Brand Identity Design Course: Free, From Strategy to Logo

1. Step 01 · 1 h 23 min Strategy

   Brand Identity Design Process Part 1: Client Brief, Research and Strategy

   A complete brand identity project begins, for The Reading Nook, a fictional boutique bookstore. Part 1 covers the client brief, audience and competitor research, and brand strategy.

2. Step 02 · 28 min Mood board

   Brand Identity Design Process Part 2: Positioning, Brand Values and Mood Board

   Part 2 of The Reading Nook project turns the research into positioning, brand values and a mood board for the visual direction.

3. Step 03 · 2 h 21 min Logo

   Brand Identity Design Process Part 3: Logo Concepts and Client Presentation

   In Part 3, rough sketches become logo concepts. You'll explore typography and color, create mockups and prepare the client presentation.

4. Step 04 · 2 h 20 min System

   Brand Identity Design Process Part 4: Brand Guide, Final Assets and Client Handoff

   The Reading Nook project wraps up: the approved direction becomes a complete brand identity guide, with final assets, logo exports and the client handoff.

1. Lesson 01 · 4 min Welcome to the Free Brand Identity Design Course

   Welcome! This course is designed for beginners. Here's what it covers: brand strategy, research, color, typography, logo design, Adobe Illustrator, identity systems, brand guidelines, presenting to clients, pricing and portfolio practice projects.

2. Lesson 02 · 7 min What Is Brand Identity? Branding Explained for Beginners

   What's the difference between a logo, a brand identity, branding and the brand itself? This lesson breaks it down so you can see how the pieces work together.

3. Lesson 03 · 10 min How Brand Identity Became Essential for Modern Businesses

   Branding didn't start with logos and social media. You'll trace how it grew from simple marks of ownership into the complete identity systems businesses rely on today.

4. Lesson 04 · 1 h 01 min Brand Strategy for Beginners: Audience, Positioning, Values & Personality

   Before you design a logo or pick fonts, you need a clear strategy. You'll learn to define the target audience, understand competitors, and clarify brand values, positioning and personality.

5. Lesson 05 · 31 min Color Psychology in Branding: How to Choose Brand Colors That Work

   People often react to a brand's colors before anything else. Learn how color shapes perception and how to choose brand colors with strategy and intention.

6. Lesson 06 · 25 min Typography in Branding How to Choose Fonts for a Brand Identity

   Before anyone reads the words, they're already reacting to the letters. You'll learn how typefaces influence the way a brand feels and how to choose fonts for an identity.

7. Lesson 07 · 21 min Logo Design Fundamentals: Types, Variations & How to Choose One

   A good logo is simple, memorable, flexible and appropriate. This lesson covers the main logo types, how logo variations work, and how to choose the right type for a brand.

8. Lesson 08 · 2 h 09 min Adobe Illustrator Full Beginner Course

   A full beginner course on the Illustrator tools and workflows you'll use to create logos, brand marks, typography, shapes, color palettes and patterns.

9. Lesson 09 · 33 min Wordmark Logo Design Tutorial: Recreate the FedEx Logo and Design Your Own

   The logo design module begins with wordmarks. You'll recreate the FedEx logo to see how a text-based logo works, then use those principles to design your own.

10. Lesson 10 · 22 min Lettermark Logo Design Tutorial: Recreate the HP Logo and Design Your Own

    Lettermarks are built from initials. You'll recreate the HP logo, then apply what you learn to your own initials-based design.

11. Lesson 11 · 20 min Logomark Design Tutorial: Recreate the Pepsi Logo and Design Your Own Symbol Logo

    A logomark represents a brand with a symbol rather than its full name. You'll recreate the Pepsi logo, then design a symbol logo of your own.

12. Lesson 12 · 23 min Combination Mark Logo Design Tutorial: Recreate the Adidas Logo and Design Your Own

    Combination marks pair a symbol with typography. You'll study them by recreating the Adidas logo, then create your own.

13. Lesson 13 · 1 h 39 min Emblem Logo Design Tutorial: Recreate the NASA Logo and Design Your Own Badge Logo

    Emblems place type and visual elements inside a badge, seal or crest. You'll recreate the NASA logo, then design your own badge-style logo.

14. Lesson 14 · 37 min Mascot Logo Design Tutorial: Recreate the Hootsuite Logo and Design Your Own Character Logo

    Mascot logos use a character to make a brand feel friendly and memorable. You'll recreate the Hootsuite logo, then design a character logo of your own.

15. Lesson 15 · 9 min Golden Ratio in Logo Design: Logo Grids and Refinement Tutorial

    Learn how logo grids, proportion, spacing, alignment and the golden ratio can help you refine a logo concept so it feels polished and intentional.

16. Lesson 16 · 28 min Brand Mood Board Tutorial: Find Inspiration Without Copying

    Now you'll move from strategy to visual direction. Learn how to gather inspiration with purpose and build a brand mood board without copying other designers.

17. Lesson 17 · 20 min How to Create Brand Icons, Patterns and Submarks

    Take the identity beyond the logo. You'll create brand icons, patterns and a submark, and see how they work together across different brand touchpoints.

18. Lesson 18 · 9 min How to Create a Brand Identity Guide for Clients

    A brand guide shows a client how to use their logo, colors, typography and other assets consistently. You'll learn why it matters and how to put one together.

19. Lesson 19 · 4 min How to Present Logo Designs to Clients Professionally

    A strong presentation is more than a logo on a blank page. You'll learn to explain the strategy and show the logo in context, so the client can see the thinking behind it.

20. Lesson 20 · 6 min How to Package and Deliver Final Brand Identity Files

    Get the handoff right: the correct logo files and variations, color formats, file types, organized folders and clear instructions, so your client can actually use their new identity.

21. Lesson 21 · 3 min What Is Strategic Design? Branding and Design Explained

    Design shouldn't rest on personal taste alone. You'll see how strategic design, guided by purpose and research, helps a brand reach the right audience and stand out from competitors.

22. Lesson 26 · 5 min How to Handle Client Feedback as a Brand Designer

    Feedback is a normal part of design work. Learn how to handle criticism and revisions professionally, without taking it personally or losing confidence in your work.

23. Lesson 27 · 6 min How Much Should You Charge for Brand Identity Design?

    Pricing can feel confusing when you're starting out. This lesson walks through how to think about pricing brand identity and logo work, whether you charge hourly, by project, by package or by the value of the work.

24. Lesson 28 · 6 min How to Sell Brand Identity Design to Clients

    Many clients think they only need a logo. You'll learn how to explain the value of a full brand identity and the process behind it.

Lessons 22, 23, 24, 25 are the four parts of the identity process, shown above.