JUST Branding (JUST Branding - by Jacob Cass & Matt Davies)

In this episode, Jacob Cass & Matt Davies delve into the subject of community building for both brands & creatives.

We jump straight into understanding your audience, where we cover defining your target audience, understanding their needs and behaviors, and researching to gain insights.

We then move on to defining your community's purpose, highlighting the importance of identifying core values and the overall mission, setting goals and objectives, and aligning with your audience's goals.

Building and growing your community is next on the agenda, where we discuss strategies for attracting members, engaging them, managing conflicts, and measuring success.

We also touch on monetizing your community, finding the right strategy, and ensuring that it benefits both your community and its members.

Finally, we share best practices and tips for success, including common mistakes to avoid, recommendations for successful community building, and tips for management and growth.

Dan White is a branding consultant and author of "The Smart Branding Book" and has over 30 years of experience in marketing and branding.

In this episode, we discuss the latest thinking and methods for brand building including the rarely discussed area of uncovering insights and measuring brand, with successful examples.

We highlight how insights and measurement can be used together to create successful branding campaigns, and discuss how to adjust and improve branding strategies over time.

Lastly, we touch on emerging trends in branding and how branding may evolve in the future.

Join Philip VanDusen as we discuss personal growth, mentorship and how to use the power of strategy, design and marketing to build bullet-proof brands & businesses.

PHILIP VANDUSEN

Philip VanDusen is the founder of Verhaal Brand Design, a YouTube Star and has over 20 years experience in branding & design including roles like ECD at Landor, Head of Design for Global Snacks at PepsiCo, P&G Old Navy.

Positioning and naming expert, Rob Meyerson, joins Jacob Cass & Matt Davies in exploring positioning statements & the best naming practices from the lens of the company, client and consumer, sharing actionable tips and real world examples that will help you build a better brand.

In this bonus episode, we have Douglas Davis join us, Jacob Cass & Matt Davies, to discuss the current state of design education and what it takes to remain relevant as we evolve as creatives in these disruptive and turbulent times. We explore his book, Creative Strategy & The Business of Design as well as the future of design. There has never been a more timely episode.

Douglas Davis is a strategist, author and professor at the New York City College of Technology, a part of the The City University of New York. He holds the chair for the BFA in Communication Design and has a through background in marketing, creative strategy and art direction.

Show notes available at https://justcreative.com/podcast

In this thought-provoking episode of JUST Branding, we're thrilled to host Professor Byron Sharp, a leading figure in marketing science and the Director of the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute, the world's premier center for marketing research.

👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast

Byron, renowned for his groundbreaking book "How Brands Grow," which has significantly influenced the marketing sphere over the last decade, joins us to unravel the scientific principles behind brand growth.

Our conversation kicks off with Byron's inspiration for exploring consumer buying behavior and brand expansion, setting the stage for an enlightening discussion on the essence of his work.

Delving into "How Brands Grow," Byron sheds light on the book's key insights, including the pivotal concepts of Mental & Physical availability, the synergy between Distinctiveness and Differentiation, and the power of distinctive brand assets in forging lasting brand memories.

Tackling prevalent myths in brand growth, such as the overemphasis on brand loyalty and the crucial need for broad market reach, Byron emphasizes the role of continuous brand exposure in shaping consumer preferences.

He offers practical advice on how listeners can apply these insights, highlighting the balance between innovation and consistency in brand strategy.

For designers, Byron discusses the creation and rapid adoption of distinctive brand assets, providing a blueprint for branding success.

Tune in for an episode packed with invaluable insights for growing better, more recognizable brands, based on rigorous scientific research.

Join us as we sit down with marketing strategist, Ian Barnard, and delve into the world of brand performance and its distinction from performance marketing, exploring the positioning process (4Cs) and the significance of creating future demand.

Ian shares valuable insights on how small brands can grow when competing against larger market leaders and highlights the most common advertising mistakes made by small brands.

Tune in to learn how brand marketing can facilitate profitable scaling and discover the 2-4-5 framework for effective full-funnel advertising.

We also discuss digital marketing mistakes that damage brands and uncover strategies for positioning brands to become the top-of-mind choice.

Don’t miss this insightful conversation that will level up your brand & marketing expertise, no matter your level.

JUST Tune in with Jacob Cass & Matt Davies as we discuss branding with incredible thought leaders such as Marty Neumeier, Chris Do, Michael Johnson and more. We discuss brand positioning, brand personality, experience design, design thinking, business strategy, innovation, creativity and much more.

Look into Valerie Jacobs’s crystal ball and see what lies ahead for the future of branding. You’ll go back to the future, by following Valerie’s journey to becoming a master trend forecaster and how she uses these techniques to innovate & grow brands for Fortune 500 brands.

You will learn how to gather consumer & market insights, and more importantly how to use these insights for “future-fluency”, a skill that will provide you with “future-forward design intelligence” that you can use to stay relevant in today’s accelerated world. Buckle up, it’s time to fly, chicken.

Sunny Bonnell and Ashleigh Hansberger of Motto, a strategic branding agency in NYC, reveal what it takes to work with “rare breeds” - the leaders, rebels & entrepreneurs who do things differently. You’ll find out how to build more purposeful brands by better connecting with your clients, plus exactly how you can use your “vices” as superpowers, backed up by personal stories of failure and courage.

What a year! In this episode, we share some of our favorite insights from our esteemed guests.

Episodes featured (in order): 

E19: Supercharging Innovation & Creativity with Hussain Almossawi

E9: Agile Swarming with Dennis Hahn

E20: Brands VS Blands with Ariadna Navarro

E11: Debunking Branding Bull with Austin Franke

E13: Million Dollar Consulting with Alan Weiss

E18: Brand Positioning with Ulli Appelbaum

E4: The Future of Brands with Anneli Hansson

E3: Global Brand Strategy with Jan-Benedict Steenkamp

E16: Archetypes & Stories with Carol Pearson

E17: Disruptive Innovation + Purpose-Driven Branding with David Aaker

E10: Corporate Branding from The Inside Out with Meg Kypena

E1: Designing Company Culture with Josh Levine

E7: Web3, NFTs & The Metaverse with Konstantinos Kolias

Mastering Brand Building in a Regulated World: Insights from the Brilliant Terri Goldstein!

🎙️ Calling all business owners and marketers operating in regulated environments like finance or medical! This episode is tailor-made for you. Join us as we delve into the extraordinary mind of Terri Goldstein, a visionary strategist and design expert, whose unwavering commitment to brands has spanned decades.

🏢 Step into the captivating realm of brand creation amidst regulations, where Terri unveils her groundbreaking methods and invaluable experiences in the medical field. Discover how she skillfully guides customers to 'way-find' and effortlessly navigate through her Shelf Sight Sequence, tapping into our innate ability to perceive colors, shapes, and symbols.

