case studywhen developing a personal brand, the ultimate goal is to create something that represents an identity. I approached the creation of my own personal brand no differently. Shadowflame Illustrations represents me as an artist, a person, and a designer.
the first thing I developed was the name of my brand. according to my peers, here are a few things that come to mind when they think of me:
cats, coffee, intense, bright colors, meticulous
with that in mind, I decided on a brand name that gives a subtle nod to my two cats.
with a name in mind, I currated an overall feel for my brand through various explorations and settled on a 3-color palette. The colors, typically accented with black or grey, to represent the ever-burning passion for what I do.
I also chose a primary typeface that mimics a hand-painted flickering flame and paired it with a simple, familiar sans-serif. While the primary type is eye-catching and artistic, the secondary type is subtle and modern. Together, the two create a balance.
the last and most challenging aspect of my branding was the logo itself. I knew that I wanted to incorporate a kitty and that I wanted a more hand-drawn look the the icon.
this is the first thumbnail I drew up. it was too cute to be a true contender and lacked functionality as an icon.
the final icon without the gradient.
the final icon is made up of artistic strokes that imply the shape of a cat. the icon also represents me as a person in the way that it is bold, fiery, and imperfect. Shadowflame Illustrations has an intensity displayed in it’s design and functionality that directly correlates with my desire to create beautiful, functional work for others.
thank you for taking the time to read about my process and explore my brand!