections were invaluable for packaging my work."
Covers the entire branding process step-by-step.
"This course covers everything from start to finish, showing you the whole branding process."
"It guides you step-by-step through the entire branding workflow."
"Didn't leave anything out, covered all the essential stages."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Branding Masterclass The Entire Brand Design Process with these activities:
Review Color Psychology
Solidify your understanding of how different colors evoke specific emotions and associations, which is crucial for effective brand design.
Browse courses on Color Psychology
Show steps
  • Research the psychological effects of different colors.
  • Create a mood board for each primary color.
  • Document your findings in a short report.
Read 'Designing Brand Identity: An Essential Guide for the Whole Branding Team'
Gain a deeper understanding of the entire brand identity process, from research and strategy to visual identity and brand management.
Show steps
  • Read the book cover to cover.
  • Take notes on key concepts and frameworks.
  • Apply the concepts to a hypothetical branding project.
Logo Sketching Exercises
Improve your logo design skills by practicing sketching various logo concepts based on different brand briefs.
Show steps
  • Find sample brand briefs online.
  • Set a timer for 15 minutes per brief.
  • Sketch as many logo ideas as possible within the time limit.
  • Repeat the exercise with different briefs.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Stylescape Presentation
Practice creating a stylescape to visually communicate the desired brand aesthetic and direction to clients.
Show steps
  • Gather visual inspiration from various sources.
  • Curate a collection of images, colors, and textures.
  • Organize the elements into a cohesive presentation.
  • Write a brief explanation of the stylescape's intent.
Develop a Brand for a Local Business
Apply the concepts learned in the course by creating a complete brand identity for a real-world business, including logo design, color palette, typography, and brand voice.
Show steps
  • Identify a local business in need of branding.
  • Conduct thorough research on the business and its target audience.
  • Develop a brand strategy and visual identity.
  • Create a brand guidelines document.
Read 'Brand Thinking and Other Noble Pursuits'
Gain insights into the strategic thinking and creative processes of leading brand strategists and designers.
Show steps
  • Read the book and highlight key insights.
  • Reflect on how these insights can be applied to your own branding projects.
  • Discuss the book's concepts with other designers.
Develop a Brand Guidelines Template
Create a reusable template for brand guidelines documents, ensuring consistency and clarity in brand communication.
Show steps
  • Research best practices for brand guidelines.
  • Design a visually appealing and user-friendly template.
  • Include sections for logo usage, color palette, typography, and brand voice.
  • Test the template with a sample brand.

