Brand Creation for Hair by Katherine Cook
Research & Brand Discovery
Katherine wanted her brand to feel warm, grounded, and true to her style—something with subtle boho influence but still clean and modern. I started by collecting inspiration from natural tones, neutral textures, and organic shapes that matched the kind of calm, effortless beauty she’s known for.
The brand direction leaned heavily into browns, tans, and muted neutrals, creating a palette that felt approachable but still elevated. This research helped define the visual tone early on and set the foundation for both the logo design and the overall social aesthetic.
Color Palette & Typography
The color palette was built around Katherine’s request for boho-inspired tones—warm browns, tans, and muted neutrals that reflect her calm and grounded aesthetic. These colors feel natural and timeless while giving enough contrast for readability across digital platforms.
For typography, I paired Playfair Display with Cormorant Garamond, both of which bring a classic, editorial touch that still feels approachable. Together, they give the brand a sense of quiet confidence and balance, perfectly complementing Katherine’s professional yet down-to-earth personality.
Social Style Guide
Once the brand system was finalized, I applied it across Katherine’s social platforms to create a cohesive and recognizable online presence. This included profile images, page banners, and in-feed post layouts designed to keep her brand consistent from the first impression to everyday content.
I then created and articulated guidelines for image sizing, watermark placement, logo usage, and post formatting to make sure future content stayed on-brand. Each page of the guide clearly outlines how to use the visual assets across Facebook and Instagram, giving Katherine and her team a simple, repeatable framework for maintaining her brand identity.
Project Overview
This project was created for hairstylist Katherine Cook to build a cohesive visual identity that could extend across both her in-salon materials and social platforms. What started as a logo design evolved into a complete social style guide, giving her a consistent and professional look online.
The goal was to create a brand that felt soft, modern, and timeless—reflecting her personality while staying flexible for daily use. The process included designing the logo system, supporting graphics, and a neutral yet distinctive color palette before applying them into branded layouts for Facebook and Instagram.
Outcome & Reflection
The final brand system gives Katherine a consistent, elevated visual identity that reflects her calm, approachable personality. Every element—from the logo and color palette to the social layouts—works together to create a professional yet relaxed feel.
The style guide makes it easy for her to maintain that consistency, no matter who’s creating content or what platform it’s for. The end result feels authentic to her style and flexible enough to evolve with her brand over time.
Logo Development Process
The logo system was built around simplicity, balance, and adaptability. I designed two variations: a primary logo featuring “Hair by Katherine Cook” in a soft handwritten script framed by thin rectangular lines, and a secondary monogram version using the initials “KC” in the same minimal frame.
The primary logo gives a full brand statement—perfect for banners, print, and digital headers—while the monogram offers a cleaner, more compact option for social icons, watermarks, and smaller spaces. Both were intentionally kept light and structured to feel elegant, approachable, and true to Katherine’s boho-modern aesthetic.