The Raff Creative

For a lot of industries, business cards are becoming a little obsolete but when you’re going into customers homes, providing one of several quotes, it’s so good to have a physical touch point to leave behind and keep your business in their minds! And if it looks good, maybe it’ll go on the fridge until they book you for the job 🤩

I always like to give brand clients an idea of how they can use the branding we create, sometimes it’s so hard to visualise.

I specialise in strategy-based brand design for small business that want to stand out from the noise. I aim to make the process simple and fun, while getting the results you need. I quite often get clients saying it’s like I got inside their head, I don’t actually have super mind powers but I do spend a large proportion of a project on strategy, really getting to know your vision, mission, your brand values, the market, your customers, your competitors, your peers, and your USP.

Who are you up against, who are you for… how do you stand out in the noise?

Getting to the bottom of your ideas and figuring out how to communicate them in the right way to the right people is exactly why I love doing what I do.

DM me to arrange a quick call to see how we could make some magic together 💁‍♀️

Thanks as always for the super slick mock ups

Brand Reveal! A professional yet fun identity for a company that specialises in window and doors.

It's probably unsurprising, but the general vibe for building and construction branding seems to be pretty dire!

I wanted to create some thing that communicated what the company did immediately, while still keeping it feeling fresh and contemporary.

Branding for the building and contruction indutry defintely needs a bit of "Ronseal- does what it says on the tin" magic. It need to be simple and effective. But that doesnt mean it needs to be boring.

One thing that really stood out to me was, even though the actual services on offer were practical and fixed a direct problem, the end result was something deeper- fixing a window, replacing a lock, installing a new super secure front door isn't just another job ticked of the list, but part of building a safe and secure home, and THAT is what I wanted to get across in this branding.

What do you think?!

I spy 🕵️‍♀️ a fresh brand mood board for a recent client of mine. 🤩 Some mega bold colours going on here!! 😎

This was definitely a bit of a different industry for me to design for, the client was a window and door specialist and was desperately in need of a new website to showcase his business in a clear and easy to understand way.

I love a challenge and knew I could create something standout for him but like a lot of clients, as we started to chat through what he needed, and what he already had, it became clear that to produce a slick website, we’d need to work on his branding and come up with something that reflected his 5-star rated services! The existing logo was a little, errrr, well, homemade, and wasn’t gonna cut it!

So, a new brand identity was key and this was the starting point, bold, strong and eye catching. Bright with a high energy feel.

More coming your way soon!

💁‍♀️A little guide to creating a great looking website with minimal effort 🤩🙌🏻

Don’t wanna DIY it? Shoot me a DM and let me know what you need. I work with small businesses that want easy and affordable solutions to brand and web design.

TIPS!

RULE ONE! Choose a limited palette of colours and keep it consistent.
For nearly every website I've worked on, I end up only using 3-4 colors and 2 of these would usually be neutrals, not necessarily black or white but definitely a dark and light option. Then I always use a pop of colour to catch the eye for things like buttons and links.

RULE 2! Pick a bold font for headers and a lighter one for the body copy. it's that simple!
Avoid trendy or gimmicky fonts- they'll date, they are probably hard to read and it's just not necessary. Legibility and longevity are key.

RULE 3! Invest in good-quality imagery
Take some time to scour free image sites like Unsplash for high-quality imagery that helps to communicate your message visually.
Good quality imagery makes all the difference and works hard for you, just make sure you make it web-ready by reducing the size to under 500kb for fast page loading.

It's always fun to show clients what their new branding could look like in real life! I have to say- Van design isn't for the faint hearted! I was definitely learning as I went with this and I'm sure the dedicated business that focuses on van wraps would do a much better job, but it still gives an idea of whats possible!

If you need some help with your branding, get in touch for a free consultation call and let’s see what’s possible!

   

A super inviting website that I did last year for a local dog behaviourist business .

Paul was, like many small biz owners, a bit of a technophobe so, simple was the name of the game! Paul’s brief included; a mobile responsive design, easy to navigate and lots of space for adding aspirational imagery, content-rich articles and useful blog posts.

