Do you feel that your brand is not being taken seriously? You can deliver the goods but for some reason you’re struggling to get deals done? As your business evolves, so should your brand identity.

You might have outgrown your initial identity since launch or pivoted towards a new direction but left your brand behind. If you feel lost in a sea of competitors, maybe it's time to take a closer look at your brand's visual identity.

In this simple 3 part guide, you’ll reveal your brand successes and oversights, setting you on the path to pinpointing areas that require the most attention. Ultimately, it’s about unlocking opportunities to achieve your brands true potential.

In a world brimming with similar businesses and countless growth opportunities, it's vital to direct your focus inwards.

Your brand's visual identity is more than just a logo – it's a storytelling tool that should cater to your customers' needs, not your personal preferences. It’s vital in a crowded world that you stand out as a distinctive and recognisable brand. The first step isn’t creating something new, it’s about taking a look at where you currently are.

Imagine laying out all the visual aspects that define your brand in front of you – that's exactly what this brand audit achieves.

While this visual audit is immensely valuable, it's important to remember that your brand is much more than its visual output. If you’re interested in understanding what components make a brand, take a look at our services page for a clear breakdown.

A Simple 3 Part
Visual Brand Audit

Our visual brand audit template offers a comprehensive view of your brand's visual identity, serving as a springboard for improvements.

While this covers many of the basics for most businesses, it’s important you adapt it to your business's unique characteristics; expand, add, and modify as needed.

Step 1:

Create a brand snapshot:

Pull all visual elements comprising your brand's identity into a one page mood board. If you encounter difficulties with specifics like your primary typeface or colours, choose what is most commonly used. This first step is the reference you’ll use to assess all other visual aspects of your brand.

Brand name
Taglines
Product names
Logo
Symbols
Icons
Main Typeface
Secondary Typeface
Colours
Textures or Patterns

Step 2:

The Visual Audit Checklist:

With a clear snapshot of your brand completed, we need something to compare it with, all the materials for the brand. Below is a list of prompts, if you haven’t “designed” something but your audience could still see it, for example an invoice, include it. You can throw everything into a folder, but ideally, create mood boards for each category.

Products
Product Design
Product labels
Instructions
Environment
Building exterior
Reception
Sales/office area
Way-finding
Signage
Meeting rooms
Workshop
Clothing
Promotional
Staff uniform
Safety equipment
ID badges
Digital
Website
Landing pages
Social media
Screensavers
Intranet
Blogs
URL's
Video intro / outro
Presentations
Email footers
Publications
Corporate
Reports - e.g. financial
Training documents
Advertising
Digital adverts, banners
Print advert designs
Emails
Packaging
Outer design
Materials
Labelling
Exhibition
Stands
Flags
Banners
Literature
Promotional Items
Print Materials
Letterhead
Compliment slip
Business cards
Meeting notes
Agendas
Envelopes
Address labels
Marketing materials
Promotions
POS material
Forms
Accounting
Purchasing
Sales
Production
Procurement
HR
Vehicle Branding
Cars
Vans
Trucks

Step 3:

Compare and Refine:

Now comes the moment of truth – compare your findings against your initial brand snapshot. It should be evident if there is consistency throughout all of your design assets.

Is there visual consistency?

What fonts and colours are used?

What is being communicated?

Is the tone of your messages consistent?

What imagery is being used?

This exercise provides an insight into your brand’s visual application. A visual identity touches nearly every aspect of your business, by reviewing what you’ve achieved to date, you'll have a much more informed place to begin the conversation of investing in the brand as a whole.

While this guide focuses on the visual aspect of your brand. To achieve a deeper connection with your audience, there's more to explore. If you're committed to crafting a brand that resonates, our team at Bloody Lovely is here to assist.

Schedule a free call to discuss your objectives and challenges, and discover how we can guide you.

Did you find this valuable?

As you undertake this audit, we're excited to hear about your experiences. Let us know if this guide proved valuable.

Your brand's journey towards excellence begins with a comprehensive brand audit. Unleash the potential of your visual identity to forge lasting connections with your audience.

If you’re interested in partnering with an agency dedicated to elevating brands with purpose and impact, and want to go deeper, reach out.

Your Brand's Visual Identity Snapshot: A Guided Audit