Career center

Learners who complete The Branding Masterclass The Entire Brand Design Process will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Brand Designer
A brand designer is responsible for creating the visual identity of a company, and this course will guide you through that design process. This course's focus on client briefs, research, target audiences, and brand positioning are foundational for a career as a brand designer. You will learn how to develop logos, typographic systems, and color palettes while understanding color psychology, which are skills required in the role. The course culminates in creating a client presentation and portfolio case study, ensuring that your work is impactful and market-ready. By taking this course, you obtain the knowledge to effectively tackle brand design projects, and present them confidently.
Freelance Designer
A freelance designer works independently, offering design services to various clients, and this course is highly relevant to this role. The course covers everything from client briefs to presentations and portfolio building. You will learn about research, design process, logo development, typography, and color psychology. A freelance designer needs to be able to develop and present a design, and this course walks you through the steps. This course will give you a framework for your projects and make it easy to approach working with clients.
Logo Designer
A logo designer specializes in creating visual symbols for companies and brands. This course will help you learn the logo design process, which is discussed in detail. The course teaches you how to sketch, select concepts, refine logos, and create a logo system. You will also learn about typography and gridding techniques. This course will also give you the tools to create client presentations for your logo project. This course will help you learn the fundamentals of logo design and make you confident in your work.
Graphic Designer
A graphic designer creates visual concepts, and this course is a pathway to this role as it will help build your design skills. The course covers important topics such as understanding client needs, research, and brand development, which are all crucial in graphic design. You will learn about logos, typography, color, and how to apply them in real-world projects. This course shows you how to write ad copy and develop a brand voice. It also covers how to create full client presentations and portfolio pieces. This course is ideal for those looking to start a career as a graphic designer because they will learn how to deliver polished design work that impresses clients.
Visual Designer
A visual designer creates engaging designs for various digital and physical mediums, and this course helps build visual design skills. The course covers understanding client briefs, target audiences, and brand positioning within the market. You will learn about style direction, logo design, typography, and choosing colors, all of which are used in visual design. You will also learn how to apply these systems to real-world projects and create client presentations. The course will help you develop a portfolio and make you a strong contender for a visual designer position.
Marketing Specialist
A marketing specialist helps a company by creating and executing marketing strategies, and this course will help you understand key aspects of brand building. This course covers how to identify target audiences, define a brand position in the market, and developing a brand voice which is key to marketing success. You will understand color psychology, brand systems and how to apply it to projects. You will also learn how to write ad copy. The work in client presentations and portfolio case studies will make it easy to present your ideas to a marketing team. This course is an investment for anyone that wants to be a marketing specialist, as it gives a full understanding of how brand design impacts marketing efforts.
Art Director
An art director is responsible for the overall visual style and appearance of projects. This course may be useful because it covers a full design process. The course's focus on understanding client briefs, conducting research, and finding a target audience is directly applicable to this role. The course provides experience in creating style directions, mood boards, logos, and color systems. By taking this course, you will gain insight into the full design workflow, which can help you guide and direct design teams. In particular, learning to create and present brand guidelines will be very helpful.
Creative Director
A creative director leads the creative vision for a brand or project. This course may help as it gives a comprehensive overview of the brand design process. The course emphasizes understanding client briefs, conducting market research, and developing brand positioning, essential skills for a creative director. You will learn how to guide teams in creating visual identities by understanding logos, typography, and color theory. The course also covers how to present work effectively to clients and stakeholders. This course offers a practical approach to the brand design process, which will help you manage design teams with confidence.
Brand Strategist
A brand strategist develops long-term plans for a brand's identity and positioning, and this course can help develop your understanding of the design process. This course covers understanding client briefs, conducting market research, and defining brand positioning, which are all important in strategic planning. The course teaches you how to identify target audiences, find style directions, and create brand voices. You will also learn how to develop a full client presentation. This course will give you the tools necessary to communicate brand strategy effectively to design teams.
Marketing Manager
A marketing manager develops and executes marketing plans and this course may be helpful since it covers the brand design aspect of marketing. The course includes understanding client briefs, doing market research, identifying target audiences, and defining brand positioning. You will learn about brand voice and identity. The presentation skills taught in this course will help you convey brand designs to your team. This course gives you the skills and understanding needed to oversee marketing projects which involve brand designs as a marketing manager.
Brand Consultant
A brand consultant offers advice to organizations on how to create and manage their brand, and this course may be helpful in understanding the visual aspect of branding. The course includes understanding client briefs, conducting market and competitor research, finding a target audience, and defining brand positioning. You will learn about color psychology and how to apply your brand to real world projects. You will learn how to create client presentations and portfolio case studies, which will help you sell your ideas to different companies. This course will help you gain valuable knowledge to become a more persuasive brand consultant.
Social Media Designer
A social media designer creates visual content for social media platforms. This course may be helpful as it covers important aspects of visual communication. The emphasis on developing a brand's voice and visual identity, logo design, typography, and color systems will be valuable in this role. You will learn how to apply brand design to real-world projects. The course's focus on portfolio development and brand presentations will make it easier for you to display your skill to prospective employers. This course provides you with a complete overview of the brand design process.
Advertising Designer
An advertising designer creates visuals for advertising campaigns. This course may be helpful as it covers all aspects of brand design. The skills covered here, like understanding client briefs, market research, finding a target audience, and identifying a brand’s position in the market are crucial to this role. The course teaches how to create a logo, a typographic system, and flexible color system. You will be able to develop ad copy and brand voice, all of which are imperative for advertising. By taking this course, you will be able to develop a portfolio that will impress employers.
Content Creator
A content creator produces engaging content for various platforms, and this course may be helpful to enhance your brand understanding. The course will help you learn about brand voice and language, and how to create cohesive visuals with a logo, color system and typography. The presentation skills taught will help you explain your ideas to a team. While a content creator may not directly design a brand, using this course to deepen your knowledge will build your skillset to help create engaging content that will contribute to a brand.
Web Designer
A web designer creates the visual layout of websites, and this course may help to establish strong brand designs. The course includes crucial topics such as understanding client briefs, conducting research, and defining brand positioning. The concepts of logo design, typography, and color will contribute to the development of websites. The course also covers how to apply brand design to real projects. This course will help web designers consider the brand's identity during the design process.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in The Branding Masterclass The Entire Brand Design Process.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the entire brand identity design process. It covers research, strategy, visual identity, and brand management. It valuable resource for understanding the holistic approach to branding and creating consistent brand experiences. This book is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions and by industry professionals.
Explores the strategic thinking behind successful brands. It features interviews with leading brand strategists and designers, offering insights into their creative processes and approaches. It is more valuable as additional reading than it is as a current reference. This book adds more depth to the existing course.

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