Hardware:

• Apple iMac – aka amazing design machine.
• Mighty Mouse and cordless keyboard
•  Wacom Bamboo A5 Fun Pad + Pen
•  iPad 3 – it is wonderfully handy with client meetings and getting admin done when travelling
• Canon 500D – just to take photo’s of all my stationery to go on the website and of course DIY’s.
• Manfrotto MKC3-H01 Compact Photo-Movie Tripod Kit

Software:

• Adobe Creative Suit CS5. If I have to single out one program, will most definitely be Adobe Illustrator, I use it for 90% of all my projects and artwork.
• Adobe Lightroom 3 for all photo editing
• WordPress for all of website development
•  Things – amazing program for time and project management

Typography:

• I buy most of my typography from MyFonts.
• Lots of people prefer DaFont, all the typefaces on Dafont are  free – but you get what you pay for . . .

When starting a new business it is very important to create a brand identity, before even looking at possible logo designs. When you have a set brand identity everything about your company will come quite easy, much like having a well thought out business plan.

Remember to separate “your brand” from you as a person. Otherwise you will always make emotional decisions. Even when your name is used in the business name – you still need to separate it from you as a person. You might be a very outdoorsy person, but your accounting business probably should not share that.

Firstly, and this is really very important, figure out who’s your target market. And no, old and young, rich and poor, male and female is not an answer. Rather separate it in primary, secondary and tertiary groups. For example: you’re a wedding photographer, but also specialises in lifestyle and family photography. Primary target market will be woman around the ages of ±25-35. Secondary could be men and woman from 20 – 50. You get what I’m saying?

Secondly, decide what your brand personality is. If it helps, think of your brand as a person. Will it be personable & friendly or corporate &  professional,  spontaneous & high energy or careful thinking, planning, etc. This will nudge you in the right direction in regards to typography use and illustrations. I mean, if your company is corporate and professional a teddy bear in the logo will most definitely not work.

This is a VERY brief explanation of brand development, and I will most certainly recommend you do some research on this topic. The internet is full of awesome websites that help you establish your brand.

• One of the main things I wanted to change is my portfolio page. I now have a much more organized gallery of different jobs, that you can filter to Weddings, Corporate or DIY in the click of a button.
• Further on I wanted to have a much more clean crisp professional look. I’ve grown a lot these past few years and believe that I need to adjust my brand accordingly.
• I will now also have a personal blog space. Here I’ll write about all sorts of things, including tips for other graphic designers just starting out and company owners on how to develop your brand and position it correctly.