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Christy van der Sman
A brand becomes recognizable when the logo, in combination with all design elements, is consistently applied. Whether it's the design of a brochure, website, or product, everything forms a total experience, which we call brand image. It's the impression your brand makes on people. But how do you ensure that your brand leaves the right impression? And how do you assess whether a design is good or not during the creation of your brand image?
what's your opinion, Vandeez?
Design calls for a taste judgment. Non-designers often quickly judge it as 'looks good' or 'I don't like that.' This taste judgment is very human and is mainly about the aesthetic appeal of a design. Is the design beautiful, and does it match my style and taste? Because design projects often start with an aesthetic focus, the other side of the design coin, functionality, often undesirably recedes into the background. A functional design ensures that it aligns with the needs and goals of the target audience. A strong design is primarily functional and purposeful.
it's not about whether the design is beautiful or not
A simple yet effective example of this comes from Wessel Jansen in his blog "You Can Argue About Design." In this blog, he shows the difference between the advertising brochures of De Bijenkorf and Action. Both brands convey the same message: discounts. However, they do so with a completely different look: 'sale' vs. 'ACTION!' Through well-thought-out design choices related to logo, color, shape, and typography, both brands engage their target audience and achieve their goals. It's not about whether the design is beautiful or not.
Functional Beauty
So, in a design project, make sure that the design aligns with the needs and goals of the target audience before considering aesthetic appeal. For a powerful brand image:
- Everything aligns with the needs of your target audience
- Everything is interconnected
- There is consistent application
Does your entire brand image meet these criteria? Then you know that you have a visual identity that creates distinctiveness, recognition, and sympathy. A visual identity that adds value to your brand. A visual identity with functional beauty.
