Design Real-talk: how to work with a brand designer

As a small business or creative entrepreneur, a custom brand identity can do a lot to elevate your side-hustle to a legitimate business. I find that while most people know they need a consistent visual identity for their business, the unfamiliarity of working with a brand designer is a big roadblock for them. I also often hear that some business owners simply don’t have the confidence to believe they can have a beautiful + elevated brand. Even as a young photographer booking clients consistently, these thoughts still went through my head:

“ Other people can have a successful business, but I just can’t. I’m not one of those people.”

If you’ve also had the above thoughts here is a special message just for you:

You can build a legitimate business that works for you!

You don’t have to keep undervaluing your side-hustle and belittling the extraordinary talents only you can offer to this world. You have unlimited potential and it’s just waiting for you to be bold + step into your power. Things changed for the better once I had that small mindset shift, and I know it can for you too.

One of the most valuable things you can do to elevate + legitimize your business is to invest in a custom brand identity. Because of the unfamiliarity with the brand design process, I’m going to explain the 3 simple steps you can do to work with a brand designer.

1. inquire

First, inquire by filling out a quick questionnaire about you + your business. You’ll then be directed to a page where you can schedule a free 20-minute consultation. I’ll get a notification about your inquiry and email you a quick hello. We'll then both prepare to attend the 20-min video call.

2. consultation

I know meeting face-to-face (through the screen) can be intimidating, but it really isn’t scary at all. I’ll simply ask you questions about your business, your pain points, and your goals.  Then I'll give a brief explanation about what services I think would be the best fit for your needs + goals. This step helps eliminate the unfamiliarity, so I can give you the best direction and clarity possible.

3. Proposal

If I think we’re a good fit, I'll draw up a proposal with 2-3 different package options. You then have the option to accept or decline the proposal. If you accept, the exciting part begins! I’ll send over a welcome presentation with all the information about our project & how we’ll work together to create a beautiful brand identity. From there, I use tools like Dubsado, Loom, and Asana to guide you through a seamless branding process.

faq: still have concerns? let’s address a few of them

I’m an introvert and hate talking to strangers face-to-face. Do I have to book a consultation call? Don’t worry you’re not alone! We live in an online world and even I prefer self-checkout to the real store employees sometimes. Most people are wary about meeting online via video call,  but I make it super easy for you. I’ll email you a meeting agenda ahead of time, and direct the conversation the whole time. All you have to do is be open to new things & honestly answer my questions.

What if I can’t afford the package you propose? If you can’t afford any of the packages, then don’t accept the proposal. Trust me, the last thing I want is for you to move forward with a project you don’t completely feel confident in. Politely decline the packages and I will either come back with a different offer or refer you to another brand designer I think may better suit your budget + needs. You can view our services and starting investments here. The worst thing to do is ghost your designer. A polite decline is much more considerate than no response at all.

Suggested post: How much does custom brand identity actually cost?

What does the rest of the process look like?  I put a more in-depth project timeline in your welcome presentation, but you can view a condensed version of the process here. I have every step of the way mapped out and hold your hand through the whole process. Each week you’ll get a weekly checklist of the action steps you need to take that week. You can manage all of the communication through your client portal, so no documents or communication get lost in your inbox.

In conclusion, working with a brand designer is not scary at all. I hope this article could answer some of your questions. Remember that you are hiring us as a creative expert to guide you, so we do most of the heavy lifting! Have a great rest of your day + good luck on your branding journey.

P.S BIG NEWS! After a much-needed glow-up, my website is finally LIVE! Every service, process, and system has been completely elevated and I'm so excited to re-introduce Hailey Hart Creative into the world! If you’re ready to take back your power and elevate your business- INQUIRE now! My prices will be rising soon, so reach out to me now before I’m booked up for the coming months.

Other Helpful Resources:

Check out pre-made brand identities here.

View other designer-real talk blog posts here.

Download my free branding basics guide here.