Personal Branding for Made By Nikolaev

I created a blog where I write useful articles about design for clients, helping them better understand design and making the work even more comfortable.

Blog:

Services:

Many designers or studios either do not formalise their pricing and terms or do so superficially. To stand out, I took this seriously by detailing all work terms, service inclusions, and project stages on my website. I created FAQs for better client understanding, developed structured briefs tailored to each service type, and designed professional commercial proposals for larger projects.

I am a person with a predominantly mathematical mindset, valuing order, minimalism, and punctuality. I wanted my identity to reflect these principles. Therefore, the entire design is structured around rectangles in a strict, minimalist style, with no unnecessary details or rounded corners—only sharp angles. Elements are arranged in a bento style, as it represents the most logical and orderly approach for me. This style accurately conveys the principles I consider important for clients. The colour palette consists exclusively of black and white, symbolising premium quality, durability, and reliability. This choice also supports my pricing and work conditions. Black is primarily used as a background, white for text, and shades of grey for contrast and to highlight key elements. The font chosen is Manrope in Bold, Medium, and Regular weights. Its minimalism, readability, and proportional design make it a perfect fit for my branding. Manrope is free for personal and commercial use, is integrated into some systems by default, yet is not overly used by other designers.

Design Concept:

This project significantly strengthens my personal brand and establishes me as a specialist. Previously, even I struggled to understand why clients should choose me over other designers and what set me apart. Personal branding resolves these questions. Many designers neglect personal branding, failing to provide convenience for clients or stand out in the industry. Additionally, developing my branding helped me define my style, structure my projects, and refine various scenarios for working with clients.

Why I Developed My Personal Branding:

The logo is simple and perfectly aligns with the brand identity. It consists of the text "Made By Nikolaev" with a rectangle beneath, referencing the bento style. The surname is placed on a separate line to emphasise it and create a more convenient logo format.

Logo:

Many entrepreneurs believe that using one’s surname is the best option for a personal brand. Following this advice, I named my personal brand "Nikolaev." However, I wanted to go beyond just the surname, as I felt it might seem plain and, given its commonality, less distinctive. To address this, I added the words "Made By," highlighting the hands-on, creative nature of my work. Thus, the name "Made By Nikolaev" was born.

Naming:

Project on Behance

Project on LinkedIn

Project on Instagram*

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The website was primarily developed to provide clients with all the necessary information in a convenient format. Having a personal website significantly sets me apart from other designers, enhances my personal brand, and gives me an edge in being selected for projects. Additionally, my website is multi-page, presenting all essential information in a well-organised and readable layout. Its design is unique, custom-built, and non-template-based. The website also serves as a central hub for traffic, as I prefer not to rely solely on linking to a single social media platform. Another reason for creating the website was to gain hands-on experience in this field, include the project in my portfolio, and expand my service offerings. Previously, I focused solely on identity design (logos, branding, banners, etc.), but many specialists offer these services. Developing the website allows me to offer a broader skill set and increase my value as a designer.