A ready-made semi-custom brand like Cressida comes as a finished identity that I personalize for you: your name and tagline in a complete logo suite, a color palette and type system chosen with you, and a brand guide for using it all. It is the middle path between a template and a fully custom brand, so it feels like yours without the cost and timeline of starting from scratch.
Cressida is a good example to walk through, because it shows what “finished” and “customized” mean in practice.
What does a finished semi-custom brand look like?
Cressida is the perfect balance of classic and modern. It has an overall luxury style, but it’s paired with messy hand-lettering and a bold pop of color. The point of releasing a brand already designed is that you can see the whole thing before you commit: the logos, the mood, the way type and color sit together. You are not guessing from a moodboard.
You can look at it on its own page, Cressida below, to see how a complete semi-custom brand is presented.
What gets customized, and what stays the same?
The bones of the brand stay (a primary logo layout, secondary, a monogram or emblem, a tagline, pattern), because that is what keeps it affordable and quick. What changes is everything that makes it yours based on your inspiration and homework. The customization covers your business name, a secondary logo, your tagline, your colors, mockups, free or AI-generated images, and optional font changes.
That is why two people can start from similar foundations and end up with brands that do not look alike. Just take a peek below at Cressida brand that has been customized. You can see how different they can look!
What is included in the Starter and Signature tiers?
Starter includes a primary and secondary logo with your name and tagline, coordinating elements such as a monogram, submark or illustrations where the chosen brand has them, help curating your color palette and choosing typefaces, files in PNG, SVG, EPS and PDF, and a Brand Stack guide for color and font usage. It also comes with the Brand Style Workbook and the Pin with Purpose style generator.
The Signature includes everything in Starter, plus custom mockups showing your brand in use, four to six free stock images or custom AI-generated images, a Showit homepage mockup that shows your colors and fonts, a mini brand strategy guide and a digital brand guidelines.
How does the process work, and how long does it take?
It starts with a 30-minute discovery call to choose the right package. Then you pay the deposit and complete the brand questionnaire, book a design day that is dedicated to your brand, and receive your finished files. From your start date to final files is about two-three weeks with no rush fee, though custom lettering can add a day or two. I take two semi-custom clients per month, so start dates are limited.
How do you know if semi-custom is right for you?
Choose semi-custom if you want a brand that feels personal, you have a real business to launch or refresh, and you do not need a full strategy engagement. If you want your own history turned into custom illustration, lettering and pattern, a fully custom brand is the better fit. I explain the difference in more detail in The New Semi-Custom Brands & Why You Might Need One.
When you are ready, you can see the current brands, tiers and booking details on the semi-custom branding page.
Frequently asked questions
It is a brand that is already designed and then personalized for you with your name, tagline, colors and other details. It costs less and moves faster than a fully custom brand.
About two-three weeks from your start date to final files, with no rush fee. Custom lettering can add a day or two.
Starter includes files in PNG, SVG, EPS and PDF, along with a Brand Stack guide for color and font usage.
If you click on my affiliates/products/advertisers links, I may receive a tiny commission. P.S. the products that I share are the ones I believe in.
