Question to freelance brand strategists /consultants: do you also offer creative / design implementation, or strictly separate the two?

I have worked on many branding projects over the years, tackling both strategy/ positioning, as well as the actual visual identity design. It usually comes wrapped as a package. With projects getting bigger, though, it becomes tricky. Does it still make sense to be the strategist and the creative at the same time? Or better to focus and solidify expertise as a strategist and outsource the creative?

Replies5

  • @Isabel Serval Haha :-) That is a straight answer. I get that some people come to strategic brand work from a non visual perspective, and never had any ambition to do the design work to begin with. I am a trained graphic designer, though, and consider myself both a thinker and creator. I genuinely enjoy the design part, but sometimes think I dillute my offering by offering too many things at the same time.
  • @Helen Hartley thanks for the insights. That totally makes sense. When there is room to bring in other collaborators on bigger projects and budgets, I do the same. And especially on the strategy side of things, it makes sense to have someone to bounce ideas off of...
  • I offer both but if it’s heavy strategy as a creative director I always have a wingwoman to tag team strategy with. On larger jobs usually find you are stronger and offer more value by bringing people you trust into the project as collaborators. But I would never hand a project over as the relationship of a client had come to you is always with you who is accountable for the team you put together.
  • I think it's better to outsource the actual creative work when the projects is big. But for smaller projects you can do the strategy and design implementatio.

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