Eat. Sleep. Design. And Repeat.

Currently I am designing my logo. It has been an ongoing project spreading across many seasons, filled with much struggle, procrastination and consistent blockage. I assume many outsiders would easily reply: why, you're a graphic designer, this should be a stroll through the park for you. However, it isn't the case. It's like helping a friend resolve their issues, meanwhile you're struggling with the exact issues in your life but can't seem to tackle it the same way. The pressure on yourself through a client versus through your own is surprisingly two different sides. Your expectations for yourself is generally much higher because you expect the best of the best for yourself. If you can't do well for you, how will you do it for others? It's that tearing mentality. Which leads me to an article where I extracted a section, explaining why this studio hired another studio to design their logo.

"We are often asked why we didn’t design our own brand – and we’re a little surprised as to the interest this fact generates. Unfortunately there’s no great mystery, as founder James Bull explains below: 

“There were a few factors (and all pretty simple and practical).

1. We were far too busy – and therefore attempts at designing our own brand always got pushed back for paying client work
2. We felt that it was going to be very hard to contain our own thinking, and as such believed that an external ‘voice’ would help us in doing that.
3. Bibliotheque were our friends (and still are) and were just starting out, so the work was a good project for them – we paid them of course!
4. If we expect our clients to willingly go through a branding process with an outsider (i.e. Moving Brands) then we should be prepared to do it ourselves.
5. No agency that has designed its own logo has created something as good as the work they do for clients (for precisely the reasons listed above).
Oh and yes we ran with their process – didn’t challenge it or try to make them do it our way – it was a really great thing to go through, a very freeing process.”
MB co-founder and chairman Ben Wolstenholme added his thoughts, building on Jim’s fourth point of the importance of working with someone who can bring objectivity to the process.
“For me the most important part is the outside perspective. It’s hard to define or redefine yourself from first point perspective.”

- See more at: http://www.movingbrands.com/insights/from-the-archive-bibliotheques-identity-for-moving-brands/#sthash.gFnPC3Ao.dpuf

I'm not saying I should go hire someone to design my logo; financially, it's illogical and, personally, I like a good challenge and I can be a control freak. Simply said, it's a heavier weight on our shoulders. So good luck to me!

We are often asked why we didn’t design our own brand – and we’re a little surprised as to the interest this fact generates. Unfortunately there’s no great mystery, as founder James Bull explains below:

“There were a few factors (and all pretty simple and practical).
1. We were far too busy – and therefore attempts at designing our own brand always got pushed back for paying client work
2. We felt that it was going to be very hard to contain our own thinking, and as such believed that an external ‘voice’ would help us in doing that.
3. Bibliotheque were our friends (and still are) and were just starting out, so the work was a good project for them – we paid them of course!
4. If we expect our clients to willingly go through a branding process with an outsider (i.e. Moving Brands) then we should be prepared to do it ourselves.
5. No agency that has designed its own logo has created something as good as the work they do for clients (for precisely the reasons listed above).
Oh and yes we ran with their process – didn’t challenge it or try to make them do it our way – it was a really great thing to go through, a very freeing process.”
MB co-founder and chairman Ben Wolstenholme added his thoughts, building on Jim’s fourth point of the importance of working with someone who can bring objectivity to the process.
“For me the most important part is the outside perspective. It’s hard to define or redefine yourself from first point perspective.”
- See more at: http://www.movingbrands.com/insights/from-the-archive-bibliotheques-identity-for-moving-brands/#sthash.gFnPC3Ao.dpuf

We are often asked why we didn’t design our own brand – and we’re a little surprised as to the interest this fact generates. Unfortunately there’s no great mystery, as founder James Bull explains below:

