₦airaland Forum

In Graphic Design,

BRANDING

Has gone beyond logo, it has gone beyond monogram, wordmark and abstract logo.

Before I tell you what branding is, listen

In ancient time, shepherd seperate thier cattle from other cattle by placing a redhot iron on the hide of those animals, drawing a unique symbol, that symbol is replicated on the hide of other cattle belonging to a shepherd

Cattles look alike whether small or big. But what seperate my goat from yours is the symbol on it.

Branding is what seperate your clients' business from other businesses. It is the perception and how customers feel when they do business with you your clients.

For instance, if I mention, Micheal Jordan, it is basket ball that comes to mind.

When I mention Tyson Fury, it is boxing that comes to mind.

When I mention Coca-Cola, it is that unique taste that comes to mind. The taste is as unique as the bottle itself. Even a broken Coca-Cola bottle can be recognised if you see one.

That thing that comes to mind when your name is mentioned is called branding.

You know what comes to mind when you hear Okocha, Johnny Drills, Sinach Broda Shaggi, Emeka Nobis, David Oyedepo

That's the power of branding


So individuals and organisation can be branded to stand out and be known for something.

In graphic design, branding is done through two elements.

1. Logo and
2. Colour combination and
3. The name of the brand

First Tips

The logo must be simple and unique. People forget logos that involve a lot of technicality.

Look at Apple logo (bitten Apple),

Facebook (simple f),
Google (the word google itself),
Meta (m that is creatively tweaked).

First rule of graphic design states that Simplicity is expensive and complication is cheap. Don't forget that sir

Second Tip
Colours must have a strong constrast. Look at the colour of network providers in Nigeria and learn.

If you see my Mentors flyer on Facebook, you don't need to think twice before you know this is Elisha Mamman because of the consistent use of particular colour across his handles.

Third tip
You can make recommendation to client who like using long names for their brand.
Look,

Meta- two syllable
Facebook-two syllable
Tesla- two syllable
Dangote-three syllable
Amazon-three syllable
Switchpath-two syllable

With due respect, It is in Nigeria that someone will name his brand "Godspower is Enough Beauty Salon." And they blame God, everybody else but themselves for lack of recognition.

Again, the first rule of graphic design states that Simplicity is expensive and complication is cheap. Don't forget that sir.

To your continued transformation
Sunday Maga
Life teacher, Graphic Designer

How to be Creative as a Graphic Designer

There is no hard and fast rule to Creativity in Graphic Design.

First, please understand that creativity is neither a talent nor a gift. Don't feel bad when clients tell you you are not creative.

Here are some few tips that would help you be creative. Ready?

1. Research:

Research here means seeing other people's design and borrowing one or two concepts from them.

If for example you want to make a flyer for a tech company, go online and search for five different designs on that nitch, borrow a concept from each and boom, you have your design that is unique.

2. Practise with tools you are not familiar with

Designs tools keep changing every now and then. I remember few days ago giving a man in charge of a printing outlet to print my design, he was like, you mean you design this with Coreldraw?

For him, Coreldraw won't be able to do that.

3. Use a lot of white space.

White space in graphic design make your design very appealing. Check big brands like Airtel, check their flyer. You won't find too many information.

Most times, clients who want the A-Z information on the flyer are the ones who wlll be dragging for 1k.

4. Use graphic design principles

Alignment, heirarchy, contrast, spacing, etc are some design principles you should adhere to in your designs.


5. Use Pinterest

One thing I love about Pinterest is the fact that by feeding your eyes with the works of other creatives posted regularly here, you can be creative yourself.

And the amazing this there is no artwork you won't find in any nitch on Pinterest. Do well to check there pinteret.

6. Mentorship
Mentors are maps. Maps because they've journeyed your journey and familiar with the path.

Follow people who are creative and better than youself even if it means paying them.

If you associate with people who are not creative, creative ideas won't flow.

7. Go for the big idea.

A big idea makes your design standout and unique.

For example, during International Women's Day, remember that wema bank flyer that trended. It features a lady's with ATM card, a man sitting at the waiting table with the keyword "is cut the bias".

Without reading the text on that flyer, you know what the flyer is all about. That's the purpose of the big idea.

Your big idea can come from images, illustrations, typography, colour etc.

To your contd Transformation
Sunday Maga
Life Teacher, Graphic Designer