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What Clients Really Mean by “Make It Pop”

“Make it pop” is a familiar request made by clients, but often doesn’t truly explain what they feel their brand is truly lacking. Whilst this may seem like a vague statement, it almost always points to something real.

 
 

As a frequent request by clients many designers jump to adding bold, unrelated colours and striking brand elements. However this often doesn’t resolve the issue at hand due to misinterpretation with literal outcomes rather than strategic solutions.

At first sight, this request can seem ambiguous. There is neither a specific direction nor any concrete goal to focus around. Yet, in most cases, there is a hidden issue which once discovered and explored can inspire designers to problem-solve without going back to the drawing board. More often than not the project is failing to convey the brand message or appears visually unbalanced.

In most cases, “make it pop” means that some elements lack clarity and hierarchy. The design does not communicate its message effectively to the target audience. In addition, “pop” may refer to the overall impression of the work, which looks too generic and becomes lost within the sector.

Although this does not always imply making drastic changes to the design. For instance, if designers have tried several options and nothing seems to meet client expectations, it is necessary to take a step back and think of a new creative approach based on the initial concept of the project.

  • It might be a colour change to improve the visual contrast.
  • A different typeface to improve the legibility and tone.
  • Choosing a more fitting and compelling stock image which is less distracting.
  • Looking back at the initial concepts to find inspiration from other avenues.

The difficulty doesn’t lie in the term; rather it lies in what is behind it.

When a client asks us to make their project pop but can’t provide concrete directions, this is where the actual process begins. The key here is to go back to the initial brief, review the aims of the project and ask the right questions.

  • Does it connect with the target audience?
  • Is the communication clear?
  • Does it do what it is supposed to do?
  • Would you be proud and excited to share this?

With careful questioning, collaboration and the use of proven methods, we take those fuzzy instructions and transform them into something clear and achievable.

Why is this important? Because good design is not about making something pop.

Good design is about making it work. And when it works well, it pops on its own.

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