How Graphic Design Can Elevate Your Voiceover Career

TLDR: Graphic design enhances your brand identity, notably being your logo, color, typography, and overall tone. By having a strong design, you increase your visibility and the chance for clients to remember you in the future. An important tool for you and your voiceover business.

It’s ironic that one of the most powerful tools for success in voiceover isn’t even our voice. We pour ourselves out everyday, yet at the heart of it all, you may be booked because they were simply thinking of you. This isn’t to say one doesn’t have talent, or an audition wasn’t a homerun, but in that moment where they needed a voice, you were there. From the smallest interaction to big time marketing, you left an impression. That impression is your brand, your identity, and we’re gonna talk about how graphic design plays a key role in influencing that. 

What is a Brand? How does it help me?

Now what is a brand? What is this magical impression we leave on others? For the most part in your day to day life, your actions will be your impression, but in the online age, it’s the image you put of yourself online. A brand is a combination of design factors that makes something easily recognizable and distinguishable from other similar products/services. By having a good brand, you become memorable, leaving room for you to make a great impression on your target audience.

How does Graphic Design help my Voiceover Brand?

You know what a brand is and you know that it requires some amount of design to achieve a desired result. Well…where do you apply this design? What is the design? 

Glad you asked! Or I asked…don’t think about it.

Nono, you DO think about it. Think about what you want people to see you as. This decision is all you, and it should encompass you. Matching your authentic self to your brand will help build trust with your audience. For this blog, we will go over just a few of the many design choices that go into a brand. 

• Logo - The easiest way to represent your brand visually, it is a symbol that contains your identity entirely. Think of the M in McDonald’s. You want it to represent what you do and who you are. It can involve text and or graphics, the simpler it is, the easier it will be to remember.

• Color - These can make or break a design. Colors have a powerful and emotional effect on people, whether we like it or not. You want to be mindful of whether the colors you're choosing compliment each other and if they match the vibe you want to bring to your audience. Nothing says you CAN’T choose your favorite colors, but just keep in mind what they may make your audience think about you.

• Typography - Simply put, your font. Different fonts can bring about a different feel to your website, similar to color. Most fonts can just be placed on a spectrum of Times New Roman to Sans. How studious do you want to be? How laid back do you want to appear? Finding a good middle ground based on your preferences will be key. You’ll realize it’s basically the same as picking your colors.

• Tone - Your Voice! No, not your actual voice. I know we’re voice actors and all, but I’m talking about the tone and vibe you want your brand to have. Think of it as a slang or dialect, this tone affects your writing, your colors, your fonts. If you want to be fun and upbeat, then maybe you might have some yellows with a quirky borderline professional font and a tagline that says “Your new neighbor!” If you know the tone you want for your brand, you’ll find the rest of the decisions become much easier.

Important Note: Once you make a design decision for your brand, it’s best to stick to it. I’m not saying you can’t change something later, but every time you change something you have to build up your identity again. Clarity and consistency are key.

Applying Graphic Design to Voiceover

Okay whew…you still with me? I’m attempting to condense my four years of university in design into this blog and we are somewhat making it work. This next bit will be my personal opinion or tips I consider are useful when applying graphic design to voiceover. You may think differently and that’s perfectly fine, design isn’t a one size fits all situation.

• Logos for Voiceover - If you’re thinking about doing a microphone for voiceover, DO NOT. I mean…you can, but it’s a very common approach. You want to be memorable and distinguishable from your competitors. I don’t exactly think a logo is necessary for voiceover, but if you don’t have one, do a headshot of yourself. A nice headshot is a perfect substitute, giving your clients an image of who’s behind the mic.

• Colors for Voiceover - There’s no real right or wrong with colors, the most important thing is…MAKE IT EASY ON THE EYES. If I’m getting flashbanged by your sleek white and black minimalistic website or squinting with the neon light show, I’m less likely to spend time scrolling to see more. Off white colors are your friend!

• Typography for Voiceover - Honestly this one is easy, it needs to be an easily legible font. I don’t mean easily as in YOU can read it fine, but if someone can read it in passing with a glance. A crazy font choice might even make you look unprofessional to some. Do not even touch those decorative and cursive fonts. (Unless the decorative isn’t crazy, but not everyone can read cursive these days.)

• Tone for Voiceover - You want to match your tone to what area you excel at in voiceover. If you don’t know this then make sure it’s broad enough to encompass everything you plan on. The last thing you want is a client looking at you and thinking you don’t match the job. For examples I recommend comparing websites with voice actors who do widely different jobs. Someone who does medical narrations to someone who does anime will have widely different sites, but both stand strongly in their respective areas.

To Wrap It Up

Don’t forget to take some time and attention to your brand! Once you’ve laid out a good foundation, it’ll serve you well for years if not your entire career. So go out there and start leaving GREAT impressions that make clients remember you for days on end. If you have any questions or would like to get some consulting on your own design choices, feel free to check me out in my Design Services or email me at voice@hunterguidroz.com.

Toodles!

Gen Z and the Shift Toward Authenticity in Entertainment

With the rise of AI in marketing and advertising in 2024, consumer mistrust in the industry has reached an all-time high. Now is the time to take advantage of this and lean into being more authentic than automated. Gen Z, as the first fully digital generation and the new wave of adults, understands the importance of being genuine online. They’ve faced unique challenges and know that real, human connection is what truly resonates in content creation.

