Creating premium brands for subject-matter experts
Who are we?
We are a small brand strategy & design consultancy based in Toronto. We specialize in helping subject matter experts create premium brands so that they can attract high-paying clients.
What is it that we do?
Our strength has always been in working directly with the founders of startups and small businesses, in helping them materialize their vision for their brand.
First we will help you identify what makes your business extraordinary. What positioning can you own in the marketplace that makes you superior to your competitors. Who are your customers / clients, and why should they care to do business with you?
We will then craft a premium brand for your business, that will appeal to your ideal clients. Yes, that means we will work with you on your:
- Brand Strategy
- Brand Identity Design
- Website Design
- Social Media Content.
That will position you as the go-to expert in your industry. To learn more about our business, please visit http://Rayvn.io
Focus
Portfolio
Centric Solutions, Sally Hogshead, Sarah Carlson, Normand PLLC., Wise Fitness, LIFE with Arwen
Branding Design for Law Firm
Ed Normand owns a law-firm out in Orlando, Florida. He came to us wanting a brand-refresh, as his current brand was a bit staid, and not getting the attention it deserved. During our Brand Discovery & Strategy session, we found out that what they are really good at is winning class-action lawsuits against large conglomerates. We also learned that their primary target audience are judges and other referring lawyers. The brand archetype for Normand PLLC. was that of "The Maverick" - so we positioned them as bold & fearless experts who go after large class-action lawsuits, and wins. The bold logotype we created in combination with black and orange color-palette, made the Normand brand striking and hard to ignore.
The website we designed has been nominated for the following prestigious design awards: The Webby Awards and The Awwwards Site of the Day
Branding Design for Wealth Management Advisor
Love Money Journal is the personal branding we created for Sarah Carlson, a Financial Planning & Wealth Management Entrepreneur based out of Spokane, Washington. Her goal was to build an online community using Instagram, that educates & empowers women entrepreneurs to live their financial wholeness. Her target audience were female entrepreneurs between the ages of 35 to 50+. Sarah herself being an alumni of Yale University (thus, the use of Blue in her brand) has very high standards. Her audience is also very sophisticated, and drawn to content that challenges them to think in a completely different and new way. Therefore her brand had to be equally sophisticated. We created her logo, website, social media content, and lead-magnet (downloadable e-book).
Branding Design for Sally Hogshead (author)
Sally Hogshead is NY Times bestselling author, Hall of Fame® Speaker, as well as Founder & CEO of How to Fascinate - a personal branding assessment test.. We gave her personal brand a refresh - refining her brand identity, website design, and social media content to make it more premium looking.
Branding Design for Cosmetic Orthodontist
Dr. Peyo is a cosmetic orthodontist based in Spain. He wanted us to create his personal brand, that would position him as a premiere specialist in providing Invisalign treatment, and lip augmentations. His clients are celebrities and socialites who care a great deal about aesthetics.
We did his:
- Brand Strategy
- Brand Identity Design
- Website Design
- Social Media Content Design
Challenge
The challenge with Dr. Peyo’s brand, was that initially it had trouble connecting to a premium clientele. His brand was all over the place, and lacked a clear focus. In order to communicate premium-ness, he had to exercise extreme restraint and be very minimal in his aesthetic. He also had to change the tone of his messaging, so that it doesn’t appear too “commoner” – but instead reposition it to so that it aligns with achieving “power, status & control” – things that appeal to that upper echelon of folks who would pay handsomely for his services & expertise.
Solution
During the brand strategy phase, we discovered that his primary archetype was that of "The Magician" (a brand that seeks knowledge & transformation). Just like the profession of an orthodontist – it not only aesthetically transforms one’s jawline from crooked to straight, but it also transforms that person from feeling insecure to feeling confident. His secondary archetype was that of "The Ruler" (a brand that is driven by power, status control – just like it’s customer base).
The black and gold pairing in his brand identity, as well as the form of his logo (which is the DP monogram that also resembles that of a diamond – since he is a diamond status Invisalign provider) - gives it a very elegant & premium look and feel, meant to attract the crème de la crème of society.
