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Choosing a branding agency is a crucial step for any company that wants to stand out in the market and build a consistent, recognizable long-term image. However, how do you choose the right partner? How to avoid disappointment and investment in branding that does not meet expectations?
Before you make a decision, it is worth asking the branding agency a few key questions. We have prepared a checklist that will help you assess the competence, the way of working and the adaptation of a given agency to your needs.
1. Experience and portfolio
Before deciding to cooperate, ask the agency about its achievements to date. Here are some questions to ask:
- Have you worked with companies in my industry?
- Can you show case studies from previous projects and answer about the solutions that have translated into the client's business as a result?
When reviewing the portfolio, pay attention to the variety of styles and industries. It is good if the agency has experience in your sector, but equally important is whether it can match with different clients and create unique projects. In our case, it often happens that a lack of experience in a particular industry is an impetus for greater creativity and a greater design challenge, which as a result translates into a very large number of ideas.
2. Process and methodology of work
Every professional agency should have a clearly defined work process. This will allow you to know what to expect and avoid chaos when working together. Key questions that should be asked:
- What does your branding process look like?
- What are the stages of cooperation and what can I expect from each of them?
- Is the process flexible and tailored to the customer's needs?
The ideal branding agency should have a well-structured but at the same time flexible work model that allows you to take into account the specific needs of your brand. At 247Studio, we operate on the basis of a structured, proven branding process, which includes key stages — from strategy to implementation. Thanks to this, our customers know what to expect, and we are confident that the end result will be consistent and tailored to real business needs.
At 247Studio, we believe that effective branding is not only about aesthetics, but above all about strategy, consistency and a well-planned process. Every project we work on goes through structured stages that allow us to create a unique, well-thought-out visual identity. What we always tell our customers is a short phrase - first smart, then pretty.
Strategic workshops and project brief — Branding work begins Not from design, but from strategy. At this stage, it is crucial to understand the brand, its audience and the market context.
- We conduct workshops during which we learn about the values, mission and vision of the brand
- We analyze the competition and the unique value proposition
- We define the target group and key insights of customers
- We create the foundations of visual and verbal communication strategies
Why is this important?
Without a well-thought-out strategy, branding often becomes accidental. A solid foundation helps to avoid mistakes and makes the brand consistent in its reception.
Creative concept/visual identity — Based on the conclusions of the first stage, we proceed to conceptual work. Our team develops unique creative directions that reflect the character of the brand.
- We create moodboards and the first visual directions that help determine the style
- We design logos, choose typography, colors, create a visual system and rules for their use
- We develop the language of brand communication — tone of voice, marketing message, slogans
How is the cooperation going at this stage?
We introduce the client to several refined creative directions, discuss them and choose together the one that best reflects the character of the brand. Then we refine the selected direction to the final version.
Design of ID Design/branding elements - Once the visual and linguistic direction is approved, we proceed to the expansion of visual identification.
- We create corporate materials: business cards, email footers, presentations, templates for social media communication and the entire scope of the project defined at the bidding stage
- At this stage we have the opportunity to prepare UI/UX workshops to determine the needs, technology and assumptions for the website
- Then we start working on the brand manual, which is a comprehensive guide to the brand, which ensures the consistency of brand communication in its daily functioning
- Testing and refinement of branding - Visual elements are tested in real applications
Implementation and transfer of materials - After the final corrections, we prepare and deliver all the necessary materials in ready-to-use forms, in pre-established file formats.
Further cooperation and brand development - A strong brand requires constant evolution and adaptation to market changes. therefore we offer further support at the end of the project:
- Development or construction of a new website — UX/UI, optimization
- Brand monitoring and audits — we assess how branding works in practice and what can be improved
Thanks to this, 247Studio customers can Treat us as a long-term partner, who cares about the consistency and effectiveness of their brand at every stage of development.
Although we have a structured workflow, We adapt each project to the specific needs of the client. Therefore, at the beginning of the cooperation, we determine whether a better solution will be Fixed Price (fixed price and scope) or Time & Materials (flexible work on the brand with the possibility of iteration).
3. Team and Competences
Your project will be carried out by specific people — it is important to know who they are. Clarify:
- Who will be working on my project?
- What experience and specialisations do specific units have?
- Does the agency work with external specialists (e.g. copywriters, UX designers, strategists)?
Understanding the competencies of the team will help you assess whether the agency has the right resources to deliver the project at the highest level.
4. Schedule and deadlines
The timing of the branding project is a key aspect of cooperation, which is worth discussing carefully at the very beginning. The branding agency should clearly define the work schedule so that you know what to expect and can better plan the implementation of the new image of your brand.
- How long will the whole process take?
- What are the key milestones in the schedule?
- Do you have time for corrections and iterations?
It is good if the agency has a realistic approach to deadlines and provides a time buffer for possible adjustments. In our organization, we use schedules that are relative - this means in short, that the completed and accepted milestone for a given event in the process sets the next one.
We try to adapt the schedule to the specifics of the project and the needs of the client. Our branding process usually lasts from 4 to 12 weeks, depending on the scope of work, level of complexity and number of iterations. Thanks to a transparent approach, each client knows when to expect the next stages and final materials.
