Designing for yourself

Designing my own brand is one of the most difficult things I have done, I think every graphic designer would agree. This is probably why most graphic designers hire other agencies or freelancers to design one for them. I feel I am never happy with it. I am constantly tweaking it and making little adjustments.

Deciding what should be my logo is tough. I first had to decide what I wanted to be known as, my name, a nickname or something completely different. For the purpose of my course I decided to go with my name as previously I had been using 626 Designs. I decided it would be more professional for me to be recognised under my own name instead of an alias of some sort. Maybe when I build up a bigger portfolio I will return to the 626 Designs or maybe once I graduate I will change it back.

My original idea for coming up with 626 Designs was because my dogs name is Stitch—after one of my favourite Disney characters—and in the film he was referred to as ‘experiment 626’. I couldn’t go with ‘Stitch Designs’ because people might think that I sew or something so 626 it was! My logo was a little blue schnauzer that I made—based on my dog—in illustrator. It was fun, quirky and I felt it wasn’t as serious/corporate as using my name—it injected a bit of personality.