Your Personal Brand With Luke Tonge

On this episode of Build Better Brands, Danielle Clarke is joined by Luke Tonge, brand designer and director of the Birmingham Design Festival to talk all about his career and branding.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Everybody has a personal brand whether they like/realise it or not; how people describe you when you are or are not there. That really is your brand, and it might not be what you hoped it would be or what you might want other people to think of it. That’s true of consumer brands as well and about what customers think of them. We create these by telling stories and consistently doing certain behaviours, acting or coming across in a certain way.
• In your teenage days your tribe, culture, music, sport and all that stuff is really fundamental to what crowd you fit in with, how you dress, how you self-associate. Alternative music, BMX-ing, rollerblading and that scene was a part of my identity. It becomes less important as you get older, but it’s definitely seeped into my psyche, language, tastes, how you dress, etc. How much of that you hold on to and how much you are is interesting to think about.
• Something people don’t often warn you about as a young person, especially in a very connected and visible industry, if you come out and are having a go – it’s easy to snipe on projects and to pooh-pooh work that you don’t like. But, you don’t realise that work that’s gone on behind the scenes and why that stuff has happened, or the reality of working on some of those big jobs. You can easily get a name for yourself if you’re not careful by sounding off about things. Be cautious and careful of how you come across, but don’t let that stop you from having an opinion.
• People like to overcomplicate things to make it seem like they’re doing a really lofty and special thing. But really, we’re just very fortunate to be designing for a living, creating work for people, we’re sharing it, we’re having an opinion on things, that’s all there is to it really.

BEST MOMENTS

‘There’s always a worry in many different industries that if you don’t look the part you won’t fit in there. I think society has learned that lesson now, it’s important to have diverse voices, backgrounds and interests.’
‘Things tend to work out for those that are prepared to work hard. In every industry the ones that want it the most and are prepared to go the extra mile are the ones that succeed.’
‘Be doing stuff, be active, be proactive, be enthusiastic, be consistent, persevere with things, be visible, be kind to other people, and be gracious.’
‘No one bit of advice fits all people.’

ABOUT THE GUEST

Luke Tonge is a Brum-based, shorts-wearing, type-nerding, eyebrow-raising, ice-cream-loving independent graphic designer – specialising in brave brand identity & editorial work – currently found running Luke Tonge Studio, guest lecturing at BCU and co-directing Birmingham Design (inc BDF & Gather)

Website: http://www.luketonge.com/

PODCAST DESCRIPTION

The Build Better Brands podcast is to inspire small business owners and help them realise that they don't have to be Nike to have a great brand, and the sooner they start to focus on making it better, the sooner they can improve their lives and the lives of others.

On the show I’ll be talking to business owners that have built brands from the ground up. Branding is how you present your best self to your audience consistently. And if they can do it, so can you!

ABOUT THE HOST - DANIELLE CLARKE

Danielle Clarke is a Brand and Marketing Consultant, University Lecturer and Business Owner. She spends her time consulting and working with business owners to help them attract and retain their best customers.

WORK WITH DANIELLE TO HELP BUILD THE BRANDING AND MARKETING STRATEGIES YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS TO GROW: https://calendly.com/hello-danielle-clarke-creative/free-15-min-discovery-call

CONNECT WITH DANIELLE ON LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-clarke-creative-brand-designer-marketing-consultant

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