When creating your brand, one of the first things you should consider, along with core values, purpose, and mission, are what your visual brand identity will be.
Selecting the details of what your visual brand will encompass is essential to the success of your brand. This article will cover some visual brand identity examples that are certain to inspire your own along with tips and tricks to create the most captivating visual brand identity possible.
What is Visual Brand Identity, and Why Does It Matter?
Although we may not always stop to think about it, visual brand identity surrounds us at every moment. Visual brand identity is exactly as it sounds, what customers think of visually when they think of your brand. The main visual identity components are logo, color, typography, and images.
Research has shown that using a signature color can cause an 80% increase in a consumer’s recognition of your brand. So when you see that specific shade of red and think of Coca-Cola or the combination of yellow and blue and immediately think of Ikea, this shows how effective brand identity is.
However, not all brands started with a set visual branding identity. Brands also have to be open to change sometimes. That yellow and blue you thought of for Ikea actually came into play in 1982 after going through many rebranding attempts before then. Thankfully, those colors stuck and have been the primary source of visual identity since then,
88% of consumers say authenticity is important when deciding which brands they like and support, so when a company chooses a brand identity and sticks with it as their true and authentic self, it leads to excellent brand loyalty.
If you are looking for great ideas to inspire the elaboration of your own identity, look no further than this article. Here we will 5 visual brand identity examples that are certain to inspire your own.
Alt text: Hydroflask’s website is simplistic in nature and true to its brand identity
#1 Hydroflask
It takes 1/10th of a second to form a first impression of someone and about 50 milliseconds (0.05 seconds) for people to form an opinion about a website. Hydroflask understood these facts and recently went through a visual refreshing with Capsule.
Hydroflask states, “Mother Nature is the best designer there is. There’s never anything extra —every choice is made for a reason. That’s our inspiration behind every product we design. Keep it strikingly simple. From product innovation to color leadership – simplicity drives all.”
With its partnership with Capsule, Hydroflask stayed true to its simplistic design. The leaping person is a simplistic logo that is generally only shown in black font. However, the colors that Hydroflask chooses are bold and freeing, symbolic of their brand and connected to the outdoors.
Alt text: Hydroflask’s social media is an excellent portrayal of its target outdoorsy customers
Visually, their social media pages and website connect customers to the freedom and spirit of being outdoors. Images shown are generally in the open air, conducting some activity.
Hydroflask intends to reach customers who find freedom in the outdoors, and per their following on social media, they certainly have been able to achieve this.
Alt text: Mint Mobile’s website is full of its green color palette and the iconic green fox
#2 Mint Mobile
Everyone wants a cheap phone plan but also a reliable one. Unfortunately, it’s difficult for a new phone company to break into the market because users are loyal to their current phone company.
But what if a new phone company that had a well-known actor behind it hit the market? Statistics show that 64% of consumers make a purchase after viewing a branded social video, so having someone well-known support their brand would be a game changer.
So what if a famous actor not only supported the brand but owned the brand? And what if this actor is Ryan Reynolds? Well, believe it or not, he did. Ryan Reynolds started his very own phone company whose signature visual identity is himself and a green fox.
Alt text: Mint Mobile’s social media page relies on its green color palette and popular owner, Ryan Reynolds
Besides having outrageously low prices, Mint Mobile is spot on for visual identity. For example, when you scroll its website or social media, you will notice the varying shades of green on every landing page – an excellent choice given that green symbolizes money and luck, both of which Ryan Reynolds has.
Mint Mobile’s simplistic design and signature greens are a huge part of what makes this visual identity successful. With the support of famous actor Ryan Reynolds, the brand did not need to rely heavily on elaborate design and instead chose to keep it simple with the iconic green fox, oh, and Ryan Reynolds.
Alt Text: Lovevery’s website shows clean lines with its signature teal accents
#3 Lovevery
If you have a child, niece, nephew, or godchild or work in any place where children are involved, you have probably heard of the brand Lovevery. The brand provides a toy subscription based on the child’s age and development.
The brand has heavily invested in marketing its visual identity, and its brand name is a playful take on the words love and every – because who would not love every child and experience?
Its signature color of teal with dark grey fonts are soothing and pleasing to the eye, allowing the customer to focus on the children and the specialty toys it sells.
Alt text: Color and playfulness in every post, Lovevery hits the mark on their social media page
The social media page is a beautiful mixture of vivid colors and children happily playing with its toys. The brand also gives excellent tips for its followers, which is very thought out, as 47% of people who follow brands on social media are more likely to visit that company’s website.
The company leans into playful visuals and simple fonts that align with simplistic play and toys for every developmental level.