🌟 Brace yourself for a deep dive into the core challenges encountered in regulated spaces and Terri's ingenious solutions. Uncover the pivotal role distinctive assets play as strategic drivers and gain invaluable insights on how to conquer the unique hurdles faced by brand builders operating in regulated environments.

✨ Don't miss out on this dynamic conversation packed with wisdom and inspiration. Tune in now and revolutionize your brand-building game in the world of regulations!

Austin Franke is a brand strategist and the founder of WooPunch, a brand & design consultancy rooted in the science of how brands grow.

Austin is going to be sharing his approach to brand, which is a less conventional approach, based on behavioral science and other evidence-based fields.

We’re going to “debunk” or at least throw a few punches around in regards to what Austin calls “Branding Bullshit”.

In particular, brand differentiation, customer engagement, brand purpose from a values viewpoint, loyalty marketing, and how designers can truly help a brand grow beyond the typical clichés.

Now get into your corners, and welcome to the ring, Austin Franke.

Jose Caballer is a designer, strategist & creative entrepreneur. He currently teaches organizations how to create a culture for rapid innovation - focused on alignment, experimentation & feedback. Jose previously worked at RazorFish during the dot com era, and ran a digital agency for 11 years, working with clients such as Jamie Oliver, Disney and Nike. Today he combines his 20 years of design and business experience to train thousands of professionals on webinars and in workshops worldwide.

What some people may not know, is that Jose co-founded The Skool with Chris Do, which is now called TheFutur and this is where we came across Jose. Jose released CORE which is a Design Strategy Framework and consequently is one of the TheFutur’s most popular products. Today we’re going to discuss CORE, brand strategy & innovation and how these tools can be used to help businesses achieve their goals. Plus, we’ll get a sneak peek into Jose’s latest project, The System.

Join Marty Neumeier, Andy Starr, Jacob Cass & Matt Davies as we uncover the ideas, techniques, and principles that you need to become a brand master, starting at Marty’s famous definition of brand, the process of uncovering this definition, as well as Marty’s classic books Brand Gap, Zag & Brand Flip. We explore the future of branding in the C Suite, and what that means for designers, plus how we can use Metaskills and agile strategy to create better brands. This is an episode not to be missed!

Dava Guthmiller, who spearheaded Uber’s branding, is founder and CCO at Noise 13, a branding & design agency in San Francisco. In this episode, you will discover what it takes to be a “real brand” - one that is bold, honest and centred around emotional connections.

You will learn how Dava used this philosophy to rapidly scale her agency, including a deep dive into her process of working with Uber and various other lifestyle brands. Dava shares her past failures, with key insights on why execution is just as important as strategy, plus strategies on how to measure branding. Tune in with Dava Guthmiller, Jacob Cass & Matt Davies and discover how to grow real brands with strategy & design.

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of strategy with Alex Smith, the author of the insightful book “No BS Strategy.”

👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast

We start by exploring Alex’s background and what inspired him to write “No BS Strategy.”

Alex then defines strategy and branding in his unique, straightforward style.

We then discuss what makes a great strategy and the typical processes involved in creating one, plus Alex shares invaluable tips to sense check your strategy and highlights common pitfalls to avoid.

Tune in for practical insights and no-nonsense advice on crafting a winning strategy with Alex Smith!

What's it like to build brands in the food and beverage industries? In this episode we sit down with consultant Folkert van der Heide from the Netherlands who shares his story brand-building for many years in this space.

Coming from a humble background where he grew up learning from his families farming and other small businesses, Folkert went on to work for various businesses before finding himself working in FMCG (fast moving consumer goods). He did this initially for corporations in-house before then eventually going freelance. This work then led eventually to him establishing his own drinks brand, Moj.

We dig into the story of Moj, why he created it, and his experiences creating a brand from scratch and bringing it to market. Folkert shares his approach and methodology - including how to create a product with a "big idea" behind it. If you are involved in creating brands you'll find this very inspirational!

What stories are you living? What about your brand?

And how do you manage that meaning?

With Archetypes.

And who better to discuss the power of archetypes than Carol S. Pearson?

Carol is the co-author of “The Hero and the Outlaw: Building Extraordinary Brands Through the Power of Archetypes” (Published 2001), alongside Margaret Mark.

This book has been incredibly influential in the brand strategy space as its ideas on archetypes have been taken and used to align teams and intentionally build brands.

Carol’s latest work focuses on exploring how archetypes show up in individuals and her recent book is called "What Stories are You Living? Discover Your Archetypes, Transform Your Life."

In this episode, Matt Davies and Jacob Cass discuss Carol's work – both past and present – to uncover the power of archetypes and how this knowledge should be used and how it should not.

Big companies struggle with the principles of brand. In this episode we sit down with Freelance Internal Brand Strategist, the powerful Meg Kypena.

In this episode we dig deep into how corporations can use the power of branding to align their people and communicate better.

This is branding from the inside, out.

Trademark law is tricky. And unsexy. But not anymore.

Come join trademark lawyer, Joey Vitale, who will teach you the ins and outs of trademark law so you can practice safe branding.

Joey is a “lawyer with a soul” who works with small businesses, helping them stay safe when it comes to entity formation, trademark registrations, contract drafting and other fundamental legal needs.

In this episode, we break down the legal jargon in a way that actually makes sense, so you can stay safe and keep pumping out great work, without being worried of the consequences. We discuss:

- How can you protect your ideas & work

- What do you do if your work is stolen

- What to put in your contracts

- The differences between ® ™ © symbols

- The trademarking process

- Plus dozens more legal questions for you to get schooled on.

Practice safe branding people. Take a peek inside this episode.

It’s glorious.

Ezequiel Abramzon is a brand strategist who spent 20+ years working as an executive at Disney as a marketer and strategist running digital across LATAM and later overseeing global creative from the UK.

He now lives in Spain where he works as a consultant helping entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial companies transform the way they see their business by unlocking their brand mindset.

And brand mindset is the focus of this episode.

We explore what a brand mindset is and why businesses need it.

We go deep into the 6 traits of a brand mindset and explore how to develop each trait. We also pick Ezequiel's brains on how to keep a mindset on track - both for yourself and your team.

Mash Bonigala is a brand strategist & owner of Spellbrand, a brand strategy & design agency. Mash reveals his rollercoaster entrepreneurial journey of growing his first agency, going bankrupt, how he overcame these adversities and then how he built up his now, million-dollar agency, Spellbrand.

Mash shares all the techniques he has used to sell design & strategy over the years, with some compelling & unconventional methods that will be sure to blow your mind. You’ll be spellbound in this magical episode.

Melinda Livsey, a brand strategist & online educator, shares her journey of going from a designer to brand strategist, sharing her definitions of brand & brand strategy, how she “sells” strategy, her onboarding process, how to conduct a brand strategy workshop step-by-step, including the deliverables, plus, what life is like without design. Tune in with Jacob Cass, Matt Davies & Melinda Livsey, if you want to go from being an “order taker” to brand expert.

