Book of Branding - a guide to creating brand identity for startups and beyond

by Radim Malinic

The conversational, jargon free, tone of the book helps the reader to understand essential elements of the brand identity process. Offering first hand experience, insights and tips throughout, the book uses real life case studies to show how great collaborative work can be achieved.

Book of Branding is a creative guide for new businesses, start-ups and individuals, which puts visual identity at the heart of brand strategy.

Genres: Design, Nonfiction, Business

256 pages, Paperback

Published November 11, 2019

About the author

Radim Malinic is a creative director and designer living and working in South West London. He runs Brand Nu, a multidisciplinary award winning studio.

Before finding his calling in the creative industry, Czech born Malinic was an ice hockey player, a bassist in death metal bands, an indie DJ, music journalist and student of Economics and Business management. At the break of the new millennium, Malinic moved to the UK to explore the expansive music scene, only to find even a greater interest in art and graphic design. Since then his eclectic interests have seen him working with some of the biggest brands, companies and bands in the world. Clients include Harry Potter, London Film Museum, SyCo, Sprite, WWF and USAID amongst many others.

Aside from his studio work, Radim designs products for his brand ‘November Universe’, he releases music and tours globally with his talk designed to inspire and support self-development in the creative industry.

In March 2016, Malinic released his latest publication, Book of Ideas. The #1 Amazon bestseller has helped novices and professionals across the world to find a new way of approaching their creative work.

Reviews

[Sophia Exintaris · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wait to buy it in poundland.

An ego project if I ever saw one. Kind of cute but extremely superficial, containing no stories whatsoever. Biggest disappointment in a book I’ve had in years.

The author may or may not be a good designer (i can’t tell from the case studies… which leans towards “not”) but he is definitely a poor storyteller and author.

I wish I could get a refund of my time and money.

Oh. And i have been working in strategic design for 16 years. I am not an expert in branding, but I do know design very well. This book is not worth anyone’s time.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A roadmap to branding success

Great book! This book is a sort of thesis that sets out disprove that process leads to boring results. In fact, Malinic shows time and time again how his process not only helps you retain your sanity in complicated projects but how it actually facilitates bold, vibrant design.

The best thing about Book of Branding is it gets down to brass tacks, giving pragmatic advice on a huge breath of topics - so frustratingly rare in design literature. Among the many topics covered: RFP’s, creative briefs, costing, project planning & timelines, legal requirements, invoicing & payment schedules, and the fine art of how to decipher client feedback. Crucially, he then proves the book's mettle by using case studies where he applies these principles and process to real-world client projects.

It's not only a branding manual for designers but also a sort script to pull out when things get tricky and you need to educate your clients on how the branding process works. Your ability to do this is possibly the single most important skill for a successful designer career (read also: Design Is A Job - Mike Monteiro)

[Céline · Rating 2 out of 5]

From what the titel said, i expected it to talk a bit more in depth about branding. Sadly it did not, and basically is like a portfolio, talking about their own projects with a picture and styleguide next to it... Actually, these cases can also be found on their website. On there the pictures showcasing their designs get to show their potential the most (and you get so many more pictures than in this book).

That being said, the work showcased in here is pretty and i like to flip through it. I think the paper feels really nice, but a different type of paper would let the designwork that is showcased stand out way more. Also the cover is pretty weak and easily tears at the corners of the spine. Although i am very carefull with my books as i dont like their spines being creases, this one barely held up.

I'd say its a nice to have book when you like to flip through paper and get design inspiration, but if you do not mind looking at a portfolio online... don't spend your hard earned euro's on this one

[Rob Simmonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of all the book on branding I've read, and I've read many, this book is the only one which actually tells you (from an industry perspective) what branding IS and what steps are needed from start to finish (does it ever really end?). The real value in this book is twofold - from the perspective of a 'soon to be' branding ninja - and also from the perspective of the entrepreneur ready to create the next big thing. This book will serve both by informing and educating so that there is absolutely no misunderstandings when it comes to what is required to execute a professional branding project. Written in a clear and concise way, the subject matter is clear and straight to the point and lacks unnecessary waffle . Bottom line, this book should be the starting point for anyone who wants to know what branding is.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would have to disagree with some of the criticism I have seen on here. I've been trying to learn about brand identity and I think this book stands tall in its own right. It wouldn't be right to compare it to the likes of "Building a Storybrand" or "Scramble" because it sets out to do something different. In truth, the thing this book does so well is blend the specific with the broad. It considers all aspects of identity in a structure that makes sense. The guidance is clear and there's much that you can learn about font, logo lock ups and things to be aware of when working with clients.

The ultimate test of a book's quality is how often you find yourself reaching for it again. Of all the books I've read on the subject, this is the one that I come back to the most. It is practical, illuminating and well worth your time.

[Mehdi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greetings from Gothenburg, Sweden! :) I work with brand strategy and identity design as well as UX and UI. I have read loads of books on branding, branding process, brand management and so, and this book is absolutely one of my favorites. It is a concise practical writing on contemporary branding with examples and recommendations, which reveals the writer's work process and steps from the initial client meeting and the contract to the final deliveries and launch strategy, as well as useful and valuable advices you can use in your work. I recommend this book 100%. Cheers! /M

[Kasia Guzik · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book for creative and inquisitive minds. If you want to learn about branding process, you couldn’t find a better guide with such an informative, interesting and visual content. It’s also beautifully designed book what makes it even more pleasant on the eye.

I also highly recommend another two releases, Book of Ideas vol. 1 and 2, if you’re into graphic design and want to expand your knowledge and improve your skills, these are the winners!

Thank you Radim and I’m looking forward to seeing more of your work!

[Samuel Thorogood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a beauty. Radim Malinic has put together a no-nonsense, fun exploration of what makes a classic brand identity. As a brand designer myself, it has been invaluable.

For me, what really sets this book apart is the way it is presented. It's full of incredible imagery that really complements the text. This is a book that you can read in one go, dip into or return to time and time again.

Highly recommended.

[Justin Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book itself is beautifully done and the work inside is amazing. The pieces are inspiring and if you are into branding, I would consider it a must have for your collection.

[Gareth Rafferty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of pretty visuals and actional advice on business processes foe a freelance creative. Didn't talk much on actual branding though, which was what I expected from the title.

[Dale Main · Rating 2 out of 5]

50/100

[Marlon De Jesus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Explanation was easy to understand. Confirmed some workflow that is in line with my current process.

[Gabriel Zamora · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this book to gain insights into branding from the startup perspective - it didn't happen!

The book says how to work for a new guy from design/marketing and teaches buzzwords from this market. Also, there are some cool cases.

Since we can find both cases and the buzzwords on Google, I recommend you to search for this instead of reading the book.