The Design Break Podcast

How I take a new brand from ZERO to Hero. → My process for building brands from absolutely nothing to a Minimum Viable Brand (MVB). When I partner with a founder or startup, they often lack a solid foundation for their brand or have none at all. They either need to raise funding or get their first customers. To reach those goals, they must build a strong foundation. This foundation will grow with them and guide them through their business journey as their north star. The problem I encounter most often with founders is that they don’t know what needs to be in their brand’s foundation identity. Either they don’t know where to start, or they have misconceptions about what they need. (If I could find the person who told founders they need detailed brand guidelines, I’d punch them in the face.) I simplified and systematized how we build an early-stage brand with my MVB approach. The key is to focus on immediate needs rather than future needs. I focus on what you need to achieve your goals (raise funding, gain customers, or both). We build together a strong foundational brand now, so that you can scale it later (expanding your brand, rather than rebranding). Here’s an example of what an MVB may include: ✅ Responsive Logo System (ex. favicon, mark, wordmark, primary, secondary) ✅ Color System (primary colors, secondary colors, tertiary colors—with usage breakdowns) ✅ Typography System (primary fonts, secondary fonts, hierarchy) ✅ Simple Brand Elements (ex. icon pack, patterns, shapes, textures) ✅ Brand Application (ex. social media, simple ads, landing page) ✅ Slide Deck Template (6-12 slides usually for sales or pitch decks) ✅ Brand Toolkit (living style guide you can build from) When we finish your MVB, you'll have a brand that's both usable and scalable. It will provide exactly what you need to achieve your goals. Plus, you'll save money later. You won’t need to hire a pricey agency or spend a lot on a rebrand to fix your DIY branding. Your brand has gone from ZERO to Hero.