The strength of any brand – including yours - hinges on two key factors: Differentiation & Relevance. But it doesn’t stop there. What makes a truly legendary brand is the STORY behind it.

In this episode we decipher why some brands have lines reaching around the block, while other perfectly apt competitors sit empty just steps away.

Gair Maxwell shares case studies including WHY the Mona Lisa is famous and how every-day leaders can build irresistible brands.

Gair Maxwell is a brand strategist, historian, speaker, a former radio and TV host and author of the new book, Big Little Legends:

If you want to build a legendary brand, tune into this brilliant episode.

Alex Naghavi is the ECD at Josephmark which is a global venture studio based out of Brisbane and Los Angeles.

In this episode, we learn how to design, validate, launch and sell a brand by deep diving into the process, exploring the benefits and nuances of working with a venture studio VS a traditional design shop.

We discuss MVPs, MVBs, failures and successes and how purpose, beauty and simplicity can help create better brands that make an impact.

We even explore the future of brands through the lens of Web 3.0, VR, 3D Printing, DAOs and the Metaverse.

If you’re startup, founder or someone that works with them, this episode is not to be missed.

In this episode, we tackle the often-overlooked challenges of brand identity asset management and explore why traditional style guides might not be enough.

👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast

Joined by Raitis Velps, we dive into the common pitfalls brands face, from outdated assets to inconsistent branding across platforms.

Discover how these issues can dilute brand perception and hurt performance in competitive markets.

We also examine where static brand guidelines fall short and introduce innovative tools like Corebook Studio, which offer dynamic, real-time solutions for modern brand management.

Learn how digital-first brand guidelines can streamline consistency, improve collaboration, and elevate your brand’s value.

Whether you’re an agency or a brand leader, this episode provides actionable insights to rethink how you manage brand assets in today’s fast-paced world.

Tune in and explore the future of brand management!

Jacob Cass & Matt Davies discuss the best tools for brand strategy, including top courses, books & methodologies. We also dive into positioning brand archetypes, brand experience & brand personality and how these tools can help build better brands.

Natalie Nixon is the author of The Creativity Leap and in this episode, she shares her techniques to helping brands through the power of creativity.

We tuck into some big ideas like how creativity leads to innovation, why a business needs more creative ideas, anthropology, design thinking and how being curious and how asking more of the "why", "what if" and "how" questions create more value for organisations.

Take the leap with us and Natalie Nixon in this value-packed episode.

Join us and Hamish Smyth as we unravel the crucial role of brand guidelines in achieving brand consistency, recognition, and trust.

We’ll explore the key elements of successful guidelines and gain insights from renowned brands, plus learn how to avoid common pitfalls and create brand guidelines that people actually use.

Plus, we introduce the ground-breaking "Standards" tool transforming brand guidelines for the better.

This episode is a must-listen for all seeking branding excellence!

Listen in as we reveal our favourite outtakes from Season 1 of the JUST Branding Podcast in 2020, including branding insights from creative minds such as Marty Neumeier, Chris Do, Michael Johnson, Melinda Livsey, Michael Janda, Tom Ross, Rob Meyerson, Stephen Houraghan, Stef Hamnerlink, Tobias Dahlberg, Valerie Jacobs, Motto and more. Don't miss this one!

Learn what NOT to do when it comes to developing your brand. Listen in as we discuss with brand strategist, Jacquelin Lieberman, the most common mistakes brands make as they grow & market their brand. This is a juicy episode, where we discuss the brand purpose, core values, uncovering brand truths, brand management, creating value and so much more. If you want to learn how to create an enduring brand that matters, this episode is for you!

Jacquelin Lieberman is the founder of the brand strategy consultancy, BrandCrudo. She’s honed her no-B.S.-approach to marketing strategy over the years guided by one belief – when you make brands more human, you connect them to more people. Throughout her career, she has developed a narrative-based approach to traditional strategic planning to uncover the brand truth that resonates with audiences. She has worked with many brands, most notably for many of Unilever's iconic brands, Beech-Nut, General Mills, and most recently with Happy Family Brands and fintech disrupter, the Alternative Investment Exchange. Jacqueline applies both art and science to understanding human insight and interpreting findings in order to unearth the real reason people should care about your brand. For Jacqueline, it’s all about finding a brand's raw truth and making it matter.

In this captivating episode of JUST Branding, we welcome back Rob Meyerson, making history as our first returning guest.

👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast

Rob, a distinguished brand consultant and co-author of the latest edition of Alina Wheeler’s seminal work, "Designing Brand Identity," leads us through a poignant tribute to Wheeler's legacy and a deep dive into the essence of Brand Identity, with a special emphasis on Brand Architecture.

We explore the book's 6th edition and unpack the critical components of brand identity, from visual and verbal elements to the reemerging sonic dimension, articulating how a well-structured brand identity is pivotal for standing out in today's competitive landscape.

Delving into Brand Architecture, we clarify the various models—branded house, house of brands, endorsed brands, and hybrids—highlighting their significance in aligning with a company's overarching business strategies.

This episode is a treasure trove for anyone passionate about the craft of branding, offering deep dives and practical tips for building brands that resonate and last.

Join hosts Jacob Cass and Matt Davies as they highlight the best insights from 2024’s top branding experts on Just Branding.

👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast

This episode features the brightest minds, including Byron Sharp, Andy Raskin, Alex Smith, Alexandra Watkins, Tom Roach, Nick Asbury, Maria Brasil, and more.

From brand positioning models to strategic narratives, purpose-driven branding, and the future of strategy, we explore actionable advice and thought-provoking ideas to help you grow your brand.

Discover:

• Differentiation vs. distinctiveness

• Humour in branding

• Brand naming secrets

• Streamlined strategy frameworks

Whether you’re a strategist, designer, or brand leader, this “best of” episode distills the key themes that shaped branding in 2024.

Tune in and get inspired!

In this enlightening episode of JUST Branding, you’ll discover the art and science of brand storytelling through the experiences and insights of Miri Rodriguez, a celebrated storyteller and branding expert with an impressive history at Microsoft.

Miri, an author and speaker, delves into the nuances of creating relevant brand narratives that transform audience perceptions and build strong connections.

Key discussions include Miri’s branding journey, the power of storytelling, building a ‘Storytelling Machine’, how to leverage AI, plus case studies and practical advice.

This episode is a must-listen for those interested in elevating their brand's narrative and connecting more authentically with their audience!

David Aaker is the author of over 100 articles and 18 books on branding, business strategy, and marketing that have sold well over one million copies.

Hailed the “Father of Modern Branding”, David is a true authority on branding and we’re incredibly humbled to have him here on JUST Branding.

