Working with a branding agency for the first time can feel opaque. What do you bring? What should you expect? How do you know if it is going well? Here is the honest guide.
Before the engagement
- Know your problem: Are you launching, repositioning, or refreshing? Do you need naming, identity, or the full system?
- Align internally: Decision-makers should agree on scope and budget before the first workshop.
- Prepare your materials: Existing brand assets, competitive examples, customer research, and business goals.
- Clear the calendar: Brand development requires founder time. Block it.
During the engagement
- Be honest in workshops: The strategy is only as good as the input.
- Give specific feedback: “I do not like it” is not feedback. “This feels too corporate for our audience” is.
- Trust the process, challenge the thinking: Good agencies want pushback on strategy, not just approval on design.
- Decide quickly: Momentum matters. Slow decisions slow the project and dilute the work.
After delivery
- Launch with intention: Do not let the brand sit in a folder. Roll it out.
- Train your team: Guidelines only work if people read and use them.
- Plan for extension: You will need new touchpoints designed. Keep the relationship or hire internally.
What to expect from MKRST
Senior team from day one. Four to twelve week engagements. Strategy, naming, identity, design, and launch. Based in Brisbane, working Australia-wide and internationally.
To discuss strategy, identity, or a full brand development engagement, start a conversation with our studio.