We utilised the fun dog characters I created as part of his visual identity to represent common behavioural issues, taking the client on a journey of discovery and giving them hints towards the solutions Paul could offer for their dogs.

The results? A clean, clear, and functional website, with pops of fun and a high-end feel.

Trustworthy brand colours, mixed with high-end imagery and a clear customer journey meant that this site was super successful from launch day with a number of high-quality enquiries!

If you need a website for your small business, don't hesitate to contact me. I create simple-to-update sites that will look great and function beautifully. I LOVE helping small business owners take control of their online presence and offer a free consultation call so we can have a chat about what you need in a relaxed and informal way.

Eeek! I'm so excited to share this super fun brand identity for local dog behaviourist ⁠
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Paul, the owner of Beard Meets Dog was a really easy and fun client to work with from the offset. Whenever I talk to people who have set up businesses doing something that they are passionate about, I get ridiculously excited. From the very first call with Paul it was obvious that his passion would lead the brand.⁠
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He originally came to me to design a website, having had a logo designed already, but after a couple of conversations, I persuaded him to explore his brand in more detail and really get to the bottom of what he was trying to do and how to communicate that to his clients.⁠
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On the surface of it, Paul was selling his dog training services to dog owners, but really, when you thought about it, it was about selling an aspirational doggy lifestyle. ⁠
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I showed Paul a few ideas, but this was the one that really stood out. A playful typeface and fun doggy icons helped bring the brand to life, while still keeping things simple and relaxed.⁠
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My fave part of this has to be the doggy characters to represent the 6 different behavioural issues that Paul deals with the most. ⁠
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What do you think?⁠
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💁‍♀️You're gonna wanna save this! ⁠
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The importance of having a consistent and cohesive brand identity can't be overlooked no matter how small you are and it doesn't have to be complicated.⁠
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When you're just starting out and funds are tight, it's totally normal to try and do everything yourself and branding is one of the more fun things about starting a small business, so it's natural to want to give things a go. ⁠
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Here are my top 5 things to avoid when creating your brand identity.
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Let me know if you have any questions!⁠ And if you feel like handing over to a pro, I’m right here. DM me to book a free discovery call, or click the link in my bio. 😘
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Sunday moodboard inspiration for a dog behaviourist business situated on the sunny coast of Bournemouth.

Chilled-out beach life was a key inspiration for this playful, personality-filled brand.

A colour palette of muted blues warm white, with a pop of yellow to draw the eye feels friendly and trustworthy, with a hint of fun.

What do you think? Do you like this vibe?

Can't wait to show you the final brand identity!

Another totally gorgeous website for the lovely .interiors

A sophisticated colour palette, elegant typefaces and super high quality imagery have come together in this contemporary yet classic design.

It’s fair to say that Rebecca was a bit of a novice when it came tech, so a simple, easy-to-use website was an absolute must! She wanted somewhere to showcase her current projects with space for large, high-quality imagery and a blog where she could educate and entertain her audience with interesting articles relating to all things interiors. (The ‘co’ of the brand!)

The result was an image-rich design with injections of her visual identity everywhere.

If you are looking to update an existing website, or need something from scratch, get in touch and let’s see if we jam!

Link in bio 🤓

Kind words from the gorge .interiors .

Rab and I have known each other for a long time, so when it came to launching her new biz, I already had an idea about what she wanted to achieve but we really went all out with the brand strategy to create a brand identity that totally communicated her high end, eclectic aesthetic.

It’s super encouraging to receive positive reviews after weeks of hard graft. Makes it all worthwhile!

If you are launching a business, or need to refresh an existing business, and want to have a chat about your branding or website needs, I offer a free 30 minute consultation. I’d love to hear more about your venture!

😍 Can’t get enough of this new project for .interiors

Brand Reveal Part 2!

I love showing clients how they could use their branding in real life. It really helps to build a picture of the possibilities.

The logos and brand elements we created work so well in lots of scenarios….how’s about that pattern on the reverse of a letter head?! 👌🏻👌🏻

But my fave has to be the embossed paper mock up. Dreamy and SO luxe, which is exactly what we were aiming for. 👌🏻💁‍♀️

What do you think?

👋🏻Hey small business owner... does this sound like you?

