The full version of this article was first published at: DIY your startup’s brand mood board

This post was contributed by Ty James Largo, Owner + Creative Director at AWE Collective. So there you are at 2AM, staring at a blinking cursor on a blank Word document while trying to articulate your startup’s brand on the page. The words just aren’t coming, and you’re feeling frustrated. Don’t worry; it’s fine. Not everyone is a copywriter, and most startup entrepreneurs may never be great at it. But seriously – it’s fine. Successful creative agencies use a mix of online and offline brainstorming to get those creative juices flowing, and creating a mood board is a great way to get a better grasp on your brand’s visual representation while further defining the brand in other areas. Given the undeniable complexity of comprehensive, cohesive branding, the mood board is just one tool in the toolkit, but it’s an easy DIY startup project and a great way to get yourself and your team thinking “bigger branding picture.” All you need to get started is a clear wall or board, a printer, tape and maybe some other visual sources like magazines or other clippings. It’s also totally fine to use Pinterest! Just make sure to bring that offline with a printer. You’ll read why below. Create a Yaasss-Yaasss Board You’d be surprised how effective this exercise is! Using a curated collage of visuals to express your intended brand direction allows you to visually target your customer, understand their aesthetic taste (and how it may differ from your own), establish your brand’s attitude and…
Read More: DIY your startup’s brand mood board

The full version of this article was first published at: Avoid Brand Fails: DIY Your Startup’s Anti-Brand Mood Board

This post was contributed by Ty James Largo, Owner + Creative Director at AWE Collective.  So, you’ve created your startup’s DIY brand mood board. Great! Now it’s time to be more critical of your industry, products, brand and personal influence. You’ve started to define what the brand is, but it’s equally essential that you identify what it isn’t. Again, all you need is a clear wall or board, a printer, tape and maybe some other visual sources, such as magazines or other clippings. And it’s totally fine to use Pinterest! Just make sure to print the images and and pin them on an actual, tangible space near your workstation. Create a Nah-Nah Board OK, hear me out — you’ve gotta do this. We wholeheartedly believe that every startup should create an anti-brand board! Establishing a narrow, focused road for your brand is a must, but it’s also great to define where the cliff is. It’s the old “do’s and don’t’s” approach, and it will keep you trekking along the right path while avoiding common pitfalls. Industry white noise. A modern pizza restaurant wants to introduce their chic, fresh new take on brunch, lunch, dinner and late-night dining. Great! Their nah-nah board might include cliche Italian visuals such as red, green and white colors, checkered tablecloths, wine-bottle decor, black and white imagery, and so on. The bottom line is that you want your brand to stand out, rather than blend in, with the competition. Competitors. Take a look at other brands…
Read More: Avoid Brand Fails: DIY Your Startup’s Anti-Brand Mood Board