In this episode, we focus on two of his recent books…

The first is “Owning Game-Changing Subcategories” which focuses on disruptive innovation & growth in the digital age.

And the second is his latest book, The Future of Purpose-Driven Branding: Signature Programs that Impact & Inspire Both Business and Society.

Tune in to understand how brands can break through with disruptive innovation and the “must-haves” for growth in the digital age.

Plus, how brands can maintain relevance & connect with future consumers through purpose-driven branding while avoiding green-washing.

Warning. This episode might blow your mind.

In this episode, Matt and Jacob speak with Kate Pincott - Head of Design at Matteruem. Mattereuem are at the cutting edge of technology which enables brands to create NFT digital passports of real-world assets which are certified by third parties and which may enable the spiral economy.

If none of that makes any sense to you then definitely listen to this episode to cut through the jargon and get an insight into the future of brand building in the digital world.

We tuck into how NFTs can be used in a practical way to build consumer trust. We delve into what NFTs are and why when pairing them with real products customers can obtain huge amounts of value.

Ultimately, if you want your brand to be relevant in the future, you will need to know about the next frontier for brands. You heard it here first.

Denise Lee Yohn is the go-to expert on brand leadership for national media outlets, an in-demand keynote speaker and consultant, and an influential writer.

She is the author of the bestselling book What Great Brands Do: The Seven Brand-Building Principles that Separate the Best from the Rest and the new book FUSION: How Integrating Brand and Culture Powers the World's Greatest Companies. In this episode, you will learn exactly that - how to integrate brand & culture into your company for massive success!

Learn how to write rock-solid creative briefs and the fundamentals of strategy so you can gain confidence in your strategic abilities, and ultimately have a bigger impact on your company.

Julian Cole is a strategy consultant for global brands such as Apple, Facebook & Disney.

Previously, he’s held the role of Head of Comms Planning at BBDO & has helped create award-winning work for PlayStation, Pepsi, Google and after looking at his wrap sheet - pretty much the Global 100.

Julian is also a strategy coach and in 2017 he founded the Planning Dirty Academy which helps agency strategists improve their craft by getting their hands dirty.

In this episode, we sit down with Magdalena Adamska, founder of BrandStruck and a seasoned freelance strategist, to explore the world of brand positioning.

👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast

We’ll start by getting to know Magda and how she founded BrandStruck, a platform dedicated to brand strategy insights. Then, we dive into the essentials of brand positioning—what it is, why it’s crucial for businesses, and how it helps shape a company’s market presence.

Magda shares insights into popular brand positioning models, weighing their pros and cons, and offering practical tips for selecting the right approach. We also discuss common mistakes businesses make when positioning their brands and how to avoid them.

Whether you’re building a brand or refining an existing one, this episode provides actionable strategies to position your brand effectively. Tune in to learn from an expert and discover where you can follow Magda for more branding wisdom!

Our guest today is the esteemed Professor Jenni Romaniuk, an expert in marketing and consumer behaviour from the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute for Marketing Science.

In this episode, we explore the significance of distinctiveness in branding and its role in a brand's success. Jenni shares key elements for building distinctive brands and provides examples of distinctive brand assets.

We also delve into the concept of differentiation and its importance in establishing a brand's competitive edge with Jenni offering insights into how distinctiveness and differentiation work together to drive brand growth.

Tune in to this enlightening episode of JUST Branding and gain expert knowledge from Professor Jenni Romaniuk's extensive experience in the world of marketing science and consumer behaviour.

This episode is a real treat for anyone looking to level up on how to work on brand strategy collaboratively.

Matt Davies and Jacob Cass sit down with global agency leader Dennis Hahn of Liquid agency.

Together they quiz Dennis on his 'agile swarming' methodology covering what swarming is and what problems it solves for leadership, strategy, and creative teams.

Dennis outlines his principles for swarming and how to conduct a swarm. He also gives insights on what makes a great facilitator, the environment, and the tools he uses for success.

If you want to know how an agency at the cutting edge is doing its strategy work this is the episode for you. Not to be missed.

With the rise of the social justice movement, the debate over if, when, and how brands should engage with politics has never been more relevant. In this episode, we sit down with Jeroen Reuven Bours, founder of Darling Agency in New York, to break down this complex and high-stakes topic.

We explore:

✅ The pros and cons of brands getting involved in political discourse

✅ Real-world examples of brand activism—both successful and catastrophic

✅ How companies can navigate political engagement without alienating their audience

✅ Jeroen’s expert take on when it makes sense for brands to take a stand

If you are looking to build a standout brand in a comoditised marketplace then this is the episode for you!

👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast

Cooper Parry is a UK accountancy firm like no other. They are famous for being "the rebels of accountancy" and zigging when everyone else is zagging.

They epitomise many of the principles brand strategists speak about in theory. Using brand and culture they have become one of the fasted growing professional services businesses in the UK.

Join us from the front lines as we speak with their Creative Director (yes thats right an accountancy firm with a CD!) to unpack the story and secrets of their brand building success.

Use these same principles, so you can take your business from bland to brand, you rebel!

We're diving deep into the realm of BIG Brand Ideas – those game-changing, magnetic forces that breathe life into brands and propel them to greatness.

Join your hosts, the dynamic duo of branding, Matt Davies and Jacob Cass, as they unravel the mysteries behind these mighty ideas. It's a rollercoaster of insights, anecdotes, and aha moments!

Discover what it takes to craft a brand idea so compelling, it becomes a rallying cry that unites, excites, and drives your brand to new heights. But beware – these gems are not just lying around waiting to be found; they're hidden treasures that demand a masterful touch.

Feast your ears on real-world examples from major brands that have harnessed the power of BIG ideas, and get ready to have your mind blown. Matt and Jacob will also share their own experiences, giving you an exclusive peek into the art of unlocking big ideas for clients.

By the end of this electrifying episode, you'll be armed with the knowledge and inspiration to supercharge your brand-building process. Don't miss out – tune in now and let the sparks of BIG Brand Ideas ignite your brand's future! 🔥🚀

We sit down with Lida Citroën, an award-winning expert in reputation management, renowned keynote speaker, and author of The New Rules of Influence.

Whether you’re a seasoned executive or a leader in the making, this episode is packed with tips to help you step into your full leadership potential.

Key Topics:

• The shift in influence: Why traditional authority isn’t enough anymore

• Lida’s 10-step process for building influence and why “why” matters

• How storytelling can help leaders build trust and connection

• Practical advice for increasing confidence and authenticity as a leader

Tune in to learn how to lead with purpose and influence in today’s rapidly changing world!

Make your brand unforgettable with humour! Jacob Cass & Matt Davies sit down with branding expert Paddy to explore how adding a dash of humor can make brands more relatable, engaging, and memorable!

Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast

Paddy shares his journey into humor-driven branding and why he believes humor is a powerful tool for standing out in today’s crowded market.

