Keen to take your business to the next level? Time for some branding brilliance – and we know just the local graphics studio…

You’ve said that ‘brand is the story, design is the storytelling’. How much of a difference can effective storytelling make to the success of a business?

The difference between a good brand and an incredible brand! Consumers buy into emotions, stories and magic – not products and services. So telling a story through branding creates connections with potential customers and enhances the likelihood that they will purchase from your business.

A study by Harvard Business Review revealed that 64% of consumers cite ‘shared values’ as the primary reason that they have a relationship with a brand. These stats demonstrate the power of creating those connections with customers through storytelling. Essentially, brands that tell more of their story will sell more of their services.

Creating authentic branding is at the core of D’Arcy Design Co. How do you make sure the designs you create are as authentic as possible for your clients?

‘Authenticity starts in the heart’ – Brian D’Angelo.

This quote is something we stand by as a brand. And so, to achieve authenticity in every brand project we complete, we dive right into the heart of the business we’re working with. We do this through in-depth brand strategy sessions before any designing takes place – analysing every aspect of the business, from their brand values and personality, right through to identifying their target audience and competitor analysis. We don’t just ask what they do – we ask more valuable questions like why they do it. It’s knowing these details that ensures the branding truly represents their business and tells their brand story.

Brand Vision – this is the first stage of the process, where we complete brand strategy, either from an in-depth questionnaire filled out by the client or a strategy call, where we discuss the questions openly. From this information, we produce a strategy and vision document, detailing the brand strategy and finishing with two concept mood board options. The mood boards allow for us to establish a ‘vibe’ and colour palette before the branding is developed, to ensure we set off in the right direction.

Brand in Action – this is the stage where we apply the branding to any business collateral the client has chosen to have, and the vision for the business really comes to life. This can include anything from business cards to social media designs, such as highlight covers. Branded collateral ensures the business is professional across all touchpoints.

You have different packages available (including bespoke packages) – can you talk us through what they all are and who would be best suited to each?

I have packages to suit businesses at varying stages – whether they’re start-ups or fully established businesses looking to rebrand. I’ve tried to create a service which is accessible to anyone who loves my work and wants to work with me.

The ‘Brand Basics’ package is suitable for start-ups who are looking for a professional identity to get up and running, or for creative businesses who simply need the tools to create branded assets with ease. This package includes brand strategy and a full brand identity pack, including brand guidelines.

Recently, I also launched my Semi-Custom Brand Kits, which have a lower price tag – opening up my services to those with a tight timeline or smaller budget and are unable to invest in a fully custom branding experience. These kits are pre-made with specific industries and audiences in mind and are only available to purchase once – meaning once the business has purchased the kit, it’s still custom to their business. Business details are required at the checkout in order to personalise the kit and it’s then delivered directly to the purchaser’s email within one week, so has a much faster turnaround than a custom package.

If we don’t find you designing, you’re likely to be strolling along the coast with a coffee. Where’s your coffee pitstop of choice?

To say I’m coffee-obsessed is an understatement! A coffee shop brand is definitely on my dream client list. My go-to order is a latte with a dash of caramel syrup, and I love it both hot or iced for those warmer days. You can’t go wrong with Starbucks or Costa, but if I could only have one specific coffee for the rest of my life, it would have to be an Iced Caramel Latte from The Butterfly Cabinet in Heaton. If you don’t know about that place already, get to know it!

And what does the future look like for D’Arcy Design Co.?

My vision for D’Arcy Design Co.’s future revolves around growth and expansion. I would love nothing more than to have my own studio space somewhere and expand from a one-woman band into a full team of creatives. One thing I do miss about working as part of a team is sharing my work with others and bouncing ideas around, so I would love to create a fun and creative space for other people to do what they love every day too.

Expanding into a team would also allow D’Arcy Design Co. to work with more businesses and offer more specialised services too, including marketing and social media management. Thanks to the wonderful and continued support of my clients, I’d say the future for D’Arcy Design Co. is looking long and bright!

To find out more about how D’Arcy Design Co. can help bring your business branding dreams to life, visit their website, Facebook page or Instagram