Read time: 6 minutes.
What’s the difference? Is it really such a big deal?
Well, actually yes. because while these two things sound similar, they’re drastically different.
Your personal brand dictates the description of your individual self or sole proprietorship business. The aesthetic is a visual style to showcase your essence.
But don’t just take my word for it!
I’ll show you what I know, then you can take it to build or refine your own personal brand & aesthetic.
Starting… NOW!
Let’s start with an example.
The photos you see here are a representation taken from my own Personal Brand (Riza Kantirakis/Kay).
PART 1: Let’s dive in, starting with the personal brand.
A personal brand is exactly what it sounds like, a person branding themselves.
It doesn’t take much to be “authentic.” All it means is to be true to YOU.
In other words, if you have an interest in hockey or horses and you let it be known, that becomes a piece of your personal brand.
Other than a thing, it can be an activity, like painting, reading, or playing cards.
Your personal brand is also how you speak; how you train your voice with every sentence, how your face moves in reaction to what you hear, and how you reply.
Your words and attitude reflect your personal morals and show what people can expect when they get closer to you.
Transcribed from photo: A Personal Brand is the active description of your attitude, interests, and actions.
For me, everyone knows I work constantly from home, I am a major dog person, and have a totally healthy obsession with coffee & dinosaurs.
Your personal brand is when someone can see something, hear something, remember you and say, “this thing reminds me of my friend (you)!”
Transcribed from photo: An Aesthetic is a visual representation of who you are by sharing a pleasing palette of colors and images that stimulate the senses and non-physical feeling.
Here, the “aesthetic” revolves around warmth. Colors have the power to change the aesthetic altogether. If the same images were green, or baby pink, the feeling you would get from looking at them would change completely.
An aesthetic on the other hand is completely visual.
PART 2: The Aesthetic.
Just like everyone’s personal brand is different, so is their aesthetic.
An aesthetic is the view of a person or place. It is a series of colors, and pictures.
How it may change the feeling is called “brand color theory.” Each color invokes certain feelings or promotes them. McDonald’s is a great example. The color yellow, while also signifying happiness, also can encourage the feeling of hunger. Paired with red, which encourages feelings of love or comfort, they have the perfect use of color theory to sell their product.
Every color has a meaning, or a feeling that it can promote. The shade, the light, the contrast. Every bit of it plays a part.
Now on a smaller, more tight-knit scale, consider your friends or family members. While one may wear a signature color of blue, another might wear red. This is part of their “aesthetic.” They visually portray their personality and personal style in their clothing choices.
If it’s visual, it’s part of the aesthetic!
Now for a more dramatic example…
Imagine a junkyard. Piles and piles of cars upon themselves. Rats scurry away as you walk past. Broken glass and rubble crunch under your shoes. This is a very clear, strong visual you are unlikely to see ANYWHERE but a junkyard. This could even be considered an aesthetic! Maybe not a very nice one, but it is all the same.
People are driven by the senses, It’s in our nature. By strongly provoking the visual sense, then the aesthetic is like a fisherman’s bait. It helps you to attract the kinds of people you want in your life. For a branded business, it will attract the right kind of client.
When you have a great personal brand, the people who are attracted by the view of you will want to stay, if only to hear what you have to say.
As I like to say, the personal brand is your voice. Your aesthetic is your customized outfit. Every stitch and fiber is a point of personality.
Both are a part of you.
Sometimes, it just takes a little extra digging to find and curate the personal brand AND aesthetic, so you can represent yourself in the best way possible.
Transcribed from photo: Now these two things go hand-in-hand. How you curate your aesthetic can influence your personal brand, and vice versa.
Your Personal Brand is your voice, your Aesthetic is the outfit.
Both are a part of you.
So I’m here to help.
Transcribed from photo: And I can help you find and understand both.
Follow along for future tips, or apply for a full 5-week coaching to grow with your brand and aesthetic.
If you need a little more distinction of your brand voice and visuals, this may be the sign of help you’re looking for.
I offer private coaching to those who choose to apply. (Or if you are more of a DIY genius, follow along here at KC for more articles to help make it easier!)
With an accepted application, we’ll work privately together to examine your strengths and interests, define the right color theory that strengthens your aesthetic, and work on attracting the right people to you. Hook. Line. And Sinker.
If you’re up to the tasks ahead, (and don’t worry, I’ll be here to hold your hand along the way,) apply with the button!
But don’t worry, this isn’t the end of the info line.
Subscribe to Keeping Clever to get more information to help you grow your personal or professional circle through total brand attraction. It’s simpler than it sounds. Trust me. I’ve lived it!
We will be going through color theory, breakdowns of building your own aesthetic from scratch, excellent personal presentation, and so much more.
For argument’s sakes though, if you DID happen to want help in a hand help process, I got you. Applications are open!
See you soon.
-Riza Kay
