James Martin

Them: “Why don’t you use colour in your logos?” . Me: “uhhhhh” . It’s amazing what you can see when you scroll past the black and white sketches on the first slide 😂 . Have a great weekend mates. . . . . #branding #brandingdesign #creative #graphic #graphicdesign #graphicdesigner #graphics #illustrator #logodesigner #logodesignersclub #logodesigning #logoideas #lettering #logonew #logoplace #marketing #photoshop #logotype #visualidentity #monogram

THE BOOK HAS LAUNCHED. . Who has received their copy? . What a journey this has been, all the signed copies are on their way… Amazon has started releasing all the pre orders and the books are reaching humans all over the world. . Thanks so much for your support… I’m so humbled by your kindness and generosity… Amazon UK have released 1500 alone 🤯 so I’m a little speechless. . To all that have seen a delayed shipping from Amazon, this was an automated mistake and all are being released, so UK peeps and Canada peeps it will be with you sooner than you expected… but I’ll keep you updated if that changes. . . . . . #design #designer #branding #creativecommunity #graphicdesign #graphicdesigner #freelancecreative #creativefreelancer #freelance #creativebusiness #logodesign #logodesigner

A little colour for your weekend. . Rest up, smile lots… get some shit eye. . . . . #logo #wordmark #logodesigns #logodesinger #logotype #logomaker #logomark #typedesign

Who has done free work before???… me too 🙌🏼 . But, Free work does not have to be free. . I like to barter when the time is right! This logo for Tiny Salon was for my friend Laura. I did this logo “for free” in exchange for haircuts! Something I would need to usually pay for! . This exchange helped Laura when she started up her business and it helps me get the barnet managed! . Every single designer I know - who has built a thriving career - has done free work! So why has it got such a bad reputation!?! . The thing about free work is that it has to be OUR CHOICE to do it! . If some noodle messages you over DM and says “do me a logo for free”… tell them (politely) to do one themselves. . As a creative you have a gift that people need! Why not leverage it to broker deals that don’t involve money!?! . As long as you feel there is a deal to be made, why not exchange services!? Save this opportunity for friends who can offer you something in return! Save this for small businesses that have products and services you need! . This is a great way to build your portfolio in the beginning of your career and as long as YOU are in control, set the boundaries and win in other ways . . ignore all the “free work” haters… their heart is in the right place but they are not thinking big enough to understand it’s potential if used in the right way. . Design tip: Free work is your choice. . . . #logodesigner #logodesigners #logoprocess #brandidentitydesigner #brandidentitydevelopment #graphicdesign #graphicdesigner #graphicdesigners #marketingtipsandtricks #logotype #logomaker #logoideas #logotutorials #logotutorial #designertips #illustratortutorial #logowork #badgedesign #graphicdesigncentral #graphicdesigndaily #logotip

Client calls are tough in the beginning!!! . We struggle to know what to ask and we don’t necessarily have the confidence in our skills to be able to control a meeting… we have all been there. . I hope this simple framework gives you some guidance that you can build upon as you grow as a creative being. . 1. Before you start any creative work you should schedule a 45 minute call with you client! Make sure this is worked into you price… this call is to gather all the relevant information from your clients. . 2. Start the call by saying hi, asking how they are and what they are most excited about with this project! Then walk them through why you are having the call and it’s objectives! . 3. In the beginning of your career you are not making enough money to charge for deep dive strategy… but you can still ask a series of questions around some key areas! Who is their audience? How do they want to be perceived by that audience? What problems are they having with their existing visual identity? Where and how will their new logo be used etc? . 4. Once you have some clarity around these areas, ask them if they have any questions for you! Can you help them specifically with anything they are struggling to answer? . 5. Use the last 5 minutes or so to be transparent about your creative process! Make sure they are happy to work in that way! Being clear will save you hassle down the line. . As you gain more confidence and your client budgets rise you can start to offer a more strategic focus to your meetings. . Design tip: you don’t have to be a strategist to ask good questions and your ears are more important than you mouth! Listen for the answers you need. . . . #designtips #logodesigns #logoprocess #logoideas #logotip #designtip #logotutorials #logotutorial #brandidentity #brandidentitydesigner #graphicdesign #graphicdesigner #graphicdesigners #logocreation #logomaker #logotype #graphicdesigndaily #graphicdesigncentral #graphicdesigncommunity #logoconcept #design #marketingtip