Discover when and where humor works best, along with Paddy’s step-by-step guide for crafting humorous copy that hits the mark.

From practical examples of brands nailing their humor to common pitfalls to avoid, Paddy shares insights that will help you use humor confidently and effectively in your messaging.

Tune in for actionable tips and real-world examples on using humor to connect with your audience—and learn Paddy’s top strategies for creating an authentic, funny brand that resonates.

If you’re ready to make your brand stand out, this episode is a must-listen!

Frederick Ost and Erik Kockum of SNASK join us to discuss how to build culture, and along the way our conversation diverts into a myriad of topics including creativity, empathy, philosophy, and of course, branding.

We discuss how their agency SNASK approaches brand building, the key to creativity, how to create a culture of trust and creativity, as well as how leading with vulnerability and empathy can give you an edge in the industry.

In this episode, Alexandra Watkins, a renowned naming expert and author of ‘Hello, My Name Is Awesome: How to Create Brand Names That Stick,’ shares her insights .

👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast

Alexandra emphasizes that anyone can create memorable brand names with the right approach.

She discusses the emotional impact of names, the pitfalls of overly descriptive ones, and the importance of testing using the SMILE & SCRATCH method which outlines key brand naming principles.

Alexandra also delves into challenges like trademark availability, domain names and the future of brand naming in the age of AI.

Tune in for practical tips on how to create brand names that stick!

Prepare to embark on an insightful exploration of the branding industry's ever-changing landscape in State of Brand 2024, hosted by Jacob Cass and Matt Davies. This special episode promises to provide a deep dive into the core of the branding world as it stands today.

👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast

Facing the influences of AI integration, post-COVID market dynamics, and current economic challenges, Jacob and Matt tackle these issues head-on, addressing the crucial questions:

- How are branding professionals navigating these rapid shifts?

- What obstacles are they encountering along the way?

- What visions do they hold for the future of the industry?

This episode goes beyond just identifying challenges; it delves into actionable strategies and effective solutions.

Our hosts will guide you through vital topics such as ground-breaking pricing strategies, overcoming industry hurdles, mastering client acquisition in the modern era, and understanding the significant role of AI in shaping the future of branding.

Jacob and Matt also illuminate the essential tools of the trade, keeping you updated with the latest trends in learning and development.

Packed with seasoned insights and pragmatic advice, this episode is a must-listen for anyone in the branding sphere. I

It's an opportunity for both veteran professionals and newcomers to gain valuable insights into how the industry is adapting to AI, discover advanced tactics and crucial metrics driving brand success, and learn about the resources empowering today's brand leaders.

Tune in to "State of Brand 2024" and ride the wave of change with Jacob Cass and Matt Davies.

Kevin Duncan is a business consultant and best selling author - known for his snappy no-nonsense wisdom packed books on business strategy. In this episode we dig into Kevin's approach and his overview of 7 strategies businesses need to create to be successful from his book "The Smart Strategy Book". The seven strategies we touch on are: Commercial, Brand, Customer, Sales, People, Innovation and Communication.

We especially dig into brand strategy, discover how this fits into the other six strategies and Kevin shares some of the techniques and concepts he uses to create effective strategies with his clients. Recommended listening for all brand builders.

In this episode of JUST Branding, we are thrilled to welcome Tom Roach, Vice President of Brand Strategy at Jellyfish and one of the most respected figures in the advertising world.

👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast

With over 20 years of experience at top agencies like BBH, Leo Burnett, and AMV BBDO, Tom has become a leading voice in the fusion of brand and performance marketing.

Join us as Tom shares his journey from traditional agencies to his current role at Jellyfish, where he’s reshaping the future of branding in a digital-first landscape. We’ll dive deep into his unique approach to bridging the often-divisive gap between brand strategy and performance marketing, explore the power of creativity for long-term brand growth, and hear his vision for the future of brand planning.

Whether you’re in branding, marketing, or advertising, this episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone looking to build sustainable, high-performing brands. Tune in!

The episode features a compelling discussion with Maria Brasil, founder of Essence Branding and a champion of conscious capitalism.

👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast

Maria shares her journey from working in traditional branding agencies to pioneering a brand strategy approach that emphasizes aligning brand positioning with organizational culture.

She explains the concept of conscious capitalism, which revolves around four pillars: higher purpose, conscious leadership, conscious culture, and stakeholder integration.

Maria and the hosts delve into the importance of building brands “from the inside out,” stressing that true brand authenticity stems from the company’s core values and culture, not just external marketing efforts. Maria shares insights from her work, including a project with a fintech company in Brazil’s favelas, where she helped develop a brand that resonates deeply with its community by addressing their unique needs and challenges.

The episode also explores the challenges of integrating conscious capitalism into business practices, emphasizing the need for leaders to take the time to understand and authentically embody the brand’s values. Maria concludes by encouraging companies to consciously build brands that are not only profitable but also meaningful and aligned with their internal culture.

Conscious Capitalism is a business philosophy that emphasizes the importance of aligning business practices with social and environmental responsibilities. It advocates for a business model that serves all major stakeholders, including customers, employees, investors, communities, suppliers, and the environment, rather than solely focusing on maximizing shareholder value. 

Listen in as we reveal our favourite outtakes from Season 2 of the JUST Branding Podcast in 2021, including branding insights from creative minds such as Sagi Haviv, Joseph Pine II, Denise Lee Yohn, Natalie Nixon, Bill Gardner, Emily Cohen, Armin Vit, Julian Cole and more.

In this episode, we sit down with the wonderful Kaye Putnam, a psychology-driven brand strategist from South Carolina. We geek out about all things brand thinking. We get into the meaning of ‘psychology-driven branding’, about knowing your brand and living your brand. Kaye shares her ‘4C Brand Strategy Framework’ which helps to bake psychological principles into brands.

We also discover Kayes inspirational story, her obsession with human decision making and how this helps her in her work + how she keeps a work life balance as a Mum and entrepreneur.

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Kaye Putnam is a psychology-driven brand strategist for entrepreneurs. Through work with hundreds of clients from international corporations to solo-entrepreneurs, she developed her signature Clarity Code™ method. She believes that online business should be more human and that all entrepreneurs have genius they can use to impact the world. She works with students in her brand incubation program and with clients 1-on-1. When she’s not transforming brands, she’s exploring the world with her husband and two little ones.

What does working at Nike for 10 years teach you about brand? Find out in this episode with Matt Watson, founder of Watson Creative & Brand Labs, as he reveals all, including his affinity for the Nike logo. Watson will make you think about your brand and market differently after you hear how his firm handles the branding process. We discuss brand audits, consumer research including both creative & analytical sides, the power of brand DNA, plus some key insights on how to take a position and own it. Don’t miss this episode with Matt Watson, Jacob Cass & Matt Davies! Show notes: https://justcreative.com/podcast

What makes a powerful personal brand and how can you build one that endures? We outline all the steps you need to follow to craft an authentic brand narrative that will help you get noticed, remembered and results.

