Brainz Magazine Interview With Kitty Lai – Brand Strategist
- Feb 3, 2022
- 3 min read
Kitty Lai is a Branding Strategist and Visual Communicator, Founder of ME Brand – a Personal Branding service. She is one of the leading authorities in the UK, with over twenty years' experience working as a brand designer and Head of the graphic design teams for iconic British retail brands such as Ted Baker and Cath Kidston, bringing businesses alive through visual and brand communication.
Kitty totally exudes the drive, passion and energy that's needed to be a successful entrepreneur. She wholly embodies the value of self-development and keenly practices a growth mindset in the running of her own business.
Kitty shared her extensive expertise as a keynote speaker at a number of events, and is inspired to help entrepreneurs and success-driven individuals to develop their Personal Brand so they make an impact and confidently attract their ideal clients.
Kitty Lai, Brand Strategist
Who is Kitty?
I live in the beautiful Surrey Hills and was born in West Sussex. I’ve always had a passion for good design and brands since I was a teen when my first part-time job was working on a packaging factory line for Estee Lauder and Clinique. It was great to earn my own money!
I pursued a career as a visual communicator with a honours degree specialising in Graphic design and obsessively spending my term-time holidays on work experience with top Branding firms in London.
My creative experience excelled working from the bottom up for retail brands for over 20 years and managing and growing my own design teams with amazing brands such as Ted Baker and Cath Kidston.
And after being made redundant in 2017, I gave up the city commute for the daily school runs that I was preparing for. So working from home and my own hours gave me much more flexibility to work with clients and more time with the family.
My love is for branding and design so I’ve also recently launched an online sustainable clothing brand KIT LONDON with an amazing business partner and former colleague Chris Browne. The key is design, quality in our products and timeless for more longevity as we don't follow trends, as well as given back to the Planet.
What is it that you do for your clients?
I help my clients create a visually impactful and appealing brand design, so whether it’s a physical product or digital asset I welcome the variety and challenge.
There are too many cookie-cutter template sites out there and my process is to think originally and out of the box for clients.
I also help clients with getting visible to boost their brand awareness.
Who should hire/work with you?
My clients are a mix of businesses and entrepreneurs who want to set themselves apart with good branding. My clients get ME, not an account manager and without having to pay agency firm prices. My VAST years experience as it doesn't just stop at design, it’s about building, creating or launching a brand as a whole. I focus on the clients bigger picture and step into their shoes to see where they are coming from in the first discovery meeting.
One client who used my service thought I was expensive to begin with but after I delivered he said, “wow it’s money well spent as you would never get this service or quality, I’m so glad I used you”.
What is your big goal? Where do you see yourself in 10 years from now?
My big goal is to see my designs and expertise help clients boost their confidence and achieve their desired success. I get great satisfaction from others' success when I’ve played a part in it.
In 10 years time, I’d like to have my clothing brand KIT LONDON as a household name!
What can one expect after working with you?
The client should feel confident and see their growth after working with me. I like to help clients continue with success by promoting them on my social channels if they need a head start. My clients’ success in my success.
What one piece of advice can you give someone who’s starting his/her personal brand?
I would advise is to see where your ideal audience is hanging out on social media and start getting VISIBLE – remember out of sight and out of mind. You can start commenting on other peoples posts or posting value into group pages as well as your own social feeds.
