WELCOME TO KWETU CREATIVES
A Creative Freelance Designer
I am a freelance graphic designer based in Nairobi, Kenya. I specialise in graphic design, branding, packaging design, and web design. I help propel ambitious brands to the next level – so If you’re looking for an expert to launch or elevate your brand – then you’ve come to the right place.
15+
Years of Experience
ABOUT US
Simple, Honest & Thoughtful Design
I’m a multi-disciplined freelance graphic designer, based in Nairobi, Kenya. I work collaboratively with clients of all sizes from startup businesses through to international clients on a variety of projects such as brand creation, website design, digital and print design as well as social media graphics. I also work directly with organisations to offer in-house freelance design support.
- Exceptional graphic design services.
- Outstanding packaging design.
- Impactful website development.
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The Evolution of Food Packaging: Balancing Innovation and Sustainability
The evolution of food packaging reflects a dynamic interplay between innovation and sustainability. As technology continues to advance, and consumer preferences shift towards eco-conscious choices, the food packaging industry will likely see further transformative changes.
Brand Name, Product Name, Business Name – What’s The Difference?
Did you know that a brand and business are different? The names can be the same, but they’re not the same thing. Did you know that a product and a brand are not the same thing? Again, the names could be the same, but they’re not the same thing. The terms brand, product and business are often used interchangeably when they’re referred to by name, but from a legal point of view, they’re very different things. You need to understand those differences or your business, brand, and products could be in jeopardy in the future. Let’s dig in. What is a Business Name? Your business name (also referred to as your trade name) is the name that you register with the government to operate. You use it on your bank account, your tax forms, and other legal documents. For example, Nike Inc. is the business name of the Nike company. What is a Product Name? A product name could be as generic as “car” but with so many products and services on the market, businesses create more unique product names to differentiate their products from competitors’ products. In this case, a product name identifies a specific product or service and becomes a brand name when the company starts using it. For example, the Toyota company operates using Toyota as its company name, and its products are cars. To differentiate its cars from the competition, the company brands them with the Toyota brand name (in addition to more specific names like Fielder, Probox, Lexus and Premio brand families, and within the Toyota brand family, there are sub-brands like Corolla, Camry, and Sienna. But that’s not all. Within those sub-brands, there are specific product models like the Toyota Sienna CE, the Toyota Sienna LE, and so on. A company’s brand architecture can get as deep as a well-researched family tree! What Does This All Mean? Bottom-line, your business name, brand name, and product or service name could all match, but they don’t have to. They’re different things and whether or not they match, they all need to be properly cleared for use and protected or you could find yourself in expensive trouble in the future. Here’s what you need to do: Business Name You need to register your business name with the government to start operating. In Kenya, you will need to register your business name on the eCitizen portal. If you do not have an account yet, you will need to create one by signing up and following the prompts. You need to determine if you’ll be using your business name as a brand name, too. If so, make sure you follow the steps in #2 below. Brand Name You need to do a trademark search to ensure your brand name is clear for you to use and then apply for a trademark registration for that name so you can protect it and grow your brand in the future. In Kenya registration of trademarks is done by the Kenya Industrial Property Institute which is a government parastatal that administers Intellectual Property rights in the country. Product Name Once you start using a product name in the marketplace, it becomes a brand name and should be registered and protected as a valuable company asset. You should conduct a trademark search to ensure the name is clear for you to use. Once the name is cleared, you should apply for a trademark registration for that name so you can protect it and grow it as a brand in the future. Never underestimate the power of a brand! Your brand names have value, so make sure you protect them!
The Key to Product Packaging Design
Packaging is a crucial element of your product. Not simply being a medium to protect the contents but better thought of as a display unit and a communication tool, no matter what the contents it holds. How you present your product to potential customers directly impacts their decision of whether or not to buy. As soon as you understand the important role of the packaging, you begin to realize how important it is to get your design spot on. Steps to Product Packaging Design It is extremely important to use a highly experienced packaging design service. Such professionals work with you from inception to determine the right solution that speaks to the customer and portrays your brand message correctly from the go. Step 1: Assessing essential needs The following questions initiate first stage of any good packaging design process: What product are you selling? Are you selling a single product or a range? What form of packaging does it need? What is the size and shape of the product? Who’s your target market? Your customer demographic will influence the look and feel of your packaging, which should be carefully designed to speak to them. Where is it offered for sale? For example, via a supermarket, shop/kiosk or online? These answers will provide the base of your packaging needs from which the design can be created. Step 2: Exploring brand requirements One mistake that is frequently when starting a design journey is not thinking about scalability. While you might only be packaging a single product right now, it’s important that any design could be scaled to a wider range. This means considering aspects such as a logo, font, colours and more. Considering this at an early stage will prevent costly alterations later. Step 3: Think about layers Each packaging varies in complexity based on the product. There are three possible layers, but not all products will require all of them. The outer layer is the customer-facing element, such as a carton. The inner layer is what keeps the product secure. This might be an insert for example, some foam packing peanuts or tissue paper. The final layer is that which touches the product itself, such as the wine bottle, potato crisps bag, yoghurt cup or the wrapper around the chocolate bar. Each layer plays a vital role, not only in protecting and presenting the product but in communicating the message that you want to portray to your customers. Step 4: Select the type of packaging Do you need a carton? An outer sleeve or an inner glass jar? Liquids and gels will need to be held in a particular type of pack, but consider whether you want to be different from everyone else. Of course, your packaging budget will play a major role therefore you may need to get creative so your products stand out from the competition. Generally, the more expensive the product, the higher the requirement for luxury packaging. Step 5: Create the design From colours to fonts, logos to images, many aspects might need to be included on the packaging. However, the most important message at this point should be that less is more. Clear, concise and striking will always win over a busy presentation. You know your product inside out. But your customers? When they see your product displayed in its packaging you have a single moment to make them pause and consider a purchase. That’s why you need to determine the single most outstanding aspect of your product around which the rest of the design should be focused. Step 6: Evaluate Once you’ve nailed the design, you need an honest evaluation. This shouldn’t just be from you or the design team, as you’re all very close to the product. Getting impartial feedback is of great importance and you should consider the knowing following: Is it immediately clear what the product is? Is it obvious who would use the product? What is the key message that the packaging is trying to present? Does the packaging accurately represent the product it holds? Will it stand out on a shelf of competing items? What about if the packaging is packed next to each other or on top? Does this cause an unintentional pattern? This final step is very important as once you’ve agreed to a design then it can be quire expensive to get it changed. It is better to carry out any changes at this point, rather than when production has already commenced. Kwetu Creatives is a leading packaging design team based in Nairobi, Kenya. Their design team works with your company to become as familiar with your brand and products as you are and offers a custom-made service that includes everything from design to delivery of the completed packaging. Email them at info@kwetucreatives.com to find out more.
