What are we doing to make our vision a reality? How do we reach the summit, and what obstacles stand in our way? The mission describes what we are doing to achieve our idea of a better future — summarized in a simple and memorable sentence, the mission statement. Mission accomplished!

Brand design is about developing and shaping a brand’s image. The goal is to create a brand that is memorable, distinctive, and consistent in order to build a strong connection with customers. Your brand characteristics are defined in the design concept. This starts with the color scheme, typography, and logo, and extends to movement, scent, feel, and materials. This is how your distinctive brand identity is created.

The brand essence, or brand idea, is the sum total of your brand. It brings together the values, promises, vision, and desires of our audience in a concise and memorable sentence.

About as much as a car. The model and features you need make all the difference. Get to know us during a no-obligation consultation, and we will guide you through our branding »car dealership«. Don’t be a stranger: mail@solidbold.at, WhatsApp Business+Tel. +43 662 231081

In the world of brands, the two terms »trademark« and »brand« are used synonymously. So there is no difference.

The term »branding« encompasses the strategic and creative measures involved in brand development. The brand, on the other hand, is the foundation, the concept, and the perception. At our Brand Design Studio, we specialize in supporting you in both areas and coordinating them with each other: first in the development and design of your brand, and then in branding, the effective translation of your brand into the market.

That depends entirely on where you are right now and where you want to take your brand. Successful brand development requires one thing above all else: a holistic approach and consistency across all brand touchpoints. A comprehensive strategy will give you and everyone who works on and with your brand a better understanding of your direction. It will create a common understanding and define a clear positioning and strategic goals. The brand story is the common thread running through your communication. It helps you to easily establish an emotional connection with your audience and communicate your message effectively.

With emotions, not facts and figures. Brand design is the expression of your brand and contributes significantly to its perception, differentiation, and recognition.

At Solid & Bold, these three elements are brought together to create a strong and consistent brand identity that supports your long-term success.

Our brand-fit-Workshop enables us to work with you to examine and strengthen your brand and give it a clear direction. We take two days to do this, during which we hold intensive talks and discussions about the fundamental elements of your brand. At the end of the process, you will receive a clear brand strategy that lays the foundation for a successful presence, ensuring that you and your employees are fit for your vision.

The motto in branding is: »Never-ending branding«. We see brand strategy workshops as a valuable and recurring tool for increasing a company’s success, regardless of how well established it is. Successful companies in particular can benefit from a strategy workshop, as it offers the opportunity to review their existing market position, identify new opportunities, and strengthen their competitiveness.

A brand story is essential for every company, regardless of industry. It allows you to create an emotional connection with your audience because it tells »your story« in a way that is easy to remember and share, going beyond simply conveying information and describing your products or services. It is the story behind your brand, why it exists, what values and visions it embodies, and how it enriches the lives of your customers. A well-told brand story can strengthen customer trust, increase loyalty, and create long-term engagement.

Your brand narrative helps you find the right words for the right topics. It brings together all content relevant to your company in one place. Structured into topics, motifs, microstories, and the all-encompassing brand story. Your brand narrative not only serves as the basis for successful marketing activities, but above all creates one thing: a common understanding of your brand and its mission. With your own narrative, you can position yourself clearly and uniquely, become a thought leader, create high-quality content, and inspire, motivate, and enthuse your customers and employees.

It is important to note that a brand narrative is not a one-time marketing measure, but an ongoing organic process. Like a tree and its branches, new topics are constantly being added to or removed from the topic tree. Those who know how to work with it have the tools for strategic communication at their fingertips.

In the Solid Brand Base, you will find all information and assets related to your brand, summarized in one place. All the brand marks, images, and moods you have developed can be found on your personal Brand Base. This means that you, your employees, your partners, and everyone else you work with no longer have to search for information. At the touch of a button, everyone can quickly access the information they need. Anytime, anywhere. This ensures that everyone works in line with your brand and always has the latest data at their fingertips. No more excuses.

