5 Trends Your Brand Needs NOW with Julie Badger from Ideation Creation

Hey Everyone! It’s Julie here from Ideation Creative Co. Last year, I started our Atlanta based Business Marketing and Branding Agency with my partner, Melissa, and we haven’t looked back! We’re two badasses who know business and branding, and aren’t afraid to stand out– in fact, it’s kind of what we do best. Today, I’m going to share some of of the biggest branding tips we’ve learned this year with all of you. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us!

When it comes to branding, looks matter. We’re sorry, but it’s true. But don’t shy away from that mirror just yet, because luckily for you, we’ve put together a quick list of design trends for 2015 that will ensure your brand is looking at its absolute best. Aren’t we nice?

1. Responsive Web Design

This is the biggie. Gone are the days when a mobile-friendly website was enough. Now it has to be mobile-lovely. As of January 2014, 58% of adult Americans owned a smart-phone. 63% of those were using their phones to surf the web and 44% of them have even slept next to their phone, lest they miss a call, text or an invite to an old school friend’s 30th*. To cut a long story short, it seems like the phone has replaced the soul-mate in modern America (to be fair, they are less argumentative and far more reliable when it comes to directions). And remember, those figures don’t account for tablets, netbooks, smart-watches etc. Your website needs to look great, navigate easily and run smoothly on these devices. If it doesn’t, your brand will be left behind.

2. Art Direction

Let’s be clear, we think your brand should look great on any and all formats, but it needs to be consistent too. It’s all well and good having a mobile-lovely (we’re trademarking that) site, but if it looks nothing like its desktop cousin then there’s a problem. The same goes for any visible aspect of your brand, be it printed materials or your social media sites. Have an overarching theme throughout all formats and platforms that remains consistent and identifies closely with your brand.

3. Good Typography

Typography was and still continues to be a fundamental part of any branding scheme. Gone are the days when choosing anything other then Comic Sans was considered an inspired decision. In 2015, the possibilities are virtually endless. Be proud of your typography – make sure it’s big, beautiful and bodacious.

4. Massive Images

Visual communication is perhaps the most powerful and simple way to convey your brand identity, and incorporating stunning images into your content is an engaging, beautiful way to visually communicate. So if you’re not doing it yet, we recommend that you do.

5. Videos

And lots of them. As internet speeds get faster and faster, video has become a powerful content-sharing format. Did you know that YouTube is the 2nd most popular search engine in the world? (no prizes for guessing what’s at number 1). If you’ve got something you want to show off, make a video about it. Share it through your social media, embed it in your site; don’t worry, the internet can handle it. 2015 will also welcome the introduction of the big background video, meaning the static webpage might soon be a thing of the past. Consumers want videos, and web design is, as always, adapting elegantly.

It seems that 2015 is the year when size really does matter. Big letters, big pictures and big videos that retain their beauty across all formats will go a long way in making sure your brand stands out this year. Perhaps you’re reading this and thinking “this all sounds brilliant, but where do I start?”. Well do not fear, we’re here to help, and there are loads of ways to get in touch with us. You can leave a comment on here, email us athello@ideationcreative.co, say hello on Facebook or Twitter or even send us an owl. With a message attached, obviously, otherwise we’ll just have an owl. In the mean time, take a look at this Pinterest board full of 2015’s design trends and let us know what you think.