Impact
He is scheduled to launch his brand in the first quarter of 2022.
Branding Design for Video Production Studio
Legacy Life Project is the videoproduction arm of Macbeth Studio in Orlando, Florida..
They are all about celebrating the life story of loved ones through video & and leaving a legacy through custom documentaries.
We did their:
- Brand Strategy
- Brand Identity Design
- Website Design & Development
- Social Media Content Creation.
During our Brand Strategy Session, we recommended that Legacy re-positions themselves from the business of creating "family home videos" to creating "mini-documentaries". In order to appeal to a more premium clientele, we also recommended that they charge a higher price-point for their services. These are clients who care about their legacy, and their personal brand.
During our brand Discovery Session, we found that Legacy Life Project's brand archetype was that of "The Caregiver / The Nurturer". They are all about service, support, recognition and gratitude. They do quality work, and they put a lot of care into the product they produce - no small detail is overlooked. And so we created a vintage but polished brand to appeal to their premium clientele, while honoring the makers, the craft, the skill, their history and traditions that went into creating the work.
Branding Design for IT Management Consultancy
We did the brand strategy & brand identity design for Centric Solutions - a stgartup B2B IT management consulting firm based in Toronto. They specialize in IT project management & delivery for medium to large scale enterprises. The owner, Clive Sequeira wanted a bold, modern, & confident brand for his business that was built on trust. His company would position themselves as the alternative to the big consulting firms like Deloitte, PWC & EY - because those big firms have hidden agendas, and they often align their strategy to their partners agenda - and not necessarily what's best for the client. Centric Solutions would put the client's interest first - and do what's right (and not what's easy) to build that symbiotic relationship. We did their logo design, website design & development, and social media content marketing.
Reviews
the project
Website Development for IT Management Company
"They have my company a new face on the internet."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the owner and founder of an IT management company.
What challenge were you trying to address with Ravyn Design?
We needed help with the general positioning of our brand in the marketplace, including a new website and social media.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Ravyn Design built a website from scratch based on our requirements, like a click-to-call functionality. I provided them with broad strokes, and they filled in the content with a logo design and all the general esthetics of the site, including photography and color scheme. In addition to that, they made business cards and helped me with Instagram and LinkedIn branding — they gave my company a new face on the internet.
What is the team composition?
We worked with Denny (Owner) along the process.
How did you come to work with Ravyn Design?
We chose them because they did everything in a customer-centric approach — they listened to what I wanted rather than just prescribing me a solution.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent around $13,500 CAD (approximately $10,800 USD) with them.
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked with them through April–June 2021.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
At the moment, it’s too early to tell, but everything went well, and I had no issues.
How did Ravyn Design perform from a project management standpoint?
They met the milestones we set and delivered on time. In terms of communication, we used phone calls and emails.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They were responsive and listened to what I needed to create a custom plan for my business.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on.
the project
Branding & SMM Strategy for Financial Services & Planning Co
"They listened, understood, and researched to present a great product."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
My organization is Love Money Journal, which is a financial services and financial planning company. I’m the owner and founder.
What challenge were you trying to address with Denny Kurien?
I wanted to develop my brand recognition and market through social media.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Denny (Creative Director) led a discovery process to understand my mission and artistic vision. The Denny Kurien team asked about the market I wanted to target and looked into what was important to the people in it. Their team looked into my competitors. They helped to find the space in which I could compete and be different by tapping into my unique abilities. After going through that process, they presented three potential options for a revised brand and created a systematic marketing program to help us market via social media. It was a strategy for posting that included everything from colors and fonts to messaging. They also did my web design on Wix.
What is the team composition?
I primarily worked with Denny and another member of his team. They have other people on their team who I didn’t meet.
How did you come to work with Denny Kurien?
