Brand Strategy & Positioning
Before we design anything, we figure out what your brand is actually about. Audience, market position, voice, the difference between what you say and what you mean. The strategy work is what makes the design work.
A NYC branding agency for brands ready to be taken seriously
We build brand identities, naming, and visual systems for consumer, lifestyle, and DTC companies. Strategy first, then design that actually means something.
(What We're Thinking About)
Most branding work today is logo design with a moodboard taped to it. A few colors, a typeface, a one-page guideline doc, and you're sent on your way. That's not branding, that's decoration.
What We Do Instead
We treat branding as a strategic decision before it's a visual one. We figure out who you are, who you're for, and what you actually stand against, and then we design an identity system that holds up across every place your brand shows up, from a product page to a piece of packaging to a pitch deck.
Experience
We've built brands from scratch and rebranded established companies. Consumer goods, lifestyle, financial services, fashion, beauty. We know how to make a brand that's distinctive without being gimmicky, and confident without trying too hard.
(What We Do)
Everything a real brand identity needs
Logo & Identity Design
Primary marks, secondary marks, monograms, wordmarks. We design logos that work at every size and in every context, not just the one slide they look good on.
Visual Identity Systems
Color, typography, photography direction, illustration style, layout principles. A full system you can actually use, not three swatches and a hope.
Naming & Verbal Identity
Company names, product names, taglines, voice and tone guidelines. The words your brand uses are as much a part of the identity as the logo.
Brand Guidelines
Documentation that your team and your future agencies can actually use. Clear rules, real examples, edge cases handled, no fluff.
Brand Application & Rollout
Website, packaging, social, email, pitch decks, business cards, signage. We help apply the identity across every touchpoint so the brand actually feels consistent in the wild.
(Who We Work With)
We're a good fit if...
You're launching a new company and want to get the brand right from day one.
You've outgrown the brand you started with and need a real identity system.
You're rebranding after a pivot, an acquisition, or a leadership change.
Your current brand looks fine but doesn't actually mean anything.
You're in consumer goods, lifestyle, beauty, fashion, finance, or B2B services.
You want a partner who pushes back, not an agency that just executes your Pinterest board.
(Not a fit)
We're probably not the right fit if you want a logo for $500, or if you've already finalized the brand and just need someone to clean it up. We do our best work when we're brought in to think, not just to draw.
(Our Process)
How a branding project with us works
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01
Discovery
We start with deep conversations — with you, your team, sometimes your customers. We want to understand the business, the audience, the competitive set, and the gap your brand is trying to fill.
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02
Strategy
We define positioning, audience, voice, and the strategic foundation the identity will sit on. You sign off on the thinking before we touch the visuals.
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03
Identity Design
Logo, color, typography, and the core visual system. Multiple directions, real conversations, and a final identity that's been pressure-tested, not just polished.
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04
Guidelines & System
We document the brand so your team and any future partners can use it without breaking it. Clear rules, real examples, edge cases handled.
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05
Application & Rollout
We help apply the identity across every touchpoint — web, packaging, social, email, print — so the brand actually feels consistent in the wild.
Everything you need to know before starting a branding project.
Branding Questions, Answered
How much does a branding project cost?
A full brand identity engagement with Splash Creative runs $15,000–$50,000 depending on scope — brand strategy, naming if needed, logo and visual identity system, and brand guidelines. Add web design and you're typically $30,000–$75,000 combined. See our full breakdown of branding costs in 2026.
How long does a branding project take?
A focused brand identity project — strategy, logo, and guidelines — runs 6–10 weeks. Add a website and you're looking at 12–16 weeks. See our full guide on how long a brand identity project takes.
What's the difference between a logo and a brand identity?
A logo is a mark. A brand identity is the full visual and verbal system that surrounds it — color palette, typography, photography direction, voice and tone, and the guidelines that govern how all of it gets used. Read more on the difference between logo design and full brand identity.
Do I need branding before I build my website?
Yes — or simultaneously. Building a website without brand strategy means making design decisions without a foundation. The most efficient approach is brand and web together, staggered by a few weeks, from the same team.
What industries does Splash Creative brand?
Financial services, healthcare, biotech, fashion, ecommerce, real estate, professional services, consumer goods, and technology. Our portfolio includes CoverWhale (insurtech), MetaboliK (GLP-1 health), Oathe Group (private equity, co-founded by NBA star Kyle Kuzma), Isaac Mizrahi (fashion), Luminova Biotech (life sciences), and Betterness (wellness).
Do you offer branding retainers after the project?
Yes. Most Splash Creative clients move to a monthly retainer after the initial brand project — for ongoing creative support, new materials, campaign assets, and web updates. Keeping the same team on your brand produces significantly more consistent work than re-briefing a new agency every time you need something.