As we become an increasingly visual society we cannot escape the pervasive nature of the brands that surround us. The mermaid on the Starbucks cup, the ubiquitous Nike swoosh, the bold primary palette of Google. These are the instantly recognizable graphic elements behind the biggest, and most successful, global brands. But what do you do when you don’t have millions to spend on glossy ad budgets or top design agency retainers? Should any of this matter to a small or medium-sized business?

Often, when lacking massive budgets, businesses view design as the final step of a larger communications process, the last leg where hard-crafted messaging gets a visual overlay for public consumption. At Westfourth, we view design as a fundamental part of the communications process.

The role of design does not begin and end at making your materials look great; it should be woven into the fabric of any ongoing communications strategy. Design helps construct the vehicle for your messaging, establishes the voice of who you are to the public, and dictates how information and data are consumed. But can it be done within the constraints of a small budget? Lucky for you, that is Westfourth’s secret ninja skill. The only catch? Design must be strategic, seamless, efficient and agile to deliver consistent and measurable results.

Strategy, Strategy, Strategy.

When looking to maximize budgets, our first goal is to identify an organization’s main goals and determine the audience that will facilitate reaching these goals. A clients’ business strategy lays the foundation for our design strategy. While these are intertwined, they are not synonymous. Companies must examine their internal culture and capabilities of their brand while understanding it within a broader, external context. We believe it is not about what you like or what we like. It’s about what’s right for you as a company and, ultimately, your customers or target audience. Our team is invested in an integrated, holistic planning process and staying on strategy is the best way we create value for our clients.

Creating an end-to-end experience.

A brand is no longer just what a company says it is; it’s also about what it does and how customers engage with it. In fact, for many of today’s biggest brands, the experience is driving growth and differentiation from the competition. At Westfourth, we specialize in leveraging the power of design to craft unique, seamless experiences that immerse customers in an emotionally-centric engagement that is visually reinforced at every stage of their journey. From corporate collaterals to social media content, the experience should drive and reinforce your brand at every interaction.

Efficiency is king.

Design is becoming more essential than ever before as companies struggle to find a way to effectively communicate across an increasingly complex ecosystem of media platforms to stay on the leading edge of change. While some organizations, weighed down by antiquated processes, have been quick to adapt to an agile mindset, most have yet to harness design’s full potential. A drastic change in how we consume content, an ever-expanding set of digital touchpoints, and shrinking life cycles all lead to an increased need to present your messaging with increased forethought and tactical diversity. Westfourth seeks to help untangle the pretense of design, to help businesses translate their strategies into simple and meaningful work that gets the most traction, for the least expense across every relevant platform.

Evolving with your tribe.

It takes only a few seconds to feel a sense of connection to a brand. In a reality where change is the only constant, the creative process is highly crucial to your business and its overall objectives. Design enables brands to evolve and survive as its core audience and missions change over time. It is becoming less about visual impact and more about facilitating open dialogue and building emotional ties to issues, services or products in an exceedingly complex landscape. Like our team, our design strategy is lean, agile and focused on what matters most to your audience so that we can evolve your brand while keeping it steeped in your core business strategy.

Want to learn more about how Westfourth can leverage our integrated design strategy to help you accomplish your business goals? Let’s talk.