I participate in an entrepreneurial coaching program and am aware of other high-profile businesses in that space. I followed one of Denny Kurien’s clients and noticed their team rebranded the client. I was impressed by Denny Kurien’s impact. I reached out to them online and asked about their services.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent about $10,000 on the project.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started the project in August 2020, and their team still provides input when needed. We’re implementing their work and as my business grows, they will be my go-to for creative projects.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
It was helpful to have a business angle and game plan for marketing on social media that I could execute. I felt like my investment was worth it.
I’m in a highly competitive industry. I have a desirable skillset if I can be found online, which makes business borderless. I have different people from all over calling and looking to engage in a business relationship. I’m different than other people in my space and have companies wanting to partner with me and offering incredible bonuses to do so. I attribute a large part of that to the brand that Denny Kurien helped me polish. They elevated my presence.
How did Denny Kurien perform from a project management standpoint?
It was a fun process. I previously tried to work with local providers in this space and found their processes to be immature. There was also a lack of follow-through on their deliverables. Denny Kurien was systematic and thoughtful. Their team also completed what they promised. I appreciated that professionalism.
Their deliverables came through in Adobe and Canva was the creative center, which my marketing team was familiar with. They took what was familiar to us rather than forcing us to learn their tools.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Denny Kurien was thoughtful and helped manage expectations. They listened, understood, and researched to present a great product. I had an idea for what I wanted and presented them with materials. They took my idea and turned it into a much better product for the end client through their designs and play on words. Their team helped to adapt and update the copy, and that was really helpful.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, they’re off the charts. If I were to rate them on a scale from 1–10, they would be an 11 plus. I previously found it difficult to reign in agencies in the marketing space, but Denny Kurien had a creative process that was straightforward and pragmatic.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
It’s important to be honest and to give them the space to create. They love what they do, and they’re highly gifted. Their team is also open to feedback.
the project
Brand Refresh for Consulting Firm
"We were impressed with the hands-on support from Denny."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am a co-founder and president of urbanMetrics, a Toronto-based consulting firm established in 2004. Our firm provides market feasibility and advisory services support the planning and land development process.
For what projects/services did your company hire Rayvn Design, and what were your goals?
Rayvn Design were hired to modernize our brand, and to sharpen our messaging in the market.
How did you select this vendor?
Denny Kurien, the co-founder and creative director of Rayvn had previously designed our brand-ID in 2007. We approached Denny to see if he would like to "reinvent" the brand. He was our first call, and we were immediately impressed by his fresh approach supported by a clear proposal service.
Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.
Denny took the right amount of time to review the competitive landscape of our industry, and to listen to the partner's perspectives on how to better position our services to clients.
How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
Denny (Co-Founder & Creative Director) and Mary were very hands-on, responding promptly to requests and suggesting client-side changes.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
Too early to tell, but initial feedback on our brand from clients, staff and colleagues has been positive.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.
Excellent.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
We were impressed with the hands-on support from Denny.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
None. They delivered.
the project
Branding Consultation
"Their creativity was most impressive."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
no company
For what projects/services did your company hire Rayvn Design, and what were your goals?
Branding
How did you select this vendor?
Branding consultation
Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.
logo, web sketches and branding consultation
How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
1
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
no outcomes.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.
google sheets / email
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
Their creativity was most impressive
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
no
the project
Rebranding Services for Law Firm
"His style was exactly what I set out as needed at the beginning: great work and minimal involvement by me."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am the founder of Normand PLLC a class action law firm in Orlando Florida
For what projects/services did your company hire Rayvn Design, and what were your goals?
Our goal was to revamp our website, logos, printed materials etc.. to create a fresh brand image consistent with our firm culture and work.
How did you select this vendor?
He was referred by Sally Hogshead
Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.
I am a busy lawyer and not a branding person so I essentially asked Denny to use his best judgment and skills. He did so with appropriate and timely feedback requests as instructed.
How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
He worked with my entire firm as he also coordinated firm photos etc.. in a way that fit the firm image. He worked with lawyers, firm admin and legal support staff
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
NormandPLLC.com is our website. We love it.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.
His style was exactly what I set out as needed at the beginning: great work and minimal involvment by me. He was timely and responsive.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
Creativity
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
No we are very happy with the results.