I created the initial branding and logo design for a startup that aims to be the messaging app of America. The Brand Strategy Book presented the branding, audience, and look for Sochat. I designed the marketing website in concert with the rebrand.
Branding
At its core, Sochat tries to integrate the best features from apps like WhatsApp, Snapchat, GroupMe, WeChat and others to make a comprehensive messaging experience.
Logo
I looked at the logo work from all the major providers, and provided a research analysis to the client. Based on that, we decided to go for an approach that was more related than different from existing chat icons. The large players all use the basic metaphor of chat (Snapchat being an exception), and we found continuity to be more valuable than difference.
Website
Sochat’s main user base was young and mobile-first. For that audience, a marketing website is seldom, if ever, visited. They mostly download the app from their personal network referrals. We settles on a website that was mainly a place to post jobs and make it dead simple to download the app from various app stores.
In situ
The Brand Strategy Book provided samples of how the logo would work as a system on different articles.
Research
The purpose of my work was to create the new direction and strategy for branding. The Brand Strategy Book offered analysis, comparisons, and before and after sections to help illustrate the direction things should go. Sochat used the strategy book for the basis of their final logo work.