TArTs Toolkit: Creating Your Brand Board
The Tools for a Consistent, Cohesive Look
Hi friends! It’s time to talk about creating a brand board—the visual toolkit that’ll help make your brand look sharp, consistent, and, most importantly, like you. Think of it as your style guide—it includes your colors, fonts, logo, and more. Having one means you’ll always know how to represent your brand and communicate with a cohesive visual identity. Let’s walk through how to get your brand looking its best!
1. Start with a Tool that Works for You
Creating a brand board doesn’t have to be complicated, and you don’t need to be a design pro. Tools like Canva make it easy with ready-made templates specifically for brand boards. You can also use design tools like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop if you’re comfortable with them. But if you’re just getting started, Canva is my go-to, and you can easily customize it to match your brand’s vibe.
2. Choosing Your Colors
Colors speak volumes about your brand. Think about what kind of vibe you want to give off. Are you professional and polished? Or laid-back and creative?
How to Choose: Your colors should reflect the feelings you want your audience to have when they interact with your brand. Use color psychology for guidance. For example, blue conveys trust, while red is bold and energetic. Check out Branding Compass to read more about the psychology of the colors you’re leaning towards!
Avoiding Clashes: This is where color theory can come in handy. Use online tools like coolors.co or canva’s palette generator to help you find a palette that works well for you. Play around with shades and see how they look when paired.
Picking Your Palette: Keep it simple—at least 2 main colors and 2 secondary colors (black and white are given, so they don’t really count). This will help keep your brand looking cohesive and professional and give you a solid foundation to build your materials from.
Hex Codes: A quick note on hex codes: they’re just the digital representation of your colors. I keep them on a sticky note on my computer so I can easily copy and paste them whenever I need them. For example, the teal color I use as one of my main colors has the hex code #339999.
3. Fonts—The Subtle Touch That Makes All the Difference
Fonts do a lot of heavy lifting in your brand. The right font can help set the tone—whether that’s casual, formal, or creative.
Hierarchy is Key: Your font choices should clearly distinguish headings, subheadings, and body text. Headings should stand out, while body text should be easy to read and not too distracting. Stick to two or three fonts max to keep it clean and cohesive.
This is why having a brand board is so helpful. Once you have your fonts chosen, they’re ready to go for any project. No more second-guessing what font to use every time you design something! And while you don’t have to only use these, having your core fonts will help you stay on brand or as close to it as possible.
4. Let’s Talk About Logos
Okay, your logo. The thing that represents you and your work. But what is a logo, exactly? That’s debatable depending on who you ask I suppose. Maybe it’s easier to tell you what it isn’t. It’s not just a pretty picture—it’s the visual cornerstone of your brand.
When I first started, I had a graphic that I paid a Tumblr friend to design. It was super cute, but when I was ready to level up, I hired a professional graphic designer. I sent him what I had, and he promptly replied, “That’s not a logo, lol.” It didn’t communicate anything about me or what my brand was. It wasn’t something that was printer friendly, it would not work well in a singular color, and it wasn’t scalable—meaning if it was shrunken down it became unrecognizable.
Avoiding Cliches: Don’t go for trendy icons or overused designs. Your logo should be unique to you and represent your brand in a way that feels authentic. Trust me, I also fell into the "pen graphic" trap when designing logos... as a writer. We all do it.
Do You Need All These Variations?: When it comes to logos, start with the basics: a main logo. You can also have an alt logo (a simplified version for smaller spaces) and a favicon (the tiny logo that shows up in browser tabs). But don’t feel like you need everything all at once—get your main logo in place first, and you can always expand later.
Where to Get Your Logo: You can create one yourself using tools like Canva, or if you want something more polished, hire a professional graphic designer (if it’s in your budget) using sites like Upwork and Fiverr. Ask your peers who they used for their logos if the work speaks to you. I always recommend working with someone who understands your vision and can bring it to life authentically.
5. How to Use Your Brand Board to Stay Consistent
Consistency is key. Once your brand board is ready, it’s time to put it to work. Whether you’re creating a social media post, designing your website, or sending out a newsletter, your brand board ensures you stay on track with colors, fonts, and logos.
Beyond the Visuals: Don’t forget that your brand is more than just its visuals. Your voice, your tone, and how you present yourself should also align with your brand’s personality. Whether you’re sharing an Instagram story or introducing yourself in a workshop, keep it consistent! For example, when The Poetry Lab communicates with their audience, they often start with “Hey Poet.” This is part of their brand voice.
Check out this older brand board I created when I was starting an online boutique to get an idea of the elements we discussed today.
Sweet Assignment
Ready to get started? Here’s your assignment: Take a little time to build out your own brand board. Start with something simple, like a Canva template. If you don’t have your brand’s colors, fonts, or logo yet, now is the time to start! As you work through each section, ask yourself:
What feelings do I want my audience to experience when they see my brand? How can I choose colors that reflect my message and vibe? Explore color psychology and use tools like Coolors to find a color palette that suits you.
What kind of vibe do I want my fonts to convey? Do I want something bold and professional, or more relaxed and approachable? Choose 2-3 fonts that reflect your tone—one for headings, one for subheadings, and one for body text.
What do I want my logo to say about my brand? Think about the essence of your work—how can you visually represent it? Start simple, even if it’s just an idea or rough draft. If you're not sure where to start, try free tools like Canva or explore working with a designer when you're ready.
And if you already have these in place, take a moment to reflect and ask yourself:
Are my colors aligned with the message I want to send to my audience?
Do my fonts reflect my brand’s tone?
Does my logo capture the essence of my brand and communicate what I do?
Building a brand board is a crucial step in getting your visuals right. When you’ve got everything in one place, it’s easier to create materials that feel cohesive and connected to your brand’s essence. Take the time to design your brand’s visual identity, and watch it pay off as your audience starts to recognize and trust your work.
SWEET TArTs will be released every other Tuesday! That’s the plan, at least—sometimes life happens. In the event I’m unable to get a new TArTs out on schedule, I’ll make a quick note on my Substack to keep you in the loop. Looking forward to sharing tools, tips, and insights with you every other week as we grow together in the art of teaching!
About me:
Talicha J. is a Black queer poet and teaching artist, nominated twice for the Pushcart Prize. She was a 2024 Collaborating Fellow at The Poetry Lab. Her debut collection, Falling in Love with Picking Myself Up (2015), led to a national tour and helped grow her presence as a poet.
In June 2024, she released her chapbook, Taking Back the Body, which won the Beyond the Veil Press chapbook contest. She also curates writing and editing sprints, leads online generative workshops, and hosts a monthly publication submission space. Her work has appeared in or is forthcoming with Plenitude, Fahmidan, Peach Fuzz, Lucky Jefferson, Just Femme and Dandy, Button Poetry, and more.
this is so helpful! i really need to work on this