Spec S1 / Brand & identity
Brand first. Then build.
A branding agency in Staffordshire that makes brands you can pick up: names, marks, signs, cards and the words that go with them. Done first, so everything after it looks right.
01 / What it is
A logo isn't a brand. It's a start.
We're a two-person branding studio in a barn at Hanbury, near Burton upon Trent, and brand is where every job starts. Whether you're after logo design in Burton upon Trent or brand design anywhere in the Midlands, it runs the same way: naming if you need it, then the proposition, then the look. Logo, colour, type and tone of voice, worked out together so they hold up everywhere you show up.
Then we make it real. Marshall Textiles got a new brand, a painted sign you can read from the end of the street, and workwear. FlowFloor, a flooring company in Derby, got a logo, stationery, icons and a branded trailer.
Every job is done by Gav, who has been designing since 1998, and Monika, who looks after tone of voice and how the brand talks on social. No handover to a junior once you've signed.
- ANameIf you need one. Checked for domains and obvious clashes.
- BPropositionWhat you do, who for, and why you rather than the next lot.
- CMarkA logo and variants that work tiny, huge, on screen and on a van.
- DColour and typeA palette and type set, with rules people can follow.
- EVoiceHow you sound, written down with real examples.
- FKitCards, signs, templates, workwear and social tiles.
- Ref.
You get the original artwork files: vector, print-ready and web-ready.
02 / Process
How the job runs.
The 20-minute call
You tell us where the business is and where it's heading. We tell you straight whether you need a new brand, a refresh, or nothing at all.
Proposal within 48 hours
A fixed scope and a price, in writing, within 48 hours of the call. No surprises later.
Brand sprint
Proposition first, then the look. One focused presentation with the thinking shown, and one round of changes. We move fast.
Artwork and guidelines
Final files, a short brand guide people will actually read, and the first real things: cards, signage and social templates.
Into the build
The brand goes straight into your website, email and social, so it looks the same everywhere. That's the Launch stage.
| Part | Item | What it does | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1/01 | Proposition and positioning | One clear line on what you do and why you, that the rest of the brand hangs off. | |
| S1/02 | Naming, if you need it | A shortlist with the reasoning, checked for domains and obvious clashes. | |
| S1/03 | Logo and brand mark | A primary mark, variants and a favicon, built to work at every size. | |
| S1/04 | Colour and typography | A palette and type system with simple rules for using them. | |
| S1/05 | Tone of voice guide | How you sound, with real examples of what to say and what not to. | |
| S1/06 | Brand guidelines | A short, practical guide for anyone who touches the brand. | |
| S1/07 | Templates | Social, email and document templates, so the brand stays right after we hand over. | |
| S1/08 | Signage, print and merch artwork | Print-ready files for signs, cards, workwear and vehicles. |
04 / Questions
Fair questions.
Q1How much does a logo and brand identity cost?
A brand identity starts from £1,500: a logo suite (main, stacked and icon), colours, fonts and a short brand guidelines PDF, with two design routes and two rounds of changes. Strategy, naming and tone of voice cost more, because a logo tidy-up and a full rebrand with naming are very different jobs. It also comes as part of every Launchpad, from £4,950, with a website and your own CRM set up.
Q2We already have a logo. Do we need a full rebrand?
Often not. Plenty of businesses need a tidy-up rather than a start from scratch: a cleaner mark, a proper palette, rules for type and a written tone of voice. We'll tell you honestly which you need, not the one that costs more.
Q3How long does branding take?
The brand sprint is usually the first part of a 4 to 6 week launch. Brand work on its own depends on the scope, and you'll get dates in the proposal.
Q4Do you do signage, printing and merch?
We design all of it and supply print-ready artwork, from business cards to painted signs, vehicle graphics and workwear. Printing and fitting are quoted separately, through your suppliers or ones we have worked with before.
Q5Do you only work with businesses in Staffordshire?
No. The studio is at Hanbury, near Burton upon Trent, and we work with businesses across the Midlands and as far as Cornwall. Most calls are on video, and if you are nearby we are happy to meet in person.
05 / Related work
Where it's working.
Next step
Got something to make?
No pitch deck, no sales team. Just Gav or Monika, a cup of tea and an honest answer. Or email newbiz@graftmarketing.co.uk.