Who knew that scrolling TikTok for way too long would have long lasting benefits?

AI This, AI That, What is the deal with AI?

Let’s first talk about AI, a buzz word around those in the entertainment industry, and not a very nice one…and for good reason! We do have to be specific though, because we are talking about Generative AI.

Y’know…the AI that’s already eaten millions if not billions of works by original artists, most of which without permission. This sort of AI threatens to replace writers, artists, voice actors even, sorry correction, it’s already begun replacing folks in the industry. 

Enough of the banter about Generative AI, it’s here and it’s probably not going anywhere. What we can do is take advantage of this! By leaning on AI, companies are making an invaluable mistake in their own marketing, leaving out human connection. By trying to be bigger, more profitable, and efficient, they’ve left behind the pieces that connect with their target audience. 

This is where Gen-Z comes into play.

The First Fully Digital Generation

Now that you know the ups and downs of AI, why Gen-Z? What do they bring that others can’t? From a Gen-Z myself to you my friend, let’s chat about our relationship with the digital age.

Gen-Z is the first fully digital generation, we grew up as THE IPAD KIDS. We were the first ones and I will proudly state it, even if that means we got a little too much screentime. More importantly though, Gen-Z has seen the full effects of the digital marketing age, they grew up with it, it’s all they know and that’s the key benefit.

Take a moment and think about it. Do you ever see a young kid who is absolutely amazing at an instrument and think to yourself, “Oh I should have started when I was young.” Because when you grow up with something, it becomes innate, in your blood, subconscious, the whole cosmic stars aligning–whatever you wanna call it!

Gen-Z with technology is as natural as walking and breathing. So if you’re looking for authenticity, Gen-Z brings it to you, in a way no one before them can.

Now with all this in mind

Welcome in the new wave of adults, Gen-Z! From having an early on set mid life crisis online, to being the resident zoomers. They understand the importance of being authentic and relatable, they’re your roommates, crazy cousins, and way too blunt coworkers. If you’re looking to reach your audience, do it with the people who can bridge the gap, the ones most qualified when it comes to this digital age of marketing and advertising.

That’s Gen-Z.

Need to hear more to be convinced? Or want to see a Gen-Z in action yourself? Feel free to reach out to me via my Contact Page or email me at voice@hunterguidroz.com.

Why should I hire a Gen-Z Voice Actor?

The most valuable part of any video game, commercial, or animation project are the professional voice actors who bring them to life. Creative projects need relatable and talented actors who know how to deliver real, relatable, conversational performances. Gen-Z voice actors have a wide range of tools that can really elevate your ideas to the next level either from a remote talent standpoint, maybe a new perspective, or bringing you closer with your target audience. The next time you’re hiring a voice actor, here are a few reasons why you should consider Gen-Z.

Digital Fluency as a Remote Talent

Working remotely has always had a sort of stigma to it, but in the past few years, it’s become way more common and easier for people to work together despite distance. For voice actors and other professionals, it’s more important than ever to work quickly and efficiently, and being a remote talent allows for crazy possibilities. 

And don’t worry to any audio engineers reading, Gen-Z professionals are great with technology, and they understand how to overcome most if not any technical challenge. Who knew there were perks to being an iPad kid?

Gen-Z voice actors are adapting every day in today’s ever-changing digital world, they understand that your time is important and that a quick and efficient workflow is the key to making their clients happy.

Bringing a New Perspective

These days, creative projects need new ideas and fresh perspectives. The COVID-19 pandemic changed a lot about our world, and now more than ever, it’s important to have voice actors and professionals who can break away from tradition.

Gen-Z voice actors are amazing at improvising and thinking on their feet. They’re versatile, and they bring brand new ideas and concepts to any creative project. They’ve spent their entire lives growing up with Super Bowl ads, watching shows like Steven Universe, Teen Titans, Adventure Time, and playing some of the most infamous games on the market from Call of Duty to even Minecraft.  

When you hire a Gen-Z voice actor, you’re hiring someone who can think outside of the box. Someone who has experience with countless advertising approaches, the person who always watches maybe one too many episodes before bed, and that friend who has to get every achievement in a video game.

Reaching YOUR Audience

Relatability is the most important part of any creative project and keeping the attention of your audience is difficult to do, especially in younger age groups. This makes for a tricky predicament as we’re tasked with basically getting the attention of a goldfish. So that begs the question…how DO you get the attention of a goldfish?

By using another goldfish!

Fish aside, Gen-Z work the same way as your online audience and they understand that you only have a few moments to catch their attention. By using a Gen-Z voice actor, you can bridge the gap, making for a more relatable and real experience. Audiences love to see themselves in the characters that they’re watching or listening to and Gen-Z voice actors can fit all kinds of roles. 

That flexibility combined with their innate knowledge is yet another one of their strengths. They understand how to grab and hold the attention of an audience, and they know how to connect to watchers and listeners in their own unique way.

In Summary

When you’re looking for creative talent, you have to consider a lot of things. But as the world changes and audiences grow, choosing the right voice actor for the job is key. The next time you’re hiring for your creative project, consider the pros of hiring a Gen-Z voice actor, and enjoy the benefits of fresh, flexible, and relatable talent. If you’re interested in hiring an actor with these qualities, reach out to me so we can work together on your next voiceover project! Feel free to visit my Contact Page or email me at voice@hunterguidroz.com.