What is a stylescape? A stylescape isa visual interpretation of a brand, showcasing images, typography, colourschemes and the layout of content. Stylescapes are a perfect way to present atangible visual representation of your client’s brand, ensuring you and yourclient are on the same page before moving into the design stages.

Why Not Just Use a Moodboard?

A moodboard is acollection of images that inspire the client, whereas a stylescape takes theimages from a moodboard and alters them to fit the overall brand identity. Theytend to be long and rectangular and show the brands new image. This is a greatway to visually express the final product without creating anything new.

Initial Brief.

The first stage is to fully grasp anunderstanding of your client’s brand, discuss the overall vision with them andfrom this you can start building the stlyescape. Start with their BrandCharacteristics – what way do they want to be viewed by their audience? This isa fantastic opportunity to identify a few keywords they want their brand to beassociated with!

Now you have gauged how the clientswant to be identified, you can now focus attention to their customers.Conceptualise two or three personas, this will allow you to tailor the clientsbrand image with respect to their desired audience. If they’re happy with thebrand attributes and personas, it’s time to start creating!

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Creating The Stylescape.

It is time to create the stylescapes,picture this as a visual journey. Start with the basics – Typography and colourscheme. Using the keywords related with your client’s brand and end users, youcan identify the best fonts and colours that best match with their preferredimage. For instance, if a client defined their brand as ‘approachable’, you perhapswant to utilise warmer colour schemes to portray that.

Similarly, the images that are usedshould be tailored with the style you’ve started to build. Once again, thekeywords will be very helpful here, as you can utilise them to find the mostrelevant graphics for the stylescape. Now these details are finely tuned, youcan produce another section that reflects how the content would ultimately be presented.The final stylescapes should deliver your client with a solid indication oftheir brand, and the final product.

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Displaying Your Stylescapes. 

Preferably, you should present threeor four different stylescapes to your client, each stylescape should focus on adifferent keyword idea or design element. This streamlines the process andprevents you repeatedly returning to the drawing board, as your client has avariety of options. However instead of just asking the client to select one ofthe stylescapes, indicate which elements or individual features they preferfrom each one. What don’t they like? What do they like? Maybe they like thefonts on one, but the colour scheme of another. With this knowledge, you cancreate a final stylescape that captures all the clients most favourableelements.

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The Conclusion.

Establishing stylescapes allows youto remain on the same path as your client with a mutually shared vision, keepingthem actively engaged in the entire design process. It will save exponentialtime that’s often wasted going back-and-forth with other new ideas, as well assaving you from making a final mock-up deprived of a clear green light from theclient.

Stylescapes have frequently helped us establish great branding for my clients. If you would like to learn more about this process and how it can assist yourbusiness needs, please get in touch.

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