For my senior project, I developed a brand identity for a fictional children’s creative arts studio, Studio Kids Collective. This project was an opportunity to put my skills in brand development, strategic thinking, and design into practice.
Defining the Brand and Its Purpose
The first step in the project was understanding the studio’s core mission and audience. I began with research on the area’s demographics and competitors. This information was crucial in making data-driven descisions and pinpointing what could make the studio stand out. The final guide includes a mission statement, core values, positioning, unique selling proposition, and tone.
To push my thinking past the general brand overview, I decided to include where I would take the online presence, coming up with some online campaigns and content examples that would fit the brand. I did this by thinking about how Studio Kids Collective could engage with its audience online in a way that felt authentic to its mission and values. For example, I proposed creating a reel that shows kids from the program painting a mural at a local school, highlighting both the creative experiences and the positive impact the studio has. By coming up with these online strategies, I was able to think about the brand holistically.
Design and Execution
Being set on the brand’s personality allowed me to move forward with mood boarding and designing for the deliverables. I chose a vibrant color palette with bold primary colors to reflect the energy and creativity of the studio. The goal was to create a fun yet professional look. For the logo, I used hand-drawn elements to reflect creativity, along with a clean and bold font, ensuring it would resonate with both children and parents.
Once the logo and color palette were finalized, I began creating additional deliverables such as an art kit, billboard, tag, shirts, and other materials. These include fun handwritten typography, child-like doodles, and animal characters for each art form. The items needed to reflect the brand’s personality while maintaining a level of professionalism that would appeal to parents.
Refining and Finalizing
Throughout the process, I worked closely with mentors to refine the designs. Their feedback helped me know that I was on track and that the final branding effectively conveyed the studio’s mission and values. The creation of a brand style guide helped maintain consistency across all touchpoints. I also checked in with people who belonged to the target audience, because it needed to appeal to them, most importantly.
Reflecting on the Project
This project has been pivotal in helping me discover just how much I love the brand development process. From coming up with the concept to creating written strategies and designing deliverables, I’ve realized how much I enjoy fitting all the pieces together. Overall, I’ve learned so much about what I truly love in branding, and this experience has made me excited to push these skills even further in the workplace.