Chapter 7 · Planning
Your Brand Build Roadmap
A one-page visual planner to map out every milestone in your brand build — from first research to launch day. Fill in your target dates and assign ownership at each stage.
How to use this planner: Work through each phase in order. For each milestone, note your target completion date and who is responsible. Use the comparison table at the bottom to understand how the process differs if you're building solo or working with a designer.
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Solo Builder vs. Working With a Designer — Who Does What?
| Phase |
★ Building It Yourself |
✓ Working With a Designer |
| Research & Discovery |
You research competitors, gather inspiration, study your audience. Use free tools: Pinterest, Google, Canva. |
Designer may run a discovery workshop with you. You provide the brief; they bring the insight. |
| Values & Positioning |
You define your values and positioning using worksheets and self-reflection. This is your work regardless. |
Designer can facilitate brand strategy sessions, but the strategic thinking is always yours to lead. |
| Design Brief |
You write your own brief using a template — describing style, audience, competitors, and must-haves. |
Your designer writes a formal creative brief from your brief and discovery session. You approve it. |
| Design Development |
You create concepts in Canva or Adobe Express using your mood board and brief as a guide. |
Designer creates 2–3 concept directions for you to review. This is where professional expertise adds most value. |
| Feedback & Refinement |
You share early designs with trusted contacts for honest feedback. Revise based on what you hear. |
You give structured feedback using the revision process agreed in your contract. Typically 2–3 rounds. |
| Final Assets |
You export and organise all brand files — logos, colours, fonts — in a folder you can always find. |
Designer delivers a full file pack (SVG, PNG, PDF etc.) plus a basic style guide. You confirm receipt. |
| Launch |
You update all touchpoints — website, social, print — yourself. Allow extra time for this step. |
Designer may build assets for launch (website, social templates). You manage the go-live announcement. |
Your notes & blockers
What's your biggest concern about the process? What do you need to sort out before you begin?
