1/ You may have noticed over the last few weeks that I’ve changed the background and profile image across different social media channels to a monochromatic aesthetic. This was part of establishing a personal brand identity which lays the foundation for something much bigger.

2/ Bitcoin comes across as goofy, technical, and boring. I felt that it was important we show Bitcoin as a blend between sci-fi and revolution. A combination of Inception, Blade Runner, and Mr. Robot mixed with educational content.

3/ My brand mark was designed to be a distinctive cohesive element woven throughout my content, future interviews, physical items, and digital items. Through working with David Port, a brand designer, we were able to distill my brand.

Below I’ll walk you through our process

4/ I first started by defining the brand voice represented below:

5/ Next in the design process were moodboards, which are collections of images I felt represent my brand. Here’s what I collated over a few months:

Dribbble: https://dribbble.com/DanHeld/collections/1089215-HEDL
Behance: https://www.behance.net/collection/26710917/Personal-Branding
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/danh6734/stasis/

6/ These were then compressed into something called a “stylescape.” Why create a stylescape? It sets the broad compass direction for the journey we are going to take and makes sure we are all on the same path for this brand.

7/ Now David had everything he needed to start iterating on my personal brand. Here were some of the initial mockups that didn’t make it to the final round:

https://portdesigncompany.com/held-brand-identity

8/ Finally, here is the style guide (I originally had him create the same style mark for “HODL, HEDL, HELD” which I’m going to only go with “Held” going forward - starting today.

The simple color scheme is about the pure distillation of a narrative into its most simple forms.

9/ Under my brand I will collect memes, content, and physical products that can be standardized with my style. I hypothesize that normies will like a more distilled, interesting, and understandable format to learning Bitcoin.

10/ My personal brand is a representation of how I perceive Bitcoin, and best bet to convey that belief to the world.

If I’m wrong, then no one will engage with my content and physically branded products. If I’m right, then they will.

11/ “Credit belongs to the man in the arena...who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never known neither victory nor defeat.” – Teddy Roosevelt

12/ If you like what you read here I encourage you to:

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