design dept. blogS
Featured
Latest
Brand Identity Examples: 6 Real Projects and What Each One Included
Six real brand identities, from a performance auto shop to a late-night cafe, and exactly what went into each package.
Coffee Shop and Cafe Branding Ideas Beyond the Coffee Bean Logo
A coffee bean, a curl of steam, a mug. Every cafe has one. Branding ideas for cafes that want to be remembered, not mistaken for the one down the street.
Auto Shop Logo Ideas That Look Built, Not Downloaded
Crossed wrenches and a piston. Seen it. Auto shop logo ideas that look like a real shop with a real point of view.
Car Detailing Logo Ideas That Don't Look Like Every Other Detailer
Sparkles, swooshes and a car outline. Most detailing logos look the same. Here are directions that actually stand out, and how to test them.
AI for Small Business Branding: What to DIY and What to Hire Out
AI can save a small business real time. Here's which branding jobs are fine to DIY with it, and which ones will cost you more later if you do.
How to Use AI Without Losing Your Brand's Look and Voice
AI makes it easy to post more. It also makes it easy to drift off brand. Here's how to set rules so everything still looks and sounds like you.
How to Keep Your Brand Consistent Across Multiple Locations
More locations means more people making things. Here's the system that keeps every store looking like the same brand.
How to Start a Streetwear Brand: The Design Side, Step by Step
The design side of starting a streetwear brand, from the logo and first graphics to labels, tech packs, your first drop and the content that sells it.
Auto Shop and Detailing Branding: A Logo That Works on Everything
An auto shop logo lives on vinyl, shirts, stickers, signs and cars. Here's how to brand a detailing or performance shop so it holds up everywhere.
Restaurant Branding: A Checklist From Name to Menu to Feed
Restaurant branding is everything a guest sees, from the sign to the to-go bag. Here's the checklist I use, in the order I build it.
What Files Should You Get From Your Designer? A Handoff Checklist
The exact logo and brand files you should walk away with, what each one is for, and a handoff checklist so nothing is missing later.
Can AI Design Your Logo? What It Gets Right and Wrong
AI can spit out a hundred logos in a minute. Here's what it gets right, what it gets wrong, and why ownership is the part most people miss.
Animated Logos: When You Need One and What Drives the Cost
A logo that moves gets remembered. When an animated logo is worth it, what files you need, how to brief one, and what drives the cost.
How to Build an Artist Brand Fans Recognize
Your music gets people listening. Your brand is what makes them recognize you from a thumbnail, a shirt or a flyer. Here's how to build one that lasts.
How to Write a Design Brief Your Designer Will Love (Template Inside)
A clear brief is the fastest way to better design. What to include, what to skip, and a copy-paste template you can fill out in one sitting.
What Goes in Brand Guidelines (With a Free Checklist)
Brand guidelines keep your look consistent when other people start making things. What to include, plus a full checklist you can copy.
Logo vs. Brand Identity vs. Branding: What's the Difference?
A logo is one mark, a brand identity is the visual system, and branding is the work of shaping how people see you. Here's how they fit together.
Graffiti Logo Design: How Custom Lettering Logos Are Made
Graffiti logos work when they're built like real logos. When lettering fits a brand, how it's made, and the files you should walk away with.
How to Hire a Graphic Designer in Philadelphia (Without Wasting Time or Money)
Freelancer or agency? What to look for in a portfolio, the questions to ask, and the red flags to avoid when hiring a designer in Philly.
9 Signs Your Business Has Outgrown Its Brand (And What a Rebrand Actually Fixes)
Your business grew up. Your brand didn't. Nine signs it's time for a rebrand, and how to tell whether you need a full rebrand or just a refresh.

