Brand strategy & identity design
Brands with a clear position, a recognisable look and a voice your team can use.®
Strategy first
Every identity starts with positioning: who you serve, what you offer that others don't and what you want to be known for. Each design decision then has a reason behind it.
Built to scale
Logo, type, colour and tone of voice delivered as one system, with guidelines a printer, freelancer or new hire can follow across web, print, social and packaging.
A brand identity, not just a logo.®
From a first identity for a new venture to a full rebrand for an established business, each project is scoped to where you are going next. You get a fixed quote after discovery.
Strategy before design.®
Guidelines anyone can follow.®
The detail
What to expect from a branding agency
When to hire a branding agency
A branding agency earns its fee when the problem is bigger than how your logo looks. That usually means one of three moments: launching a new business, outgrowing a brand that was put together quickly, or changing what you sell and who you sell it to.
If your positioning is sound and you only need a mark, our logo design service is the better fit. If you are unsure whether you need a rebrand or a refresh, our guide to the difference is a good place to start.
Brand strategy before brand identity design
We work as a brand strategy agency first and a design studio second. Before any sketches, we agree who you serve, what you offer that competitors don't, and the few messages every touchpoint should carry.
For DEX, a data automation company with a strong product but no clear position, that strategy came first and shaped the logo, visual language and tone of voice that followed. It is why the identity reflects precision, intelligence and trust.
What a brand identity agency should hand over
A good identity works without us in the room. You get master logo files for print and screen, a type and colour system, graphic elements, photography direction and a tone of voice with real examples of how to write.
The guidelines explain the rules in plain language, so a printer, a freelance designer or a new marketing hire can use the brand correctly from day one. We also design the key applications in your scope, so you can see the system working before you sign it off.
Names, trade marks and checks
If the project includes a new name, we check it is clear in your market before it goes any further. GOV.UK lets anyone search registered UK trade marks by keyword, phrase or image, and when you apply, the Intellectual Property Office checks your mark is not the same as, or similar to, an existing one.
Trade mark searches are available as part of naming, as an extra paid-for service. We are not lawyers, so for anything you plan to register, we recommend advice from a trade mark attorney or solicitor before you commit.
How branding connects to your website and marketing
A brand only matters where people meet it, which for most businesses is the website first. ConsultAway was a new UK business advisory with no existing brand, so we built the identity and then a Framer website in the same voice, with plain-English copy and an FAQ that answers a sceptical owner's questions directly.
Monetae needed the same joined-up approach in a regulated fintech market, where a calm, confident identity had to build trust quickly. We also create branding for specific sectors, including hotels, restaurants, fintech and professional services.
After launch, we can check the brand is applied consistently across your website, social profiles and templates. We can also review with you whether enquiries and sales conversations reflect the new positioning, and adjust messaging where they don't.
What to have ready
Bring what you have: current logo files, any past brand work, a few competitors you rate and a few you don't. Customer reviews or feedback help too, because they show how people already describe you. Honest answers about where the business is heading matter more than polished documents.
We also need one decision maker at the workshops and reviews. Branding by committee is a common cause of delay, so agree early who signs off.
01 — Discover
A workshop with your decision makers, plus a review of your customers, competitors and any existing brand material, to find a position you can own.
02 — Define
We write up your positioning, brand story and key messages, and you sign them off before any design starts. If naming is in scope, it happens here.
03 — Design
We present identity routes shown on real applications, then refine the chosen route into a full system of logo, type, colour and graphic elements.
04 — Deliver
You receive guidelines, master files and the applications in your scope, plus a handover session for your team, which is always included.
“The team at The Think helped us clearly position our eCommerce offering and delivered a website that feels modern, credible and easy to use.”
Citipost eCommerce, part of the UK’s largest independent logistics provider
Pricing & FAQ
What a brand identity costs.®
Brand identity projects start from £4,000 and typically take 3 to 10 weeks, depending on research, naming and the number of applications. We confirm a fixed price after a discovery call.
How much does branding cost?
Brand identity projects start from £4,000. Larger rebrands with naming, packaging or a long list of applications are quoted on scope, and you get a fixed quote after discovery.
How long does a branding project take?
Typically 3 to 10 weeks. The amount of research, the number of identity routes and how many applications you need designed make the biggest difference.
What's the difference between a logo and a brand identity?
A logo is one mark. A brand identity is the whole system: logo, typography, colour, imagery, tone of voice and the rules that hold them together. If you only need a mark, see our logo design service.
What does a branding agency actually do?
A branding agency works out how your business should be positioned, then turns that into a name, identity and voice people can recognise. The output is a system with guidelines, not a single file.
Do you work with start-ups as well as established businesses?
Yes. We build brands from scratch for new ventures, as we did for ConsultAway, and rebrand or refresh established businesses whose identity no longer fits what they do.
Do we need a full rebrand or just a refresh?
If your positioning still holds and people recognise you, a refresh of the identity is often enough. If the business has changed what it sells or who it sells to, a rebrand usually makes more sense. We help you decide during discovery.
What do we receive at the end?
Master logo files, brand guidelines and the applications agreed in your scope, such as social templates, stationery or a pitch deck. A handover session for your team is always included, and you own the final identity once the project is paid.
Can you design our website too?
Yes. ConsultAway and Monetae both had their brand and website designed with us, so the identity carried straight through to the site. Website copy can be written in the new voice too.