The 2026 Brand Refresh Checklist
What to Update Before the New Year
Robbins Creative has put together a practical, value-packed guide for small businesses to update logos, colors, photos, and websites before and during January. Not only do we recommend these edits to your brand, but we also can be your partner in brand design to accomplish these updates!
1. Update Your Logo
Your logo is the face of your brand, and if it’s feeling outdated, blurry, overly complex, or inconsistent across platforms, a logo refresh may be in order.
A 2026-ready logo should be:
Clean and legible
Modern but still true to your brand’s personality
Available in multiple formats (PNG, SVG, JPG, and PDF)
Sized correctly for web, print, and social media
Versatile with variations (primary, secondary, wordmark, submarks)
A refreshed logo doesn’t always mean starting over. Sometimes a simple rebuild of cleaning up lines, adjusting proportions, or updating your color values, makes a world of difference.
2. Reevaluate Your Brand Colors
Color is one of the fastest ways customers recognize your business.
Ask yourself:
Do your colors still feel aligned with your brand personality?
Are they readable and accessible everywhere they appear?
Do they feel seasonal, outdated, or inconsistent?
Do you have defined HEX, RGB, and CMYK values?
A refreshed palette can keep your brand feeling cohesive and fresh. Adding a richer accent, introducing a neutral, or improving contrast, can elevate your entire identity.
3. Refresh Your Brand Photography
Updated photos have a huge impact on how polished and trustworthy your brand appears. If your current photos are outdated, low-quality, or inconsistent in editing style, now is a great time to update your gallery.
Consider updating:
Headshots or team photos
Lifestyle images for your website
Product or service photos
Brand textures or background images
Seasonal content for end-of-year promotions
A consistent editing style and color tone go a long way in strengthening your overall brand identity.
4. Polish Your Website for 2026
Your website is often the first impression, and if it’s been a while since you updated it, the new year is a perfect deadline.
Here are some key updates to make:
Refresh homepage banner images or featured photos
Rewrite outdated content or service descriptions
Add new testimonials, case studies, or portfolio pieces
Ensure links, buttons, and contact forms work properly
Optimize mobile layout (still the #1 most-used viewing method)
Update SEO (titles, meta descriptions, keywords)
Ensure branding is cohesive across all pages
If your website feels clunky, outdated, or hard to navigate, a full redesign can set you up for success in 2026.
5. Update Your Print Materials & Templates
If you use business cards, flyers, brochures, brand guides, or presentation templates, make sure they match your latest branding.
Check:
Are fonts consistent across all materials?
Are colors accurate in print vs. digital?
Do layout styles feel modern and on-brand?
Is your contact information up to date?
A small update here can make your entire brand feel refreshed and aligned.
6. Set Your 2026 Brand Goals
Finally, don’t forget to plan ahead.
A few great end-of-year questions:
What visuals do you want to update in the next 6 months?
Does your messaging still reflect your mission and values?
Where do you want to show up more online?
What new services or offers will need branding support?
Setting clear goals now helps you enter 2026 with focus and momentum.
Let Robbins Creative Help You Start the Year Strong
If your brand could use a little glow-up before the new year, Robbins Creative offers:
Logo refreshes & rebuilds
Full brand identity design
Website design
Brand photography & videography
Social media creation
From quick updates to full transformations, Robbins Creative is here to help your brand take flight in 2026.
Until our next flight,
Liz Robbins, Robbins Creative LLC