Alt text: Starbucks allows its branding guide to be public domain, as shown above
#4 Starbucks
From its signature green, which is literally named Starbucks Green, to its set of three typography options, Starbucks has its visual identity set in all its finite details.
The soothing colors and simplistic fonts are identifiable from afar, along with its standard logo of the Siren, which is the face of the brand.
Starbucks’ social media stays true to its green colors and coffee fanatics drinking their beverages
Starbucks keenly understands that presenting a brand consistently across all platforms can increase revenue by up to 23%, as its social media pages carry the same peacefulness of its website, along with various pictures of customers enjoying its iconic coffee.
Alt text: Colourpop’s website is filled to the brim with pink color on every page
#5 Colourpop
Although Colourpop is relatively new to the market since its introduction in 2014, it started with a bang in every sense of the word. The brand exudes pink confidence in every aspect. Not a portion of its website or social media pages are not covered in varying shades of pink.
Alt text: Colourpop exudes pink confidence in every aspect of social media
Since Instagram (47%), Facebook (38%) and YouTube (36%) are the social platforms people now look to most for purchasing inspiration, the brand relies heavily on social media marketing to reach the targeted market.
Its visual identity is especially compelling to Millennials and, understandably so, since 39% of Millennials would be likely to purchase a beauty, health or wellness product on a social media platform.
How to Improve Your Visual Identity – with Examples
Just as you would look into a company’s career page when creating your own, so should you check out other brand identities to create your own. The examples above are prime examples of how a consistent brand identity across all social media and web pages is essential to success.
If you need to learn and study visual branding, consider investing in a digital marketing program to help hone your skills. If you already have a brand identity, but there are some things you should do to improve your brand’s visual identity, follow the tips below!
Define Your Colors
Choose a specific color palette that you will consistently use in all areas of your brand. Ensure that you have the exact HEX or RGB number and always use the same color. Check out Canva’s tips on choosing a color palette for your visual brand identity.
Also make sure you are using the right colors based on what industry you are part of and what message you want to get across. For example, for a fun and playful brand like ColourPop, pink works really well but if you are in a more serious space like medicine, law, or tech; you might need to choose something more serious.
For those brands, something that signifies trustworthiness like a blue color palette would make more sense.
This is what the M&Y law firm does on its website alongside using stellar reviews and statistics to win over a potential client.
If you keep an eye out for brands in the law space, you will notice a lot of them tend to use different shades of blue as defining colors.
FVF Law has a similar color palette on its website as well.
If you want to learn more about what colors represent and how to use that knowledge to your advantage, 99designs has a great post on what different colors mean and what they normally symbolize. This should help you if you want to decide on a color for your own brand identity.
Select Specific Typography
Be consistent. Do not just use whatever font you are in the mood to use when creating content. Instead, narrow down your font choices to 2 or 3 options and consistently use them in your brand.
Alt text: Starbucks chooses three fonts (Sodo Sans, Lander, and Pike) for its entire typography
Use Starbucks as an excellent example for typography. The brand only has three fonts that it uses and specific situations for each one. Consider implementing this practice while narrowing down your own typography.
Use Your Identity to Make Your Brand Relatable
Everyone has a reason for starting a company. Make sure you tell your customers the story, so they will relate to you and your brand. Research shows that 44% of customers will share a brand story when speaking of the brand, so make sure yours is readily available to be told.
Invest in a memorable Logo
Your logo is the main thing people will look for when they get to know your brand. Therefore, invest and select your logo wisely. Study successful companies and their logos, consider what made their logos special, and try to have the same reasoning behind your own logo. Whatever you do, it is essential that you make your logo stand out. You want people to remember your brand and be able to identify your logo, and what you sell/offer immediately.
Final Thoughts on Creating A Visual Brand Identity
Alt text: Partner with professionals at DesignBro to create the perfect visual brand identity for you and your company
A visual brand identity is an essential factor in your company’s success. As we have seen in this article, a unique visual brand identity is identifiable merely by the colors of the flow of the brand.
As you are building up and establishing your brand identity, consider having unique features for your website, such as using live chat software, that will keep your brand a step above the rest. Take time to select the essential elements of your brand’s visual identity. Do not quickly go through the motions of choosing what will be your visual brand identity.
Consider using professionals, such as the ones here at DesignBro to help you come up with the perfect visual brand identity. Whatever you do, ensure that you have reasoning, motivation and, most importantly, a story to tell others about your brand. Explain your logo and typography’s importance to allow customers to connect and relate to your brand. These practices are sure to bring you and your company success.
Head of Design at DesignBro and is responsible for UI/UX Design, managing the global designer community, and ensuring quality levels of both designers and designs remain high.