The workshops usually take place in our studio on the 4th floor. Equipped with two rooms, sofas, a kitchen, and a wine refrigerator, the environment has proven itself many times over. For larger groups (more than 6 participants), we move to a larger location in the city. If you would prefer to hold the workshop at your premises, this is also possible. Please note, however, that a change of location often leads to a change of perspective, which is expressly desired in brand building.

Archetypes are archetypal images that have been associated with similar emotions and associations across generations and cultures. In this workshop, we will work together to identify which archetypes your brand embodies and how we can leverage this universal power with your audience.

A picture is worth a thousand words. This saying is literally true. Images work without language and without translation, in some cases worldwide. Visual language refers to all images that appear in the context of a brand. This includes all your own exclusive images (e.g., from photo shoots) or images you have purchased, most of which are royalty-free (image agencies, stock material, etc.). And/or illustrations (see below). A unique visual language typical of the brand is developed in order to clearly differentiate it from its competitors and strengthen brand recognition – both externally (customers, partners, suppliers) and internally (employees). A properly planned visual language also saves time and money: all parties involved should follow these principles when procuring images (image purchasing, photo shoots). When planning a photo shoot, it becomes clear how crucial these principles are for the result in terms of your brand.

The brand audit is a systematic analysis of the current state of your brand. We examine and evaluate the most important brand elements such as identity, positioning, perception, communication, relevance, and quality. The aim is to identify weaknesses and strengths and develop options for optimizing your brand image. For brand design, we examine existing brand characteristics such as logos, imagery, materials, etc., and evaluate them using our Design Score Card in terms of relevance (strategy, story) and uniqueness.

Brand design is the creation of a unique and distinctive brand image that expresses your strategy. In brand identity, we focus on controlling and harmonizing all facets of your brand’s perception. We take an interdisciplinary approach, using images, language, typography, movement, scent, sound, materials, and much more. We put together the right package to make your brand remarkable (again): as a revolutionary design, evolutionary redesign, or invigorating refreshment — tailored to your needs or, rather, those of your audience. What makes brand design valuable is not only the quality of the individual brand elements, but above all the sum of their functional performance. The »harmony« when your newly developed brand elements interact in a special way.

A brand guide (or brand manual) is essential for ensuring that everyone is on the same page and knows how to handle the brand. Since your brand principles are constantly evolving, we rely on our in-house dynamic solution: the »Solid Brand Base«. It is the home for all your brand elements (brand assets), your brand DNA, and your brand story. It runs under your name and can be accessed at any time, from anywhere, by you and your partners. We also use this platform to handle our design documentation and approval processes with you. This means you have everything under one roof, or rather under one address.

The brand idea is essentially the essence of your brand – your vision and »higher purpose« distilled into a concise, memorable, and meaningful formula. The brand idea acts as an overarching guiding principle both internally (employer brand) and externally (consumer brand). For us, for example, »solid and bold« was at the core of our brand, expressing both our own aspirations and our promise to our audience. Later, it even became the name of our studio: Solid & Bold.

We see brand narrative as a stew: we simmer your brand’s strategy, story, and all narrative moments until a harmonious overall experience emerges. A brand narrative is the sum of the stories told about you and consciously and unconsciously perceived by your audience. It guides and organizes topics. Good brand narratives take a stand, cultivate internal and external dialogue, and encourage interaction with the audience.

The brand story contains everything you need to know about your brand. It is the essence of your brand in a tangible form. It tells the story of the brand in all its facets, vividly summarizing different levels such as product, people, history, performance, and vision in a narrative. The result is a memorable, profound, and authentic story that employees and customers alike can identify with. A story that people love to share.

»If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough« (A. Einstein). The same applies to a good brand strategy. We help you penetrate the complexity. Your brand strategy is your master plan, helping you fulfill your purpose — the meaning and goal of your company. Together, we define the essence of your brand: How does it speak? How does it act internally and externally? From purpose to vision to values and brand promise, and on to an independent brand personality based on archetypes. Only when you have a complete understanding of yourself can you determine the right positioning and your strategic goal. To do this, we examine the market, companies, trends, competition, target groups, brand architecture, and customer experiences. We advise, coach, and accompany you so that you can start — or return — to the starting line with a crystal-clear brand idea.

