Using Paperlike for Brand Design Ideation

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to:

• Set up your Paperlike screen protector for optimal brand design work
• Use your iPad with Paperlike for effective sketching and concept development
• Create and refine digital moodboards that communicate brand identity
• Apply creative prompts to generate stronger brand concepts

Introduction

Brand design starts with ideas, and those ideas often begin with sketches. The Paperlike screen protector transforms your iPad into a drawing surface that feels like paper, giving you the tactile feedback that makes sketching feel natural.

This chapter covers how to use Paperlike effectively for the early stages of brand design work. You'll learn practical techniques for ideation, moodboarding, and concept development that take advantage of the paper-like drawing experience.

Lessons

Setting Up Your Paperlike Screen Protector

Getting your Paperlike installed correctly makes all the difference to your drawing experience.

Step 1: Clean your iPad screen completely using the included cleaning cloth. Remove all dust, fingerprints, and debris.

Step 2: Use the alignment guides that come with your Paperlike. These stickers help you position the protector perfectly on your specific iPad model.

Step 3: Apply the Paperlike slowly, working from one edge to the other. Use the smoothing tool to push out air bubbles as you go.

Step 4: Once applied, test the surface with your Apple Pencil. You should feel immediate texture feedback that's similar to drawing on paper.

This is the bit most people miss: take your time with the application. A poorly applied screen protector will affect your drawing accuracy and comfort.

Starting Your Brand Design Sketches

Now you're ready to begin sketching brand concepts on your textured surface.

Step 1: Open your preferred sketching app. Procreate, Adobe Fresco, and Sketchbook all work well with Paperlike.

Step 2: Start with loose warm-up sketches. Try different pencil tools to find what feels most natural on the Paperlike surface.

Step 3: Begin sketching logo concepts, typography ideas, or brand symbols. The textured surface helps you control line weight and shading more precisely.

Step 4: Use separate layers for different elements. Name each layer clearly so you can easily switch between logo variations, colour schemes, or typography options.

The Paperlike surface works best when you vary your pressure and angle, just as you would with real pencil on paper.

Building Digital Moodboards

Moodboards help communicate the visual direction of your brand design before you start detailed work.

Step 1: Gather inspiration images, colour swatches, typography samples, and texture references in one folder or app.

Step 2: Create a new canvas in your design app. Set it to a standard moodboard size like 1920×1080 pixels.

Step 3: Arrange your collected elements on the canvas. Consider how colours, textures, and images work together to tell your brand story.

Step 4: Add handwritten annotations using your Apple Pencil. The Paperlike surface makes writing notes feel more natural than typing.

Step 5: Refine the composition by adjusting spacing, grouping related elements, and ensuring the overall layout feels balanced.

Here's the quick version: good moodboards communicate feeling, not just visual style. Include elements that capture the brand's personality.

Using Creative Prompts for Brand Development

Creative prompts help you push beyond obvious solutions and explore unexpected directions.

Step 1: Choose a prompt that relates to your brand project. Examples include "What would this brand sound like?" or "How would this brand move?"

Step 2: Set a timer for 5-10 minutes and sketch rapidly without self-editing. The Paperlike surface encourages this loose, exploratory approach.

Step 3: Review your prompt-based sketches for unexpected elements or directions you hadn't considered.

Step 4: Develop the most promising ideas into more refined sketches or add them to your moodboard.

Roll your sleeves up with these prompts. The goal is quantity of ideas, not perfection.

Sharing and Getting Feedback

Your iPad makes it easy to share work-in-progress with clients or team members.

Step 1: Use your app's built-in sharing features to export your sketches or moodboards.

Step 2: Share files via email, cloud storage, or collaboration platforms like Slack or Teams.

Step 3: Enable commenting features if your app supports them. This allows reviewers to leave feedback directly on your work.

Step 4: Make revisions based on feedback, taking advantage of your digital layers to try different approaches quickly.

The Paperlike surface makes it comfortable to spend extended time refining your work based on client input.

Practice

Create a complete brand exploration for a fictional coffee shop called "Corner Brew."

1. Start with 10 quick logo sketches using different approaches (text-based, icon-based, combination marks)
2. Create a moodboard that captures the coffee shop's intended atmosphere
3. Use the creative prompt "What would this brand's voice sound like?" to generate additional visual ideas
4. Combine your best sketches with your moodboard elements to show how the brand might work across different applications

Spend about 45 minutes on this exercise. Focus on exploring ideas rather than creating finished designs.

FAQs

How do I clean my Paperlike screen protector?
Use a soft, slightly damp microfibre cloth. Avoid harsh cleaners or abrasive materials that could damage the textured surface.

Can I remove and reapply Paperlike if I make a mistake?
Paperlike protectors are designed for single use. If you need to remove one, you'll need to apply a fresh protector.

Which iPad apps work best with Paperlike for brand design?
Procreate offers the most paper-like drawing experience. Adobe Fresco provides excellent vector tools for logo work. Sketchbook is great for quick ideation sketches.

How long does a Paperlike screen protector last?
With regular use, expect 3-6 months before the texture starts to wear down. Heavy users might need to replace it more frequently.

Does Paperlike affect screen clarity?
The textured surface slightly reduces screen sharpness, but most users find this trade-off worthwhile for the improved drawing experience.

Jargon Buster

Paperlike: A textured screen protector for iPads that simulates the feel of drawing on paper

Ideation: The process of generating and developing creative ideas for design projects

Moodboard: A visual collection of images, colours, textures, and typography that communicates the intended feel of a brand

Creative prompts: Questions or challenges designed to spark new ideas and push creative thinking in unexpected directions

Layer management: Organising different elements of your digital artwork on separate layers for easier editing and refinement

Wrap-up

You now know how to set up and use Paperlike for brand design ideation. The key is taking advantage of the paper-like surface to sketch more naturally and explore ideas through both drawing and moodboarding.

Practice these techniques with different types of brand projects. The more comfortable you become with the Paperlike surface, the more it will feel like a natural extension of your creative process.

Next, you'll learn how to take your initial concepts and develop them into refined brand identity systems.

Ready to take your brand design skills further? Join our community of creative professionals at https://www.pixelhaze.academy/membership