Can a banner design spark clarity?

 

This was my LinkedIn banner:

And I decided to change it.

Give it a better design and value of what I represent and what I really am.

This is my LinkedIn Banner now:

I'm happy with how the banner redesign turned out—and the copy feels much sharper now.

Back story

Let's analyse my old LinkedIn banner!

I designed and created my old banner on Canva, and it represented who I am, who I used to be, or perhaps the right way to put it across: Who I believed I used to be!

Looking back at our own work, we were proud of once, can be embarrassing at times. 

It's about three years before I uploaded the old banner and started to use it. The though process behind the creation was to keep it simple, minimal and add a CTA tagline.

I wrote a tagline by myself that quite represented me "Let's think and create better". I used to have a sense of minimalist thinker vibes in my past, which would have inspired me to design something like that. Though the tagline says "Create Better" I doubt if I had created a worthy design to shout the words.

However, I realize now that I didn't put much thought into my banner (copy and the design). While it was clean and had a bold message, there are several shortcomings in my old design:

1. It didn't truly represent me. I'm not a minimalist; rather a maximalist who love colorful visual and bold textures.
2. The banner failed to convey what I do, who I am, or who I help. The message lacked context and was somewhat ambiguous. Although the quote was written by me, I doubt most people would have understood it.
3. Upon critical reflection, the banner felt blank and added a dull mood to my profile. Since the banner is the first thing anyone sees when visiting my profile, it’s important that it makes a strong impression.
4. I dont even remember why kept a plant painted in watercolor at that left corner. Maybe I would have felt cool at that point of time. It's quite in appropriate now and is not professional.

Okay, so let's be honest here, I never bothered to change it for a long time. I would reframe it as I was too lazy to change it.

What changed suddenly?

Recently, I embarked on a journey to build my personal brand. One of the biggest shortcomings that hindered engagement with my content was that people struggled to understand who I am and what I do.

It was hard for readers to make out why they should follow me. I provided less value to them. 

What is going to change?

Everything about my content is about to change. I want to create content that is rich in context, clear in its messaging, driven by a strong vision, valuable to my audience, ambitious in its goals, and impactful in its delivery.

What are the initial steps?

I found that without a clear profile/portfolio it is always hard to build a personal brand. This mad

Step 1: Building a profile with clarity and vision.

Step 2: Communicate the vision and value proposition

Step 3: Understand the reader and create content that add value.

Step 4: Create a better first impression.

Step 5: Attract the right audience.

Step 6: Define who you are in real, not reel.

To establish this perspective, I decided to change my LinkedIn banner as a first step.

Understanding the deeper meaning

I clearly defined what I wanted to communicate and outlined exactly what should and shouldn’t go on my banner. That clarity made the redesign process smooth and intentional.

I was clear from the start that I wanted my banner to include either a strong CTA or a clear action statement. I chose the latter to describe what I do.

After several iterations, I landed on:
“I turn rough ideas into resonant writing.”

What I love most about this line is the phrase “resonant writing.” I’d been searching for the right word—something that carries depth, intention, and emotional weight. Resonance felt perfect. It reflects how I aim to meet the needs of the reader, the brand, and myself: finding that sweet spot where clarity, meaning, and intent align.

Creating content with intention is far more challenging and rewarding,than writing something basic. Even though a LinkedIn banner is a small visual element, it’s the first thing people notice when they land on your profile. I wanted mine to reflect who I am and what I stand for.

The design was built on Canva. I’m not a graphic illustrator, so I made use of a ready-made illustration that spoke to me. I chose it deliberately as it reflects my persona: thoughtful, hands-on, and grounded. I still rely on pen and paper for most of my ideation and note-taking, and I wanted that analogue essence to show through.

The background is a soft gradient of blue: a deeply personal color for me. But there’s also a deeper layer to it. In Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats framework, the Blue Hat symbolizes process control, reflection, and structured thinking, all qualities I try to bring into my work and writing.

Every element in the banner, from color to copy, is intentional. Nothing random. Everything chosen to echo how I think, work, and write.

Conclusion: A Small Banner, A Big Shift

This banner redesign may seem like a small update, but for me, it marks a larger transformation. It represents the clarity I now have about who I am, what I do, and how I want to show up in the world. It’s not just about better design or sharper copy—it’s about alignment. Between intention and action. Between who I am and how I’m seen.

The process reminded me that growth isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s quiet and deliberate, like changing your banner after three years because you finally know what you want to say. And more importantly, who you’re saying it to.