An elevator pitch is a short, concise presentation of your idea, brand, or company — about as long as an elevator ride. In just a few sentences, it sums up what you do, why it is relevant, and how it could benefit your audience. The goal of the pitch is to spark interest and motivate people to want to learn more. Simply put, it’s about quickly convincing people.

Color is the element in brand design with the greatest long-distance effect and recognition value. Colors have different roles within a company: primary or corporate colors are directly associated with your brand; secondary colors are complementary colors that complete your company’s color scheme. When choosing a corporate color for your brand image, emotional, cultural, and functional aspects should all be taken into account.

Shapes fulfill important tasks within your brand style. They provide structure and order, highlight content, support readability, especially in text-image combinations, and help to differentiate. Concise design language, such as that used by Adidas with its three stripes, even replaces the logo in many applications without compromising brand recognition. Iconography — the technical term — highlights content, supports readability, especially in text-image combinations, and helps to differentiate. The use of icons gives your brand an informative and individual character that is quickly and universally understood. This makes a decisive difference, especially in signage. Just think about how else you would find the toilet in a hotel in Calcutta.

Illustration is an effective means of conveying complex emotions quickly and associatively. It has the ability to depict reality in a way that is familiar and delightfully unusual. This not only makes it a real crowd-pleaser, but also particularly useful when, for example, an idea is difficult to explain. We work with top international illustrators and find the right artistic expression for every brand.

An image text is basically the accompanying text for your brand – whether on social media, a website, or in a presentation. It ensures that your brand is perceived correctly by the reader and evokes positive brand images and feelings. In short, the image text helps to tell the story behind the company in a promotional way and makes the brand more understandable, interesting, or even entertaining for the viewer.

The bridge between idea and design: Here, the focus is on creating a unique and distinctive brand style. In order to achieve a seamless transition to the content and strategy of the brand, a central design idea is created that forms the starting point for the design. Often closely linked to the company’s idea, it forms the basis for the entire brand image and influences the definition of colors, shapes, images, materials, and much more. The result, known as the »creative guiding principle«, now guides all activities in brand design and later in marketing, serving as an omnipresent source of inspiration.

The design of a logo, the visual focus of brand identity, is certainly one of the most demanding tasks in brand design. Today, there is a demand for logos that are created in a touchpoint-neutral manner and are equipped for future digital applications. Our logos meet the following criteria: Unique in concept and execution / Recognizable, legible, memorable / Timeless in formal expression / High level of craftsmanship / Reflects brand values / Flexible in use / Scalable and reducible (from large-format signage to favicons)

Design doesn’t have to be rigid. A logo can be animated, a layout can move, an animation can convey a message — all with the aim of communicating effectively and directly with your audience. In an age of better screens and faster processors, motion or kinetic branding offers companies huge potential to position themselves in the market and inspire their audience. The world is moving — and so should your brand.

The »look and feel« shows the interplay of all brand design elements in a digital or analog environment. For use in print, we present important formats in line with the brand so that you can get a feel for how your brand image comes across in words and images in publications. The look and feel provides a solid foundation, but you can then change, expand, or simply apply it as you wish.

Brand promises define what you will (or will NOT) do for your audience. Just like a marriage vow: How will you meet the needs of your audience – in good times and bad? Please note: These promises are also directed at yourself and must be proven. Because in branding, there is nothing worse than empty promises that are then set in stone. So: show, don’t tell!

Like other brand markers, every material can be a connecting component within your overall brand image that is recognized and sought after. We define the material concept in line with your values, creating special »analog« moments for your audience. Whether in print, at the point of sale, in signage, or in architecture and interior design: here, touchpoints live up to their name.

Micro- or theme stories are concise brand texts on key topics. They summarize key messages and motifs in a short, emotional, and memorable narrative. This allows us to convey what we are about in a tangible and memorable way. And we make room at the table for those who want to contribute (and perhaps simply couldn’t before).

