5 Things To Consider Before Hiring a Brand Designer
Hiring a brand designer is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your business.
Whether you’re launching something new or rebranding to match the growth of your business, investing in professional design is a key step to elevate your presence, attract your ideal audience, and position your brand for long-term success.
But before you start reaching out to potential designers, there are a few things to consider that will make the process smoother, more strategic, and a whole lot less overwhelming.
Here are five things to think through before you hire a brand designer. 👇
1. Get Clear on Your Business Foundations
Before reaching out to a designer, you need clarity on the core elements of your business.
You don’t need fully polished brand messaging or a detailed strategy yet—that’s where your designer (and possibly a copywriter or strategist) comes in—but you do need to know the basics, like:
What does your business offer?
Who is your ideal customer or audience?
What’s your vision for the future?
What makes your brand different or what’s your USP (unique selling proposition)?
What are the core values of your business and offerings?
Your designer can help refine these ideas and translate them into visuals, but they need something solid to build from.
The more intentional you are with your goals, the more your brand designer can tailor your branding strategy to meet them.
2. Set Your Intentions for the Project
Once you’ve clarified your business vision, it’s time to think about what you want your new branding to achieve.
Are you hoping to…
Establish your business with a strong brand from day one?
Attract a new audience like higher-end clients or wholesale buyers?
Position yourself as a premium brand?
Get ready for a product launch or website relaunch?
Setting specific goals will help your designer craft a visual identity that’s not only beautiful but also functional, strategic, and aligned with your business direction.
It’s also a common question you’ll encounter on contact forms when reaching out to designers, so it’s a great time to nail these goals down.
3. Determine Your Budget (and Think Long-Term)
Before you begin reaching out to designers, set a realistic budget for your project. A common rule of thumb is to invest 5–10% of your projected annual revenue into branding and marketing.
For example, if your business is expected to bring in $200,000 this year, consider budgeting $10,000–$20,000 for brand identity design, website development, copywriting, marketing, and related services.
Yes, branding is a major investment, but it’s one that pays off for years to come. Your brand visuals appear on everything from product packaging and ads to your website and social media. These assets often require a significant investment to produce (think product photography, printed materials, packaging runs, or social campaigns), so it’s essential that your branding is strong from the start.
When done well, your branding won’t need to be reworked anytime soon. It will grow with your business, support long-term consistency, and save you from costly redesigns down the line.
4. Gather Preliminary Inspiration
For many business owners, this is the fun part! Start collecting visual inspiration for your brand identity and website design. Websites like Pinterest, Cosmos, Branding Website, and Creative Market are great places to browse all kinds of design styles, trends, and inspiration. It’s also a good idea to do a bit of research on the current branding trends among your competitors and your specific industry as a whole.
Now, some business owners love curating visuals, already have a Pinterest board, and know the exact aesthetic they’re going for.
But others may feel like they don’t even know where to start with brand design inspiration. If that’s you, don’t stress! A great designer will help guide the visual direction based on your audience, brand goals, and industry.
But it’s still helpful to review inspiration and notice what resonates (or doesn’t), so you’ll be better equipped to give feedback during the design process.
And, keep in mind that the goal isn’t to copy other brands; it’s to gather a visual language that helps your designer understand your vision.
5. Get Clear on the Type of Designer You Need
If you want branding that works across every touchpoint in your business, look for a designer who specializes in brand identity design rather than one-off logos or general graphic design.
A full brand identity typically includes (but is not limited to) a full logo suite, a functional color palette and font collection, a comprehensive brand guide, and collateral designs to fully build out your brand experience.
It’s also important that your designer understands brand strategy. Different types of businesses have different needs. For example, a construction company may need a bold, simple logo that holds up well on signs, trucks, and uniforms. In contrast, a luxury candle brand might benefit from a hand-drawn illustration and delicate typography that will be used primarily in digital spaces and small-scale packaging.
The best brand designers don’t just make things look pretty: they think about function, versatility, and scalability.
Understanding this ahead of time helps you know what to expect, what to look for in a designer’s service offerings, and what to ask about when the time comes.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Once you’ve thought through these five things, you’ll be in a much better place to start reaching out to brand designers—and you’ll feel more confident doing it.
Check out our post: How to find the Right Brand Designer for Your Business for our recommend next steps for finding designers to reach out to.
If you’re already thinking through these five essentials, you’re on the right track—and we’d love to be part of what’s next.
At Foxtrot Branding, we offer effective branding, web design,and packaging design services that help your business stand out and thrive online
Click here to learn more about our services or contact us today to see how we can bring your vision to life.
