The Difference Between a Graphic Designer & Brand Designer

If you aren’t fully immersed in the world of design, there’s a good chance that the difference between the types of design is unclear. You may even be under the impression that brand designers and graphic designers are one in the same. Design is design is design, right? Wrong. Though the lines of brand and graphic design can get blurry, there are several significant differences between the two. If you’re a business owner and need branding services, it is critical that you know each designer’s purpose and the services they can offer YOU. As a business owner, you should know that not only are brand design and graphic design not interchangeable, but they each offer your business very different things. Today we’re going to dive into the purposes of brand design and graphic design and how to decipher between the two for your business. 

What is the role of a brand designer?

The real question is, what doesn’t a brand designer do? But really, a brand designer covers so many bases while branding your business from start to finish. Let’s go over that process. 

A brand designer works with you to create the face, voice and personality for your business. We collaborate to really get to know your mission and all the attributes that make your business what it is; what you offer, your journey to get here, what you embody, your values, the list truly goes on. We discover the heart and soul of your business, with you and for you, and then we create the visual representation that communicates exactly who you are to your ideal clients. We consider and execute every piece of your business - your logo, fonts, email signature, colors and all other graphics. A brand designer can also design your website as well as implementing a social media marketing strategy for your business. See what I mean? We cover it ALL.

We have found that it’s common for people to misunderstand brand design as “just” a logo. The truth is that yes, a brand designer does create a logo for your business. But it’s so. much. more than that. Your brand designer makes sure that your business has a clear voice and makes a positive impression on those who come in contact with it. Most say the interview begins when you walk in the door, but with brand design, the interview really begins when the client first lays eyes on your business. And if the branding is done well, that’s an impression that lasts.

What is the role of a graphic designer? 

A graphic designer’s role is to focus solely on the visual aspects of the brand. They focus on, but are not limited to, things like colors, logos, typography, and other areas. A graphic designer’s job is to take your business’ already established brand and translate that into graphics or artwork. They will aim to take the components of your business’ brand and create designs that will captivate the attention of the target audience, while also conveying the message of what the business represents.

A graphic designer remains focused on the visual aspects of the brand and can do incredible things with the insight and direction you give them. If you are looking for a designer to establish your brand from the ground up, a graphic designer is not the right choice. However, if you are just getting started and need a quick face for your business to build your presence – a graphic designer could be perfect for you. Alternatively, if you already have a brand but just need additional materials or have a specific project, a graphic designer can be a great fit to create custom artwork or designs for your business.

While a brand designer works with you to establish your voice, mission, and visual identity, a graphic designer takes that information and creates graphics that reinforce your existing brand. The two working in tandem for your business is where the magic really starts to happen.

 What’s the difference between a logo, a brand and a rebrand?

The logo is the words and/or graphic that serves as the “face” of your company. It is a significant part of your brand design, but certainly not all of it. A logo alone does not brand a business. The brand of a business includes the logo as well as many other aspects. Your business’ brand is the voice as well as the vision. It’s your way of communicating all that your business is and stands for. It’s the experience that your audience and clients have every time they interact with your business. It is what builds trust and creates lasting connections with your ideal clients. The process of changing or redefining that identity is the rebrand. It is much more than switching up the logo a little bit or changing your colors. A rebrand is when you completely refresh and breathe new life into your business. It is just as extensive as the initial branding process, if done properly.

Is it starting to make more sense? If so, great! If not – don’t fret! I’m going to make the difference between brand design and graphic design even clearer for you right now.

You need a brand designer if you:

• want to discuss and create an entire identity for your business

• need help and guidance identifying your voice, values and mission

• want to discover WHO your target audience is and HOW to reach them

• want to collaborate with a professional to create an identity for your business from front to back and everything in between

• need assistance in web design or social media marketing strategy

You need a graphic designer if you: 

• are in need of visual components of your brand

• want simple graphics for your website or social media

• need visuals for marketing or publicity

Create your dream team

So, what do you do if you need all of these things at once? You hire a team! The beauty of all of these designers having their own niche, is that you can hire multiple people to work with your business - each of them being completely knowledgeable and passionate in THEIR area.

Everyone on your dream team will work together with you and for you, to create an amazing brand inside and out. The brand designer will work with you to define your mission and values and develop your brand’s identity, and the graphic designer will take all of that knowledge and guidance and make some kickass visuals. And your team definitely doesn’t have to stop at design. You can choose to outsource essentially everything in your business and give yourself the space to pour your heart and soul into what fills you up. You can bring someone on to write your copy, someone to handle your back-end office work, someone to manage your finances…you get it.

Moral of that story; outsourcing is truly a beautiful thing. 

As a business owner, you wear a lot of hats, and they can get pretty heavy to carry. The secret to a happy business owner who is thriving in their field, is support. Don’t shy away from getting help and hiring on a team of people to help make your dreams happen. Outsourcing will make your load lighter and keep you from inevitably burning out far too soon. 

The Takeaway

Hopefully now you can officially say you are educated on the difference between a brand designer and a graphic designer. If you still aren’t sure or need more information, click here to read more about brand design!

Whether you’re looking to completely brand or rebrand your business or simply just wanting a logo, there is a designer out there just for you – and knowing exactly what you need will help you find them. And if brand design is what you need, we’re here for you! We are ready and excited to talk with you, hear your dreams and make them come to life with the best brand strategy for you. Book a call with us today!