When your business starts to feel out of sync with its visuals or messaging, the natural instinct might be to consider a complete overhaul—a rebrand. But what if a rebrand isn’t what you actually need? In many cases, a brand refresh can be the more practical, cost-effective solution. Let’s break down the difference between a rebrand and a refresh, and help you decide what’s best for your business.

What Does a Rebrand Look Like?

A rebrand is a comprehensive transformation of your business identity. It’s not just a logo change—it’s a complete overhaul of how your business looks, sounds, and communicates. Here’s what’s typically involved:

• Brand Strategy Development: Revisiting your mission, vision, and values to align with your evolving goals.
• Visual Identity Redesign: New logo, typography, color palette, and imagery.
• Messaging Update: Refining your voice, tone, and key messages.
• Collateral Overhaul: Redesigning everything from your website to marketing materials.

Client Example: Dondrea, The Profit Table

When we worked with Dondrea, founder of The Profit Table, her brand was no longer reflecting the growth and clarity of her business. We moved her from Squarespace to Showit, updated her messaging, and created a bold, professional identity that aligned with her client’s expectations. This rebrand went beyond aesthetics to build a strategy that spoke directly to her audience’s needs.

3 Signs You Don’t Need a Rebrand

A rebrand can be time-intensive and costly. Here are three signs you might not need one:

1. Your Core Business Hasn’t Changed: If your mission, values, and audience remain consistent, a refresh may be all you need.
2. Your Visuals Aren’t Outdated: If your branding is still modern but could use fine-tuning, consider refreshing rather than starting from scratch.
3. Your Business Is Stable: If you’re not going through significant shifts, like a merger or new leadership, a full rebrand may be unnecessary.

What Does a Refresh Look Like?

A refresh is more like a makeover than a rebuild. It’s about refining what already works and elevating it to match your current needs. Here’s what’s typically involved:

• Visual Tweaks: Updating your logo, fonts, and colors to keep them fresh and relevant.
• Messaging Adjustments: Clarifying your messaging for consistency.
• Website Enhancements: Adding modern features or improved functionality.

Client Example: POC Collaborative Resource Center

When we refreshed the brand for Katrina’s nonprofit, POC Collaborative Resource Center, a nonprofit client, they wanted to maintain their foundational identity while introducing more vibrancy and energy to connect with their community. We played with lighting, shadows, and a bold color palette to create an updated look that felt true to their mission without starting over.

Why a Refresh Might Be Your Answer

If your brand feels slightly outdated or misaligned, a refresh can bring it back to life without the complexity of a full rebrand. It allows you to modernize and stay relevant while maintaining your core identity perfect for businesses that need to pivot slightly rather than overhaul everything.

A refresh can also be the perfect entry point for a Design Sprint—a focused, streamlined process to redesign your website and ensure it’s optimized for your business goals. By coupling a refresh with a Design Sprint, you’ll get a cohesive and effective brand presence without the lengthy rebrand process.

What Should You Do Next?

A brand refresh could be the strategic move that saves you time, money, and effort while still delivering results. If you’re unsure where to start, book a consultation with us to evaluate your current brand and identify opportunities to elevate it.

Still not sure if you need a rebrand or a refresh? Take the Brand Alignment Quiz to discover which service is the perfect fit for your business goals.