5. Costs and billing model
One of the key aspects of working with a branding agency is how the project is accounted for. There are several or a dozen models of cooperation settlements on the market, in our business we use two models: Prezzo fixato (fixed price) and Tempo e Materiale (accounting for team time spent on a given task). Each of them has its advantages and works best in specific situations.
Model Fixed Price assumes a predetermined amount for the entire project, specified in the contract. This is a good solution for customers who have:
- Clearly defined scope of work — if you know exactly what elements make up a branding or website, you can precisely determine the budget
- Limited budget — the customer knows from the start how much they will pay, allowing them to better plan their expenses
- Shorter lead time — because the scope is fixed, the project can be carried out more efficiently
What is worth paying attention to?
- Fixed Price works well for projects with a clearly defined scope, but if changes or additional needs arise, they can generate additional costs.
- It is worth asking if the price includes corrections — we normally provide for a certain number of iterations.
Time & Material — flexibility and billing for real working time
model Time & Material is based on the real-time work of the team. This model works best when:
- The scope of the project is not completely defined — if changes may occur in the course of work, this model provides more flexibility.
- You need constant support — if branding is to be developed in stages, and you want to be able to adapt activities on an ongoing basis.
- Cooperation is long-term — this model is often chosen by clients who want to use the agency's services as part of regular activities.
What is worth paying attention to?
- The cost of a project can be more difficult to estimate up front, so it's important to have clear arrangements about hourly rates and priorities at work.
- The client receives regular hourly reports, so he has control over the budget.
There is no one perfect solution — the choice of model depends on the nature of the project, your expectations and your budget. At 247Studio we offer both models, and the decision of choice is always adjusted to the specifics of cooperation. You will avoid surprises if you are clear about what is included in the offer and whether additional charges may arise.
If you are in doubt, we will be happy to help you choose the optimal model for your project.
6. Cooperation and communication
Effective communication between the client and the branding agency is a key element of a successful project. Even the best planned branding will not bring the expected results if the cooperation process is chaotic and the information is communicated in a vague or too rare way. At 247Studio we perfectly understand that transparent, efficient and regular communication is the foundation of every project.
Therefore, good communication is the basis of successful cooperation. When conducting research, it is worth asking about:
- How often will the agency contact you during the project?
- What communication tools do you use?
- How can amendments be submitted?
Regular status meetings and clear communication rules help to avoid misunderstandings and ensure smooth cooperation. In our studio, we will assign a dedicated Project Manager (PM) to your project, who will act as the main point of contact. Thanks to this, you can be sure that someone watches over every stage of the work, takes care of the schedule and answers your questions. You have full control over the project, no time wasted on unnecessary paperwork and can focus on making key decisions about your business.
At 247® Studio, we use clear communication rules and proven tools to improve collaboration:
- Regular status meetings — at each stage of the project, we organize videoconferences or meetings to summarize the progress, discuss the next steps and collect your comments.
- Access to dedicated communication tools — depending on your preferences, we collaborate via Slack, Asana, Active Collab or email, which allows quick access to the status of work and the ability to track progress in real time.
- Clear rules for submitting amendments — we determine exactly how many rounds of iterations are foreseen in the project and how comments should be made so that the process runs smoothly and efficiently. In most cases, these are two iterations.
- Fast response time — Your dedicated PM is always available to answer questions and clarify doubts.
7. Copyrights and Licenses
Copyright and licensing is an aspect that is often overlooked in the branding process, but it can be crucial to the future of your brand. Before signing a contract with a branding agency, it is worth making it clear, who will be the owner of the final materials and what rights to use them you will receive as a customer.
At 247Studio we take care of full transparency in this regard, therefore, before starting cooperation, we carefully specify in the contract the terms of copyright and license in order to avoid misunderstandings in the future. It is worth bearing in mind and asking:
- Who has the rights to the final project?
- Will I get full copyright?
- What is the matter of licensing fonts, photos and other elements?
Take care that after the end of cooperation there is no doubt about the ownership of the materials.
8. Customer Testimonials and Feedback
Choosing a branding agency is a decision that will have a long-term impact on your brand. Therefore, before you take up cooperation, it is worth checking her testimonials and customer reviews. This is one of the best ways to assess whether an agency is actually delivering quality projects and whether it is worth trusting.
What to look out for?
- Are the reviews authentic and detailed, or rather general?
- How does the agency respond to negative feedback (if any)?
- Are the reviews about similar projects to yours?
- What results have companies achieved after the implementation of the new branding?
At 247Studio we publish detailed case studies on our website and on social media. We show, How Branding Affects Business Development and how we help brands stand out in the market.
The answers to the above questions will allow you to assess whether a branding agency is the right partner for your business. Transparency, experience, way of working and model of cooperation are key factors influencing the success of the entire process.
At 247Studio, we believe that good branding is not just a graphic design, but a well-thought-out strategy and consistent image building. If you want to create a brand that will stand out in the market and will effectively communicate your values, welcome to contact us!
