What Is “Brand”?
I often find myself talking about “Brand” like everyone and their mom should know what “brand” is, but then one day my mom actually asked me, “What is ‘Brand?’” Everyone knows what brands are—Nike, Kitchen-Aid, Starbucks—but not everyone understands what “Brand” is. At Stellen Design,…
5 Steps to Brand a Business
I talk about brand effortlessly in my line of work, but I thought it would beneficial for others if I shared our six-step process on how to brand a business. Step 1: Identify your target customer: This is huge, everyone!! DO NOT skip this step….
Brands Who Have Nailed 2018’s Biggest Design Trends
Trends are of the utmost importance in the graphic design world, especially for businesses and entrepreneurs who want to portray themselves as hip and up-to-date to their potential customers. 2018 has been a year for a number of exciting graphic design trends thus far, and…
Project Showcase: Caneel
We started working with Dr. Caneel Joyce, a sought-after speaker, women’s movement maker, and startup culture builder a little over a year ago. She has consulted with some of the world’s most transformative entrepreneurs, including leaders at Snap, Slack, Amazon, Scopely, and numerous early-stage startups…
What is a Logo Set?
When working with a graphic design firm to create a logo for your brand, your designer should present you with a logo “comp.” In design speak, a comp, short for “comprehensive layout” or just “comprehensive,” is a layout of a proposed design to be reviewed…
Successful Rebrand: Miller Lite
Here at Stellen Design, we are big believers in the idea that less is more, simple speaks, and original is always cool. Miller Lite has nailed this theory in their rebrand. It’s been a few years now since they went back to the original can…
Branding Spotlight: Rye
A few month back while I was in Salt Lake City, Utah for a design meet-up, I was able to tour some of the most eloquently-branded coffee shops and restaurants I have ever seen. As a resident of Los Angeles, I was a little surprised…
What is a Style Guide or Brand Guide?
A style guide is the user manual for your brand. Sounds simple enough, right? But why do you need a user manual for your brand? You would be surprised to know how important it is to have a style guide. The idea behind the guide…
What is a Customer Profile?
A customer profile is the most important step in establishing your fundamental brand. Think of it as a blueprint—it forms the foundation from which to build your brand image. Knowing who you are serving is critical for the success of your business. How can you…
What is BRANDING?
We have recently had a lot of clients approach us for help designing a logo, and while we love doing logo work, it’s important to realize that a proper logo requires a lot of work on the branding side, too. When we design a logo,…