Rob Levinson is a seasoned brand strategist who’s worked for global consumer brands such as DeBeers, Rolls-Royce, BMW and more. Now he’s the principal of Leverage Advisors which helps grow middle-market B2B businesses, as well as a Personal Brand Coach which helps people to develop brand stories that get them noticed & remembered. He’s also a lecturer at Boston Uni, and a former Wall Street Journal online columnist.

If you’re wanting to improve & grow your personal brand, this episode is for you!

Welcome to the special ‘Best of 2023’ episode of ‘JUST Branding,’ where we dive into the most insightful and transformative ideas in branding and marketing from the year.

👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast

This episode is a curated journey through the minds of industry leaders, innovators, and rebels, each offering unique perspectives on branding’s evolving landscape.

We kick off with the most popular episode of the season, Episode 1, which just happened to be our own. In it, we discuss the intricacies of becoming a brand consultant and our own personal journeys.

Episode 8 takes a different turn with Mike Roberts, exploring personal branding and the influential role of LinkedIn.

In Episode 11, Ian Barnard brings practical wisdom on building big brands with modest budgets, followed by a rebellious twist in

Episode 5 with Stix of Liquid Death, who redefines branding norms.

Episodes 9 and 15, featuring Fred & Erik of SNASK delve into the heart of creativity, empathy, and culture, and the development of BIG brand ideas.

The art of workshop design is elegantly unfolded by Brittni Bowering in Episode 3, while Rachel Davis in Episode 14 balances the scales between facilitation and strategy.

Chris Kocek in Episode 16 and Dan White in Episode 7 take us through the intricate process of uncovering insights and measuring brand impact.

Miri Rodriguez’s Episode 17 on Brand Storytelling and Jenni Romaniuk’s Episode 12 on Distinctiveness & Differentiation provide a masterclass on crafting compelling narratives and standing out in a crowded market.

Terri Goldstein in Episode 10 and Hamish Smyth in Episode 13 bring their expertise on mastering brand building in regulated environments and the art of consistency in brand guidelines.

Lastly, Kate Pincott in Episode 4 explores the cutting-edge world of NFTs and their impact on brands, while another Episode 17 offers insights into brand growth through AI, marking the convergence of branding and technology.

Join us as we revisit these captivating discussions, each a cornerstone in the edifice of modern branding and marketing.

How does brand interact with the discipline of marketing?

In this insightful episode, we're joined by Jade Tambini, a B2B marketing expert and course leader at B2B Breakthrough Academy.

👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast

With a rich background in consulting and 17 years of experience in B2B, Jade has not only worked her way to director-level positions at DS Smith PLC but has also served as the Chair of the Chartered Institute of Wales.

Jade takes us on a journey through the evolution of B2B marketing, highlighting the seismic shift from traditional person-to-person sales to the current digital landscape.

In this new era, online platforms have become pivotal, transforming customer expectations from simple sales support to a demanding need for leads.

Contrary to common belief, Jade observes that online competition in B2B isn't as saturated as one might think, presenting untapped opportunities for businesses to establish their presence in the digital space.

Jade generously shares her expertise by unveiling the four pillars of B2B marketing, offering a robust framework for businesses navigating the intricate world of B2B Marketing. Not to be missed!

Get ready to revolutionize your branding game with the help of AI!

In this episode of JUST Branding, we are joined by the renowned digital marketing expert and "AI whisperer," Rob Lennon, who has 45 publications under his belt and a wealth of knowledge and resources around AI, ChatGPT, and prompt craft.

Rob shares actionable insights on how you can leverage AI, particularly ChatGPT, to grow your business. Plus, we dive into the benefits of using AI, such as improved efficiency and personalization, and showcase real-life examples of successful AI integration in brand & marketing efforts.

But that's not all! Rob also reveals specific tools and techniques that can be used to teach AI to embody your brand's unique voice, style, and customers. By the end of this episode, you'll have all the strategies and tools you need to take your brand to the next level with AI.

We also discuss the ethical concerns related to using AI in content and marketing, and explore the potential pitfalls and mistakes that companies should avoid.

Finally, we look towards the future and discuss how AI will continue to shape the world of branding and marketing.

Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to learn from the AI whisperer himself and unlock the full potential of AI for your brand.

This summary was written by AI based on the transcript of the episode. How’s that for practicing what you preach!

When collaboratively building a brand, how does a strategist balance both the facilitation of workshops and the task of creating the strategy 🤔.

What are the key challenges? How can they be overcome? This is the topic of this value-packed episode.

As a workshop ExperienceDesigner and facilitator known for her work with the Butter and Miro Communities and as a brand strategist working with global teams Rachel Davis is a bit of a unicorn.

In this episode, we tuck into the very real challenges of the strategist+facilitator with practical tips, tricks, and ideas shared from the outset. Rachel shares experiences and ideas gleaned from her 10+ years as a practitioner in this space. Not to be missed.

What's it like working on corporate brands from the inside?

In this episode we take a peak behind the curtain to see how big brands are managed by their in-house teams. We sit down with the fantastic Kyle Millar, VP of Marketing at SodaStream Canada.

Kyle outlines how he views brand strategy, the principles he uses to build brand, create memorable customer experiences and to inspire his teams to success. He also digs into what it’s like to work “in-house” - both the highs and the lows.

If you are thinking about working in-house, or if you are just curious as to what it's like joining a large organization in their brand department, this episode is not to be missed.

Previously Kyle has led leading brand roles in Unilever, Molson Coors and Capital One - so it you want to learn from someone whose been there, done it and got the corporate T-shirt, this is the episode for you.

Stef Hamerlinck, a strategy consultant, joins Jacob Cass & Matt Davies to discuss brand purpose, brand authenticity and some unique perspectives on the benefits and misuses of growing a brand from the inside out, touching on purpose, missions, visions and core values.

As a customer, you’re not buying the item. You’re buying the experience. Today, we have Joseph Pine, co-author of The Experience Economy, on the show to discuss the importance of delighting your customer, along with some powerful examples that will help you “Design the TIME the customer spends with YOU”. If you work with people, then this episode is for you.

Is creativity the key to unlocking innovation? In this episode of JUST Branding, we sit down with Melissa Dinwiddie—innovation strategist, keynote speaker, and author of The Creative Sandbox Way. Melissa’s journey from calligraphy and jazz to corporate consulting has given her a unique perspective on creativity in business.

If you’re looking to boost creativity, enhance collaboration, and drive innovation—this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss!

🎧 Tune in now!

In this episode, we go deep into the world of business strategy with Emily Cohen.

Emily is a self-described “brutally honest” consultant to creative professionals and in fact, she even named her book that!

