If you’re a small business owner looking to improve your brand presence, you’ve probably Googled terms like branding, logo design, or graphic design.. and then realised you’re not quite sure what the difference is. You’re not alone!
At Brandl, we offer both brand design and graphic design services, but they’re not the same thing. Knowing which one your business needs (and when) can save you time, money, and a lot of guesswork.
So, what is branding?
Branding is the full picture. It’s the strategy behind how your business looks, sounds, and feels to your audience. Think of it like your business’s personality, it includes your logo, colours, tone of voice, messaging, fonts, and more.
It answers questions like:
Who are we talking to?
What do we want people to feel?
How should our brand show up online and offline?
Brand design pulls all of this together into a cohesive visual identity. It’s about consistency, clarity, and creating something that actually connects with your target audience.
And graphic design?
Graphic design focuses on creating individual visual assets using your existing branding. That could be:
Social media graphics
Flyers or posters
Email templates
Brochures or signage
Web graphics and icons
So while branding is the why, graphic design is the what. You need graphic design to bring your brand to life in different formats but it works best when it's grounded in a strong brand identity.
Which one does your business need?
It depends on where you are in your journey:
Just starting out? You’ll need brand design first. This gives you the foundations to build everything else.
Already have branding but need assets? You’re ready for graphic design support.
Outgrown your current look? It might be time for a rebrand (we can help with that too).
Not sure what you need? We’re happy to chat and point you in the right direction.
Why it matters
Having a clear brand identity makes everything easier, from social media posts to packaging design. Without it, graphic design can feel disjointed or inconsistent. But with a strong brand in place, every piece of content feels intentional and recognisable.
Whether you’re after a full brand refresh or a handful of branded templates, Brandl is here to help your small business show up with confidence.
Need a hand?
At Brandl, we work with small businesses to create branding that’s not just pretty, it’s purposeful. If you’re ready to level up your look (and your marketing), get in touch or check out our full list of services.
