When it comes to crafting a brand identity for a church, it’s about more than just a logo or color palette. It’s about visually communicating the mission and vision God has placed on a church’s heart in a way that resonates with its community. Designing the brand identity for Influence Miami was a deeply intentional and prayer-driven process. It wasn’t just about aesthetics; it was about capturing the heartbeat of a ministry called to make disciples in Miami-Dade.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how Influence Miami’s brand identity came to life.
Every meaningful endeavor begins with prayer, and Influence Miami’s brand identity was no different. Before even sketching a single concept or selecting a color, we sought the Holy Spirit’s guidance. We prayed for clarity, direction, and wisdom, asking God to reveal how we could visually communicate the mission He’d placed in our hearts: a movement of house churches on mission to make disciples in every sphere of influence.
This time of prayer wasn’t just foundational; it set the tone for the entire design process. It reminded us that the brand identity wasn’t about trends or personal preferences—it was about glorifying God and equipping Influence Miami to reach the people He’s called us to serve.
Before diving into the design itself, I spent a lot of time researching church brand identities. I scoured the internet for examples, looking at churches both big and small, local and global. The goal was to build a comprehensive mood board that would help shape our understanding of what we were looking for.
This research phase wasn’t about copying other churches; it was about uncovering what resonated with us and why. I explored:
The mood board became a collection of ideas, visuals, and inspiration that would guide us in determining our unique identity.
Before any design work could begin, we had to answer a crucial question: Who are we? This step was all about defining our mission, vision, and values as a church.
We knew that before we could decide on a logo, a font, or a color palette, we had to deeply understand our brand message. What was Influence Miami about? What did we want people to feel when they encountered our church? How did we want to reflect Jesus’s heart for Miami-Dade?
This phase involved prayer, reflection, and honest conversations between myself and my co-planter.
While every church is called to reach all people, the reality is that each church is uniquely positioned to reach a specific community. Influence Miami’s calling was clear: to reach people in Miami-Dade who were searching for authentic community and intimate discipleship.
Jesus continues to call new church planters because every church has a unique part to play in the Kingdom. As we clarified our audience, we asked ourselves questions like:
This focus on our target audience gave us clarity and direction as we moved into the design phase.
Believe it or not, the design phase involved a lot of words before it involved any visuals. We began by revisiting our mood board and listing out major churches and brands that resonated with us. From there, we dug into their brand identities, analyzing why they were effective and what elements made them stand out.
Next, we conducted a design “sprint,” where we:
With our descriptors in hand, I dove into the creative process, exploring fonts, logo concepts, shapes, and color palettes that embodied our identity. Here’s how each element came together:
Each design decision was rooted in prayer, research, and intentionality, ensuring it aligned with our mission and resonated with our target audience.
The final brand identity for Influence Miami is more than just a collection of visuals. It’s a reflection of our heart as a church: to see lives transformed and communities renewed through the Gospel. Every font, color, and shape was chosen with purpose, pointing back to the mission God has given us.
Through this process, I’ve learned that designing a church brand isn’t just about creating something that looks good. It’s about creating something that communicates clearly, builds trust, and opens doors for people to encounter Jesus.
If you’re a church planter or ministry leader looking to create a brand identity that reflects your mission and connects with your community, I’d love to help. The process is intentional, prayerful, and collaborative, ensuring the final result is something that empowers your ministry to thrive.
Let’s connect and start building a brand that helps your church make a lasting impact for the Kingdom of God.