Her business book, Brutally Honest: No-Bullshit Strategies to Evolve Your Creative Business, is chock full of advice, insights, business best practices, actionable strategies, case studies and much more, but unlike many other books for our industry, Brutally Honest is designed for visual learners (like us!) and includes colorful info-graphics, checklists, as well as short & impactful sound bites to apply!

So if you’re looking for the tools & strategies to whip your business or team in to shape, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Just Branding, we sit down with creative writer and branding expert Nick Asbury, author of The Road to Hell.

Nick challenges the widely accepted notion that brands can simply ‘do well by doing good,’ arguing that purpose-driven marketing often leads to unintended consequences.

Tune in to learn how brands can strike a better balance between creativity, authenticity, and ethical responsibility.

Grow your personal brand with confidence. Tune in with Michael Janda & Tom Ross as we explore what it takes to maximise your personal brand’s success! These “Biz Buddies” run multi 7-figure businesses and in this episode, you’ll hear the lessons they’ve picked up along the way.

MICHAEL JANDA

Michael Janda is an agency veteran, business coach, and best-selling author of Burn Your Portfolio. He helps creative freelancers and agencies run their businesses with confidence and make more money.

TOM ROSS

Tom Ross is the CEO of DesignCuts and a marketing coach. He co-hosts the Biz Buds podcast with Michael Janda and is probably the most Honest Entrepreneur on the internet. This episode is not to be missed!

In this episode Matt and Jacob sit down with the master of 'Strategic Narrative' Andy Raskin.

👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast

Andy walks through how to create a narrative which positions your brand as the front runners in a movement and how this cuts through noise and galvanises companies around a powerful purpose.

If you want help punching up your brand positioning, this episode is not to be missed.

Sick of long winded brand building processes that take months and loose momentum?

Then you need to know about "Brand Sprints"!

👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast

In this 'scrappy'(!) episode we jump into the magical world of sprinting.

We speak with the brilliant Eden Vidal, founder of Under. His studio helps businesses define their strategy, positioning and identities in just 10 days.

We tuck into how this is achievable, the benefits of sprints, how to conduct them, where the pitfalls lie and how to overcome them.

Get ready to reframe your thinking, reimagine your process, push the boundaries and embrace the scrappy nature of brand sprinting!

Sagi Haviv is a logo design legend. However, in this episode we go deeper and uncover what it takes to solve big brand & business problems. We discuss CGH’s branding process using case studies from Discovery+, Harvard University Press and Chase Bank, as well as Sagi’s biggest life lessons, how to “pressure test” a trademark & visual identity system, presentation techniques that win, when & how to break the rules, and ultimately how to “problem solve”. Hint… you first must define the business’ problems & success criteria. Tune in for a monster value-packed episode.

Stephen Houraghan joins Jacob Cass & Matt Davies to discuss customer personas and brand archetypes and how these tools can be used to help better understand your audience and define your brand’s personality.

ShannaRea Dennis is an expert in "rebranding". In this episode, we tuck into the subject of what a rebrand is, why a business might need a rebrand, what that entails and what the benefits are.

👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast

We also review what business leaders should expect from a strategy led rebrand and what pitfalls they should avoid.

This episode is a must for anyone involved in or seeking to undertake a rebrand soon.

Today we have Scott Buschkuhl who is the Creative Director at Siegel & Gale, a brand strategy, design, and experience firm with its global headquarters located in NYC.

Here, Scott develops teams and works hands-on with his clients who have included folks like New York Times, Victoria’s Secret, Wired, and dozens more. He’s got a ton of awards on his belt, he’s a sought-after lecturer, an esteemed judge for competition juries, and also a professor at the School of Visual Arts in NYC.

He’s previously worked at Pentagram and also ran his own agency for 12 years so it’s safe to say we’re in good hands.

Today we’re going to be discussing Simplicity in Branding which is S&G’s philosophy on brand in general. In fact, they state “We’re the simplicity company” as their tagline.

We discuss designing for humans, emotional responses, team collaboration, simplicity as an approach to brand strategy, presentation techniques, and much more!

Bill Gardner joins Jacob Cass and Matt Davies to discuss the differences between logos and brands, Jennifer Aawker’s brand personality framework, the discovery process with clients, objectivity VS subjectivity, establishing design briefs, how to sell the value of branding, logo design trends and magic. Yes, magic!

Bill Gardner is the owner and president of Gardner Design, where he and his team have produced effective and award winning results for such industry leaders as NFL, Pepsi, Pizza Hut, Kroger, Hallmark, SeaWorld, and others. He understands the nuances of brand practicalities better than anyone in the business and leads his team to always first consider the business that the design is supporting.

As the founder of LogoLounge.com – the international, searchable compendium of logos – Bill authored the affiliated bestselling LogoLounge book series, volumes 1-12, and is the author of the annual LogoLounge Logo Trend Report. 2013 marked the release of the highly anticipated Logo Creed, a foundation textbook for students, educators and professionals alike. Bill is also the author and presenter of LinkedIn Learning’s series of online courses concentrating on branding and identity design.

In 2014, Bill became an AIGA Fellow Award recipient for his contributions to the local, national and international creative community. Bill also judges design competitions and speaks nationally and internationally on identity trends and logo development. In his spare time, he serves on several community boards and has completed a six-year term as the Territorial Vice President of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

Tune in as we explore the transformative role of insights in branding and marketing with subject matter expert, Chris Kocek. 

Our conversation begins with Kocek sharing his journey and the motivation behind his new book, "Any Insights Yet?”, which aims to revolutionize our understanding of insights in business.

Kocek delves into the essence of what constitutes a true insight, differentiating it from mere observations, data, and trends. He emphasizes the rarity and power of genuine insights, providing examples to illustrate his points. 

Our discussion further explores effective strategies for uncovering insights, including helpful data points and methods to bring order to the often chaotic process of insight discovery.

Plus, practical advice on presenting insights to clients, ensuring they are impactful and persuasive. 

Tune in and uncover genuine insights.

Chris Do is an Emmy award-winning designer, director, CEO and Chief Strategist of Blind and the founder of The Futur—an online education platform with the mission of teaching 1 billion people how to make a living doing what they love. In this episode, Chris reveals his biggest mistakes, failures & regrets, plus how you too can overcome these adversities. We then dive into how to get paid more as a creative, how to move into brand strategy & sell it, Chris’s strategic branding process, the powers & pitfalls of the labels we put on ourselves and the quest for success. This is not to be missed!  

Jacob Cass & Matt Davies discuss brand strategy, defining what it is and how to bridge the gap between design & brand strategy, as well as revealing their back stories and what to expect in the first season of the JUST Branding Podcast.

Relevance. That's the key to ensuring a brand thrives. We sit down with expert and author of "Shift Ahead", Allen Adamson, to understand how to stay relevant in today's fast moving world.

