Working for a brand agency, I am often approached to handle the strategy for a ‘rebrand’. What this often means is one of two things (or both). Firstly, the associated business has evolved such that how they previously defined their brand no longer fits where they hope to sit. They…

There is an image of an advertising campaign poster making the rounds on social media that has been marked with comments that question the motives and manipulative methods behind the design (see below). …

For over 20 years, I’ve been working in or running my own branding agency. First design side, and then moving strategy side, I’ve learned a thing or two in my time. …

Creativity is growth. Creativity is play. Creativity is a new way to think about something. And this is why over-confidence is the killer of creativity. Because, if you are totally confident about something, you have no doubts about it. …

So, it’s the Tokyo Olympics very soon and there are numerous issues around the safety of athletes, the lack of fans, and whether it should be going ahead at all. But, back in 2015 the Tokyo Olympics was in hot water for very different reasons — the logo. A lot…

Customers, consumers, clients — whatever we call the people who buy your product or service, no business would be around for long without them. Now, when it comes to identifying your customers, consumers, or clients (let’s call it your audience from now on), there are two schools of thought: reach…

Back when I was an art student I had a very wise and passionate art teacher. …

The Corporate Personality is a much-used book on Branding from the industry-leader Wally Olins. Written in the 1970s it has become a basis for a lot of thinking around branding now, with much of what you hear from leading brand consultancies certainly being heavily influenced from here. Re-reading The Corporate…

Ask anyone who has even a passing interest in New Orleans brass bands and they will tell you they know of The Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Ask pretty much anyone else, and you’re likely to get a shrug of the shoulders were you to mention their band name. You see…