What story do your competitors tell? Who talks without saying anything? Which stories seem authentic and which ones like cheap PR? In the competitor story analysis, we take a close look at how your environment communicates. We discover vulnerabilities and find points of connection. The foundation for your own story, which gets to the point while others are still beating around the bush.

Do the logomotion with me: Design doesn’t have to be rigid. A logo can be animated, a layout can move, an animation can convey – with the purpose of communicating effectively and directly with your audience. Motion or kinetic branding holds great potential for companies to position themselves in the market and captivate audiences in an era of better screens and faster processors. The world is moving – and so should your brand.

Nomen est Omen: the name is a sign. Fortunately, we know our way around trademarks. For someone who goes by a false name, it’s hard to make friends. When it comes to naming, we develop names for companies and brands. In addition to formal criteria such as protectability under trademark law or domain availability, uniqueness, conciseness, pleasant sound, and memorability are decisive criteria for a good name. Otherwise, your audience will be like us at the high school reunion, when the name of the classmate doesn’t come to mind at the crucial moment…

Positioning is about finding your place in the market and in the minds of your audience. What should people think and feel about your brand when you want to win them over for your idea? Unfortunately, you are not alone: In a saturated market, many providers today fight for time, attention, money, or skilled workers. Clear brand positioning makes your brand stand out from the crowd. Show some backbone and say goodbye to the egg–laying, milk–giving, wool–bearing sow.

»Choose your customer, choose your future« says marketing guru Seth Godin. To achieve your goals, you need to know your audience. So the people with whom your brand should build and maintain a relationship. We define the Brand Audience as customers, employees, suppliers, or investors. They are defined not only by sociodemographic characteristics, but above all by different lifestyles, needs, and interests. Together, we develop prototypes – personas and use various methods to find out how your audience ticks and what language they speak.

Purpose is the meaning or calling that underlies your daily actions and also benefits other people. The reason for your company’s existence. Just as your personal life goal may differ from others, the overarching goal of your company may also differ from that of other companies. Finding and defining the purpose is the first and perhaps most important task in the branding process.

As part of the brand development, a qualitative survey of selected employees is conducted. This allows for more complex insights into attitudes and perceptions regarding the brand (including employer brand) or brand appearance.

Signage creates orientation, provides security, and establishes identity. Signage helps people find their way and (with minimal effort) reach their destination. When this is successful, we call it an orientation system. But signage encompasses much more. It is not limited to signage in and around a building, but creates an experience space by consciously engaging with the built environment. Signage operates in the tension between architecture and brand. It affects multiple sensory levels: visually, tactilely, cognitively, and audibly. It complements a building or enhances a location. To do this, signage uses the respective defined or used identification systems (e.g., brand design, material selection, stylistics, lighting design, art…).

Depending on the need, it either creates a contrast or integrates seamlessly. What makes signage valuable is not just the quality of the individual markings, but above all the fulfillment of its function in total. The »good sound«, when architecture, branding, building signage, art, and the orientation system play together in a special way. Then signage is not only information design, but also architecture, service design, brand design, and room design.

If an underground parking garage, for example, appears more friendly and safe, people find their way around better, and they return there again and again for this reason, a total experience is created that will be appreciated and rewarded by their customers.

»I’m lovin’ it«, »Just do it«, »Freude am Fahren«: A claim or slogan gets to the heart of what your brand stands for. A slogan distills a brand’s identity into a short statement that is immediately associated with your brand and evokes emotions. These statements are, above all, unique. They play a part in whether your brand is anchored in customers’ minds or is quickly forgotten.

Whether a brand is successful today – or not – depends primarily on whether it is first understood correctly and then consistently implemented and lived. Brand leaders, employees, agencies, partners, freelancers, and more need easy access to all information and assets. Only then can they act in the brand’s spirit at any time and from anywhere. It’s good that we created a place like this with our Solid Brand Base. Imagine not having to search for color values and logo data anymore because you can download them in less than three clicks wherever you are. That’s exactly what our Brand Base can do. Including an email notification when data is updated.

