Ivy
Kimani
Global Brand Strategist | Marketing Consultant | Creative Director
I build brands for B2B and corporate companies: the positioning underneath, the identity on top, and the marketing that carries both. Design that looks like the business you've actually become, saying the same thing everywhere people meet you.
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Design that knows
what it's for.
Most brand work goes wrong in the thinking rather than the making. So I start with who you're selling to, what they already believe and what the business needs the brand to do. Then I design it, and I make sure it holds together from the first ad to the signed contract.
Brand Strategy
Positioning, audience research, and an honest look at what your competitors already claim. This is where the decisions get made. Everything after it is execution.
Brand Identity
Logos, type, colour, guidelines and the assets your team uses daily. Built so the brand still looks like itself on a pitch deck, a pouch and a phone screen.
Marketing Communications
Messaging frameworks, campaign copy and content systems. The words your customers repeat back to you, used the same way by everyone who sells for you.
Creative Direction
Running the whole thing: writers, photographers, developers, printers. Someone has to keep the strategy intact between the deck and the delivery.
Brands built
to be trusted
Open any cover for the full case study
"I came to brand through journalism. It taught me to find the real story and cut everything that isn't it. That's still most of the job."Ivy Kimani · Founder, Nalo Collective
In their words
Verified reviews from Upwork engagements. All 5.0.
"Ivy is the rare designer who asks the right questions before touching anything visual. From our first conversation she identified exactly why our brand wasn't working. We needed something that could win over end users and budget approvers at the same time. She built a system that does both. The work itself is exceptional. Logo, type, colour, guidelines. All cohesive, all intentional. She delivered ahead of schedule, communicated clearly throughout, and pushed back when she needed to. If you're building a brand that needs to do real business work, hire Ivy."
"I've had the pleasure of working with Ivy on multiple projects over time, and she has consistently exceeded my expectations. From building out my website to marketing materials, newsletter templates and full brand guidelines, Ivy has delivered outstanding work every single time. I look forward to continuing to work with her long term."
"Ivy is incredible. She just immediately got my vision and dove head first into one of the most complete brand explorations I've been a part of. She was thorough, creative and met each deadline. Her response time was incredible and I'd work with her again in a heartbeat!"
"Ivy is absolutely wonderful! I cannot recommend her highly enough. We have worked together several years. She is very professional and detail oriented. Her communication skills are excellent. I will definitely be working with her again!"
Before you ask
What does Ivy Kimani do?
I'm a brand strategist and designer based in Nairobi, Kenya. I work on positioning, brand identity and the marketing communications that carry both, mostly for B2B SaaS, fintech, technology and corporate companies whose product has moved faster than their brand.
Who do you work with?
Founders and lean marketing teams at B2B SaaS, fintech and technology companies, plus corporate, professional services and nonprofit organisations. Most come to me while raising, moving upmarket, entering a new market or repositioning.
Do you work with companies outside Kenya?
Yes. I work from Nairobi on GMT+3 with clients across North America, Europe, Africa, Australia and the Middle East, and I've delivered over 320 engagements internationally.
What is a brand leak?
A brand leak is the gap between what a business has become and what its brand communicates. There are five: clarity, trust, difference, consistency and journey. The free Brand Leak Scorecard tells you which one is costing you the most.
How do projects start?
Through Upwork, where I hold Top Rated status. Most start with either a brand strategy project or the $100 Brand Leak consultation, a 60-minute review of your positioning, brand, website and customer journey.