“There were a few factors (and all pretty simple and practical).
1. We were far too busy – and therefore attempts at designing our own brand always got pushed back for paying client work
2. We felt that it was going to be very hard to contain our own thinking, and as such believed that an external ‘voice’ would help us in doing that.
3. Bibliotheque were our friends (and still are) and were just starting out, so the work was a good project for them – we paid them of course!
4. If we expect our clients to willingly go through a branding process with an outsider (i.e. Moving Brands) then we should be prepared to do it ourselves.
5. No agency that has designed its own logo has created something as good as the work they do for clients (for precisely the reasons listed above).
Oh and yes we ran with their process – didn’t challenge it or try to make them do it our way – it was a really great thing to go through, a very freeing process.”
MB co-founder and chairman Ben Wolstenholme added his thoughts, building on Jim’s fourth point of the importance of working with someone who can bring objectivity to the process.
“For me the most important part is the outside perspective. It’s hard to define or redefine yourself from first point perspective.”
- See more at: http://www.movingbrands.com/insights/from-the-archive-bibliotheques-identity-for-moving-brands/#sthash.gFnPC3Ao.dpuf

“There were a few factors (and all pretty simple and practical).
1. We were far too busy – and therefore attempts at designing our own brand always got pushed back for paying client work
2. We felt that it was going to be very hard to contain our own thinking, and as such believed that an external ‘voice’ would help us in doing that.
3. Bibliotheque were our friends (and still are) and were just starting out, so the work was a good project for them – we paid them of course!
4. If we expect our clients to willingly go through a branding process with an outsider (i.e. Moving Brands) then we should be prepared to do it ourselves.
5. No agency that has designed its own logo has created something as good as the work they do for clients (for precisely the reasons listed above).
Oh and yes we ran with their process – didn’t challenge it or try to make them do it our way – it was a really great thing to go through, a very freeing process.”
MB co-founder and chairman Ben Wolstenholme added his thoughts, building on Jim’s fourth point of the importance of working with someone who can bring objectivity to the process.
“For me the most important part is the outside perspective. It’s hard to define or redefine yourself from first point perspective.”
- See more at: http://www.movingbrands.com/insights/from-the-archive-bibliotheques-identity-for-moving-brands/#sthash.gFnPC3Ao.dpuf

“There were a few factors (and all pretty simple and practical).
1. We were far too busy – and therefore attempts at designing our own brand always got pushed back for paying client work
2. We felt that it was going to be very hard to contain our own thinking, and as such believed that an external ‘voice’ would help us in doing that.
3. Bibliotheque were our friends (and still are) and were just starting out, so the work was a good project for them – we paid them of course!
4. If we expect our clients to willingly go through a branding process with an outsider (i.e. Moving Brands) then we should be prepared to do it ourselves.
5. No agency that has designed its own logo has created something as good as the work they do for clients (for precisely the reasons listed above).
Oh and yes we ran with their process – didn’t challenge it or try to make them do it our way – it was a really great thing to go through, a very freeing process.”
MB co-founder and chairman Ben Wolstenholme added his thoughts, building on Jim’s fourth point of the importance of working with someone who can bring objectivity to the process.
“For me the most important part is the outside perspective. It’s hard to define or redefine yourself from first point perspective.”
- See more at: http://www.movingbrands.com/insights/from-the-archive-bibliotheques-identity-for-moving-brands/#sthash.gFnPC3Ao.dpuf

“There were a few factors (and all pretty simple and practical).
1. We were far too busy – and therefore attempts at designing our own brand always got pushed back for paying client work
2. We felt that it was going to be very hard to contain our own thinking, and as such believed that an external ‘voice’ would help us in doing that.
3. Bibliotheque were our friends (and still are) and were just starting out, so the work was a good project for them – we paid them of course!
4. If we expect our clients to willingly go through a branding process with an outsider (i.e. Moving Brands) then we should be prepared to do it ourselves.
5. No agency that has designed its own logo has created something as good as the work they do for clients (for precisely the reasons listed above).
Oh and yes we ran with their process – didn’t challenge it or try to make them do it our way – it was a really great thing to go through, a very freeing process.”
MB co-founder and chairman Ben Wolstenholme added his thoughts, building on Jim’s fourth point of the importance of working with someone who can bring objectivity to the process.
“For me the most important part is the outside perspective. It’s hard to define or redefine yourself from first point perspective.”
- See more at: http://www.movingbrands.com/insights/from-the-archive-bibliotheques-identity-for-moving-brands/#sthash.gFnPC3Ao.dpuf