You had a perfectly good logo designed on Fiiver but are struggling to make it work everywhere. Why won’t it fit in the bloody Instagram circle?! Argh!

Thsi is such a common theme from my clients. When you start a business there's often a lack of funds and professional branding sometimes comes way down on the list of 'must-do's'!

It's totally understandable that you opt for an affordable stop-gap... I am a firm believer in 'done is better than perfect' (for some things anyway), and going for an off-the-shelf logo is a quick and easy way to get your business off the ground.

But now you're up and running and starting to gain some traction and you want to start showing up consistently for your audience across the many platforms that you have available to you. But when you try and upload your horizontal logo to that circular facebook profile, or use it as your website favicon, suddenly it's not quite doing what it should. 🤨

The bottom line? With so many touchpoints today's brands need more than one horizontal logo!

You need a selection of logos and brand elements that work for different uses and in different spaces, creating a cohesive experience wherever your audience comes across you.

If you're having trouble using your existing logo get in touch for a free consultation and find out how we can help you create a Brand System that will work everywhere... no stress!

Link in bio!

Hashtags

BRAND REVEAL Part 1

Presenting the branding for .interiors ... a beautifully delicate brand identity, supported by stunning imagery that really highlights this talented designer’s work.

As with any sucessful brand identity, first comes the strategy...we took a deep dive into the overcrowded interior design industry to figure out how to differentiate Rab & Co from the noise, appeal to her ideal audience, with a visual identity that reflected the brand’s sophisticated yet eclectic nature, drawing inspiration from overseas with patterns, colours and textures.

Delicate detailing and an elegant typeface come together for a unique logo family. A muted, earthy colour palette bring the brand a sense of trust and resilience, communicating the designer’s love for handcrafted items that will be loved for many years to come.

I loved working on this project, it's a step away from my usual bold, bright and modern vibe... and it was great to flex my design muscles with a challenge!

I would love to know your thoughts!

A rich and elegant visual direction for the unbelievably talented .interiors

Rab & Co is a high-end interior designer with a focus on traditional British makers and craftspeople.

Rebecca came to me at the start of her small business journey for a interiors photoshoot on a project she'd just completed in Kensington, we shot some stuning images of her work and we've been working together ever since!

This moodboard kicked off our brand design journey...what do you think?

A snazzy little squarespace website for my recent client .strong.women.uk

Vicki already had a Squarespace website that worked ok, but left the viewer a little confused as to what she actually did!

It was also on a really old platform and updating it was becoming increasingly difficult.

We decided to rebuild the website from scratch and really focused on making the site super easy to navigate and completely clear on what Vicki does.

The site has an inbuilt scheduling tool, so clients can book intial consultations at the click of a button.

We also added a blog and email newsletter with the idea that Vicki now has a brilliant place to educate her audience and establish her authority in her field of expertise.

If you are looking to update an existing website, or need something from scratch, get in touch and let’s see if we jam!

Link in bio 🤓

Kind words from one of my gorgeous clients.

This is just a little extract from her full review covering the massive scope of work we did. Brand strategy, brand design, a spanking new Squarespace website and some great social media templates in the form of our instagram content bundle. Phew!

You can check out the full review, and the work, on my website... just hit the link in my bio :)



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More branding goodness for .strong.women.uk a female-focused health & fitness company challenging the lack of quality care for women as they navigate their prenatal, postnatal, and menopausal years.

Vicki intially came to me with quite a cool logo, it just need some tweaking to make it work better... plus she needed some variations to work across all her comms.

Vicki now has a logo suite, set of icons, website illustrations and a brand pattern which all give her tons of options as the brand evolves.

😝WEBSITE WOES NO.1😝

Hey small business owner... I see you!

So, tell me... does this sound like you?

You had a website built when you first started out, but it’s now totally outdated, slow and doesn't work on mobile phones. You want to update it but you've no idea how.

I HEAR YA! So many of my clients come to me at this stage in their journey and don't know where to turn.

Back in the (not so) old days, you had a website built and managed by a developer, and paid them to update it regularly (or not as the case is for many people!). It was impossible to update yourself without being a web guru, so tough luck if your designer went AWOL or out of business!