A logo is not branding. . A logo is a visual that helps to identify a company. . Branding is the process of actively shaping a company (or brand) . Ultimately the logo is a small part of the big branding picture… it’s an essential element, but not the only element. . The elements I have put under the branding category here just scratch the surface of what Branding is as a whole… this was just to show you how a logo fits into branding. . Branding can be split in to the internal and external categories…. Internal being the parts people don’t necessarily see (strategy) and external being the parts people do see (design) . There are some fantastic resources online, some great books and social media accounts out there that will give you a deeper knowledge on the subject as I am not expert on big picture branding. . Design tip: Never stop learning my friends and always rethink what you already know. Always be sure to check your sources wisely. . And the next time someone says “nice branding bro” to a logo you have designed… you know how to handle it. . . . . #logodesigner #logodesigns #logomaker #logodesigners #brandidentitydesigner #graphicdesign #graphicdesigner #graphicdesigners #graphicdesigncommunity #design #creativefreelancer #designer #branddesigner #branddevelopment #designtips #designtip #logotip #logoideas #logocreation #logoprocess

Sea to Green logo redesign . This was a fun project for me that allowed me to dive deep into that creative sea of ideas… pun intended. . For this golf focused company I really wanted to lean into the name… sea to green. The idea of making a wave flowing into a golf ball into a tee flag was not easy to execute but I love how this little dude ended up. . The brief was to add personality, the sense of being by the ocean but enjoying a beer after wards…. I’m a big fan of this little mark. . Design tip: personality is wine of the key talking points within my client workshops… it’s such an important consideration so be sure to ask many questions around it. . . . . #designtips #logodesigns #logoprocess #logoideas #logotip #designtip #logotutorials #logotutorial #brandidentity #brandidentitydesigner #graphicdesign #graphicdesigner #graphicdesigners #logocreation #logomaker #logodesigning ##graphicdesigncentral #graphicdesigncentral #graphicdesigndaily #logoconcept #design #illustratortutorial

Brand identity vs Visual Identity . What is the difference between the two? . Brand Identity is what helps you identify a brand… it’s the their story, personality, services, name, visual identity and tone of voice… some real hardcores would add scent and sound into that mix too. . A lot of the elements within a brands identity are given clarity through the process of brand strategy… especially things like personality, positioning and tone etc… you can go mega deep here. . Visual identity, on the other hand, is how the brand is visualised… things like the logo, colours, typography and layout all play a part in the creation of brands visual identity. . I know it can be easy to misinterpret / get confused and I know some of my reels use the language loosely as I assume you all know what I know… and what I have done for my clients. . I have developed a hybrid approach to strategy over the years - so I can offer my clients a better experience that efficiently solves a problem they have - but at the same I still get to be fully creative and hands on with the design process… which is my true love. . I just wanted to create a post to share how I personally see the separation between the two… and I hope it helps shed some light on the difference. . Design tip: design language aside, the more strategic you are with your decisions the more powerful your visuals will become… you don’t have to be a strategist to ask good questions… but remember that the answers to good questions cost more than a logo. . Have a great day. . . #designtips #brandidentity #brandidentitydesign #brandidentitydesigner #logodesigner #logoprocess #logotips #logoideas #graphicdesign #graphicdesigner #graphicdesigners #designtip #graphicdesigncentral #graphicdesigndaily #graphicdesigncommunity #marketingtip #logocreation #logomaker #logoconcept #visualidentity #visualidentitydesign

Add these 3 things to your creative contracts. . These are very standard things to have in your creative contract. The reason you may feel like you are out of control in a project is because you have given the client too much freedom by not stipulating your process and working terms and conditions. . There are many more things to add but here are 3 essentials that will help you sleep at night… also make sure you get a deposit my friends. . 1. No communication policy - make sure you have an agreement that if after a certain amount of time you here NOTHING from your clients you have the right to terminate the contract and keep the deposit. . No.2 rights and ownership - the client should ONLY own the design they have chosen… they do not own any unused concepts - they are YOURS. . No.3 amendments and feedback - this should always be capped… whether they get 3 / 4 / 5 you have to control the amount of revisions to preserve your sanity… if they want changes at her the amount of revisions given it will be added at an hourly cost. . Feel free to screen grab these slides and use them within your contracts… make sure you amend them to suit your own process! . Design tip: As with all of these you have to use your human side and bend to the feelings you have in the moment… but the important thing is that if the client agrees to these then YOU are in control… which allows you to sleep well at night. . Hope these help. . . . . #designtips #logodesigns #logoprocess #logoideas #logotip #designtip #logotutorials #logotutorial #brandidentity #brandidentitydesigner #graphicdesign #graphicdesigner #graphicdesigners #logocreation #logomaker #logotype #graphicdesigners #graphicdesigncentral #graphicdesigncommunity #logoconcept #design #marketingtips