With our brand strategy and story, we have the »Smart Book« at hand and can design realistic scenarios for your new brand – visible, tangible, and understandable. We combine images, moods, colors, shapes, words, and content into a cohesive whole: the rough draft of your new brand. We don’t just work blindly, but use the entire spectrum of branding to launch your brand.

Brands do not exist in a vacuum. They are connected to the world through people, relationships, and products. Key topics, or strategic communication topics, contribute to profiling in the minds of your audience. Because they are genuinely interested in them. These topics can be broad (travel, technology, sustainability) or niche. Within these topics, your brand is one of many participants in a conversation.

The top goal of your brand is to »take ownership« of a topic and become the leader in that topic. The theme world is the overview of your brand themes. At a glance, it shows which content should always be associated with our brand (key topics) and which can be used, for example, as a campaign (motifs).

The message and the tone make the music: We are perceived and understood by our listeners depending on the way and tone in which we speak. The same applies to your brand: the words you choose, the tone of voice, and of course the content you share. All of this defines your tone or »tone of voice«. Some brands are matter–of–fact, while others are very personal in their expression. Others speak an international language or display local color. When used effectively, your tone of voice can convey much more than just messages: it becomes a distinctive brand recognition feature.

A letter is your smallest brand ambassador. A font has the power to give your brand identity a consistent face. Across all applications and media, typography (font design) is probably the most used element of your brand design and helps you achieve a consistent, recognizable brand presence. It defines the how of the message and confirms to consumers at all times that they are in the ecosystem of your brand.

A vision is not a goal, but rather a reflection of our hopes and dreams for the future. It gives us direction for our actions in the present. We use the analogy of climbing a peak: the vision is the peak you want to climb. What world do you see in the future? How will your product or service improve people’s lives? We make the result tangible in a »vision statement« so that others also get the urge to accompany you on your ascent – your mission.

What are your values? What do you stand for? Unique offers are very rare today. For every product, there is a doppelganger somewhere. No problem if you can convince with your inner values. The essential difference is not in what your product (allegedly) can do better. But in the meaning and the conveyed values. This is exactly where the unique offer comes from that only fits you and your audience – provided you believe in the same values.

We offer all–inclusive deals. We don’t negotiate and there are no hidden costs. We almost always offer our customers a realistic fixed price that is based on the scope of work and the challenge.

All–in–one. Behind every project is an interdisciplinary team that remains at your disposal, senior service, and continuous consultation for the benefit of your brand (and mood). We call this the »One–team–to–the–customer principle.« Because with us, everyone is under one roof: consultants & creatives, designers & storytellers, right & left brain hemispheres. What we can’t do ourselves, we do in collaboration with the best in your field. That’s why we are excellent, fast, and quick–witted. And that’s why you are too.

We always do what we can – not what we have to. For change, you need a bit of boldness and a few extra miles of boots. We have abolished time tracking and will work with you until the end and you are satisfied. There is no limited number of revision rounds.

No–nonsense branding. We keep things simple. That means we do away with the unnecessary and spare you the useless technical jargon. Because even in branding, the decorations are only interesting when they’re gone.

You don’t enter into marriage contracts with us. We work on a project basis and thus on a success basis. We accompany you as long as you are satisfied with our work. And if you are not satisfied with our work, we will gladly give you your money back.

We take your satisfaction seriously! Honest advice, transparent processes, on–time delivery, and this moral compass. A myth for some, an ideal for others. Our daily business.

Solid & Bold is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of all customer business and trade secrets, even beyond the duration of the collaboration, to the extent that they became known through the collaboration. All agency employees have been contractually obligated to adhere to these regulations. All information intended for publication will be submitted to the customer for approval in advance.

At Solid & Bold, our own services always include exclusive rights of use that are unrestricted in terms of both space and time. This gives customers the maximum freedom to make their brand big and strong. Whether with us on the side or with other partners. In collaboration with third parties, rights of use must be negotiated separately. For example, with photographers, models, or illustrators. What always stays with us: copyright. That is not transferable.