Now days, technology has come on leaps and bounds and its totally possible to build websites that you can self-manage once they are designed...and guess what!? That's what we specialise in.

Our easy-to-update Squarespace websites include the latest tech and features and are built with you in mind. You'll be able to update it going forward, helped by bespoke video tutorials that show you how.

If you need a new website, and want to be able to take control once it's designed, get in touch for a FREE chat, and let's see if we jam.

My first BRAND REVEAL!

Fresh, fun and energising branding for a female-focused health & fitness company challenging the lack of quality care for women as they navigate their prenatal, postnatal, and menopausal years.

Vicki's business needed a full brand overhaul after a good few years of doing it all herself. She was ready to take thing to the next level and

We took things back to the start, first performing an in-depth brand audit, then a deep dive into her industry, establishing her positioning, her audience, her brand voice, her mission and values, her services and offerings, and where she saw the brand.

Based on a solid brand strategy, we developed a bold, bright and energising brand identity, with tons of added extras like icons and website illustrations to really communicate her various services clearly.

The result was fresh, clean, and fun, with a strong and bold feel.

Ohh wow...here we go....my first brand moodboard reveal. I am so excited to share this with you. It was an absolute blast working on the branding and website for .strong.women.uk ... a female owned, female focused health, fitness and wellbeing business.

Vicki initally came to me needing some social media templates, but as we worked through her proposal, it became pretty clear that more was needed. Vicki is my ideal client, she's already got a sucessful business behind her, launched with some branding DIY, a little hint of Fiiver and a whole lot of mixing and matching across her channels. She had such a passion about her purpose, but it just wasn’t being communicated clearly and things were a bit of a mish mash.. I think there were 13 fonts in use across her various platforms...yikes! 🙃

In the words of Craig David, it was time for a re- e -wind and a full brand refresh...and this was the moodboard that kicked off our creative journey.

So, what do you think?! What vibes are you getting? Tell me below and let's see if it hits the mark!

Hey small biz owners and fellow entrepreneurs.... how are you getting on with your social media? Not as easy as it seems, right?!

Is this you?

🤓 You’ve got so much cool stuff to share with your audience but how do you turn a word doc into a graphic!?

😫 You’ve had your branding done and it looks great in theory… but you’re really struggling to use it IRL.

😤 You’ve signed up to Canva but every time you try and put something together with their free templates it looks like a complete mish-mash! Argh!

Even with a solid brand identity, it can be hard to get everything to look cohesive and consistent! Our super easy templates will shape your content and make it shine.

✔️ We take your ideas and turn them into on-brand graphics that you’ll be super excited to share with your audience.

✔️ We’ll work with you to ensure it all works seamlessly across all your platforms. From blog posts to newsletters to social media posts.

✔️ You’ll come away with a bespoke Canva account that will contain all your templates and instructions on how to update them yourself for the future.

Get in touch and book your FREE consultation! You won't regret it, we promise!

Hey small biz owner! Does this sound like you?

🤯 You had a perfectly good logo designed on Fiiver but are struggling to make it work everywhere. Why won’t it fit in the Instagram circle?!

🧐 You’ve had a go at DIY-ing the logos you've seen on Pinterest but it’s all looking a bit ‘meh’. You kinda know what YOU like, but what actually works for your audience?

🤩 You are ready to tell the world about your brilliant business but you’ve no idea how to make your communications feel on brand and consistent across all your channels.

From Facebook, to Instagram, to your website and your email newsletters, it can be super difficult to keep everything looking consistent.

Create a brand identity that resonates with your audience and drives the right kind of business.

Book a FREE consultation via Whatsapp and let's see how we can help!

Have you ever tried to build your own website but somehow it never looked quite right?

Despite the ‘do it yourself’ blurb on many web builders, getting a website right is hard! Armed with a few 100 hours of YouTube, you might crack it, but why waste your time?!

Let us do the hard work for you with a beautiful, functional, and EASY-TO-UPDATE Squarespace website that will make your business sing.

Ready to make some waves? Send me a message via WhatsApp to book your FREE consultation!

www.theraffcreative.co.uk