How to build personality into your logotypes . Working with Megan at Roophone has been such a blast so far… the brief was to create something unexpected, fun and joyful!!! . Roophone is a connection device for children and elderly to stay connected without a smartphone. Designed by a kid and her parent, Roophone is a joyful antidote to modern tech. . I really wanted to lean into the “unexpected” vibe and knowing she lives in Basque Country, where all the cool kids live, I dived into this sweet retro skater vibe that defo grabs the eye. . I then wanted to add a quirky nod to the idea of communication so I made the depth and perspective into a speech bubble that we can then use to build out our deeper identity system. . I wanted to also make sure this logo had the opportunity to respond to multiple applications so I created this wicked little R+heart mark that resonates with the identity. . This brand is about breaking the norms and this logo celebrates that… also the colour combo of ruby and blueberry is about as joyful as you get… especially when Megans daughter goes by the same name. . Design tip… bringing in the heart shape from the original design allowed me to build upon the brand that has been built - always see if there is something you can keep 🙌🏼 . . . . #logodesigner #logodesigns #logomaker #logodesigners #brandidentitydesigner #graphicdesign #graphicdesigner #graphicdesigners #graphicdesigncommunity #design #creativefreelancer #designer #logotutorials #logotutorial #designtips #designtip #logotips #logoideas #logocreation #logoprocess

How to create logo packages for your clients. . As you start to really dial in on your process (and you are consistent with it) you can start to offer a range of packages to your clients that are based on a fixed price. . This allows you to cater to smaller and higher client budgets… all the packages you have would increase in price as the deliverables increase. . Break your packages into things that a client might need and want… with the lowest package having the bare minimum of what they might need to get going. . Create 3 packages and name them whatever you want. . Set a price for each package and highlight to your clients what they get in each option. . As the price increases so does the value you offer them… the more they spend, the more they get, the more power they have. . Now, these are not actual prices, package names or deliverables… it’s purely to show how the price rises with the increased deliverables… I’ll be sure to get some shed tool on this feed telling us that the prices are wrong and they want to marry and AI robot. . This process really helped me in the middle stages of my career and I know it can help you too… you just have to be very transparent and confident in your process, you have to be clear about what the client gets and remember…no scope creep allowed. . Hope it helps. . . . . #designtips #logodesigns #logoprocess #logoideas #logotip #designtip #logotutorials #logotutorial #brandidentity #brandidentitydesigner #graphicdesign #graphicdesigner #graphicdesigners #logocreation #logomaker #logotype #graphicdesigndaily #graphicdesigncentral #graphicdesigncommunity #logoconcept #design #marketingtip

How to solve a logo problem! . Ultimately that is my job! and it’s key that we approach our role as problem solvers and not just creatives. . Cups came to me earlier this year to help them redesign their logo and brand system… the key problems they were having is that all their locations looked liked different companies and they were struggling to expand to more destinations as their logo did not allow this. . I worked up this clean, modern and slick logotype that cleverly played with negative space to visualise a cup! Massive win as this can now be their logo mark. . Secondly I used the curve of the ‘U’ to house their locations… this allows them to look consistent across the board and whenever a new location is launched they just add it underneath the U… simple, unique and super delicious. . Design tip: always try and get to the route cause of why your client is looking to rebrand or redesign! The answers to these questions will help you knock it out of the park for them. . . . #logodesigner #logodesigns #logomaker #logodesigners #brandidentitydesigner #graphicdesign #graphicdesigners #graphicdesigner #graphicdesigncommunity #design #creativefreelancer #designer #logotutorial #logotutorials #designtips #designtip #logotip #logoideas #logocreation #logoprocess