By branding do you mean for your parent company or for the specific app? For example the branding for Microsoft is a different type of project than say branding Office. And by branding are you thinking on a big scale (everything from coming up with the name to the marketing) or on a small scale (i.e. an icon for an app)?
My advice to you as a designer is that you should start small, take baby steps and keep your budget low. I'd also advise you to work with a local designer (if you can find a good one) who can meet with you face to face.
By the way I did a quick google search and found this studio after some hunting: http://www.holbeinruiz.com
That's really good advice Michael, thanks a lot :)
We actually have a prototype, but maybe we should focus a little bit more on that and start with branding later on the process.
Do you, being involved in branding, have any advise (book recommendations, blogs, etc).
My advice to you as a designer is that you should start small, take baby steps and keep your budget low. I'd also advise you to work with a local designer (if you can find a good one) who can meet with you face to face.
By the way I did a quick google search and found this studio after some hunting: http://www.holbeinruiz.com