How organizations stay relevant is Allen’s area of specilality. Together we tuck into the principles of relevance, and Allen gives valuable first-hand examples of how to apply these principles in action. We look at how the best organizations recognize when it’s time to change direction, and how they pull it off while bolstering their brands.

As well as “Shift Ahead” Allen is an author of a number of branding books such as; BrandSimple, BrandDigital, and The Edge:50 Tips from Brands That Lead – which are used in universities across the USA.

He is also the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Metaforce, a disruptive marketing and product consultancy which, unlike traditional firms, takes a multi-disciplinary channel-agnostic approach to marketing challenges. So - if you want to learn from an industry giant on the key topic of Relevance, look no further!

Who better to learn about consulting from than "the consultants consultant" Alan Weiss?

Alan wrote the famous best selling book "Million Dollar Consultant" and is the author of over 60 books on consulting and business.

In this episode Matt and Jacob sit down with Alan to discuss how the principles of Alan's books can be applied to brand strategy.

We explore why consultancy is a good option, different consulting approaches, how to sell it and how to grow a consulting practice. We go deep into value based billing and show how selling time is a terrible idea.

Matt is especially thrilled with this episode as he has been using Alan's techniques to great success.

This episode is NOT to be missed!

🔊 Ever heard of sonic branding? Audio branding is the strategic use of music and sound to help reinforce brand recognition and enhance the consumer experience. We go deep in this session, exploring the ins and outs of successful audio branding, using popular examples, as well as the process Drop Music Branding used to audio brand this very podcast. Tune in with Jacob Cass, Matt Davies & Gabriel Ignacio Agüero to discover why “good audio branding is invisible” and how you can stand out with audio branding. 

Nathan Hendricks believes there is no excuse for a lousy brand. As chief creative officer at LPK, he challenges the organization’s creative teams to uphold the vision that every brand should make a powerful and positive difference for the people it serves. A candid cultural commentator, he’s never afraid to tell it like it is. In this episode, we explore primal human desires and how we can use that to create stronger brands.

Nathan holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial design from The Ohio State University, where he majored in visual communications and cultivated an affection for industrial beer.

ABOUT LPK

LPK is a brand, innovation and customer experience consultancy, helping organizations build enduring brands that thrive in the emergent culture. Merging trends, insights, strategy and creativity, we create the now, near and next for B2Bs and B2Cs, startups and Fortune 50s.

Level up your understanding of experience design with this enlightening episode.

👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast

Brands are more than just logos and fonts.

They are experiences from which consumers formulate meaning.

In this episode we sit down with Matthew Cluttingham who has been creating experiences for global brands for over 20 years.

We pick his brains to discuss the power of lighting to effect mood and how using it can enhance the way brands are experienced by customers.

Mark Pollard, founder of Mighty Jungle and host of Sweathead, shares his unique perspective on simplifying strategy in this insightful episode. Reflecting on his journey from creative to strategist, Mark explains his approach to strategy, highlighting the pivotal role of storytelling and empathy in shaping effective brand narratives.

We explore the delicate balance between creativity and analytical thinking, with Mark providing real-world examples of strategies that drive impactful results. He underscores the importance of simplicity in strategy, offering practical guidance on how to create clear, actionable brand strategies through his 4 Point Framework.

Mark also dives into the biggest challenges facing strategists today, offering advice on avoiding common pitfalls and staying ahead in a rapidly evolving industry.

If you are serious about brand building at scale, this is the episode for you.

Richard Cotter is a brand consultant at the top of his game. He left school at 17 and developed his career to the point where now he is parachuted to work with large organizations that have brands that are underperforming and help scale them.

He is best known for turning around outdoor performance and lifestyle brand Berghaus.

He is the author of the book The Zebra Reality: How to Create Unstoppable Organizational Momentum’ and achieve all your business goals.

In this episode, Matt Davies and Jacob Cass sit down with Richard and tuck into how he has got to where he is and his top tips on scaling underperforming brands.

We talk about differentiation, attributes of global brands, the power of alignment, and the five steps for creating organizational momentum.

A super episode packed with value with someone who has been there, done it, and got the Berghaus T-shirt.

Michael Johnson is the founder and creative director of Johnson Banks, an incredible design consultancy based in London, responsible for the rebranding of companies such as Virgin Atlantic, Think London, Christian Aid and many more.

His company is known for how they define, then design, brands that make a difference and that’s what we discuss in this episode, as well as Michael's incredible book “Branding in 5.5 Steps” which is focused on the branding process, from the lens of both strategy and design.

Plus, we’ll explore his latest book release, “Now Try Something Weirder”, which shows how to have great ideas & survive in the creative business. We’re incredibly stoked & privileged to have Michael on the show, as his award-winning work really does change lives.

Are you looking to take a brand to an international audience? 

Global expansion needs careful consideration and so if this is you this episode will be packed with value! 

We sit down with marketing expert, academic and author Jan-Benedict Steenkamp (or as we know him "JB"!) to discuss his book "Global Brand Strategy: World-Wise Marketing in the age of Branding"

In this insightful episode, JB walks us through the COMET framework and the components of which are helpful to consider for brands seeking to go international or for brands who are already international and need to focus their strategy.

As brand builders, we used to build brands that would last.

Campaigns would extend for years, and visual identity systems—once created—wouldn’t become obsolete for decades.

Today, the speed of change is so aggressive, brand builders must consider that what they build now could be irrelevant in a few months.

Brands face a choice. First, they can commit to brand positioning and stay true to their visual appearance and social stances regardless of where the wind blows.

Or, they can create a flexible, and ever—A/B testing brand that can evolve as the world does. This second option has contributed to the rise of the blands—brands from the past five years that look, sound, and show up as simultaneously trendy and generic.

In this podcast episode with Ariadna Navarro, the Chief Strategy Officer at VSA partners, a hybrid strategy & design consultancy, we discuss the differences between blands and brands, how we got here and where we need to go next

Anneli Hansson is a brand strategist, coach & speaker based out of Stockholm, Sweden.

Many will know Anneli as the resident strategist over at TheFutur with Chris Do who we interviewed back on Episode 13.

Anneli just launched an incredible 6-figure course over at The Futur called Brand Strategy Fundamentals.

What people may not know, is that Anneli has a background in building sustainable brands (long before it was a trend) and has recently pivoted into helping creatives transform into strategic thinkers.

With this background, it’s no wonder we have invited Anneli here on to JUST Branding!

In this episode we discuss “The Future of Brands” and all that entails. This is not to be missed!

Buckle up—this is our most unfiltered episode yet. Mark Ritson joins us for a no-BS conversation on branding, marketing myths, and why so many marketers still miss the point.

👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast/

No fluff. Just straight-up marketing truth from one of the sharpest minds in the game.

We discuss:  

▶︎ Marketing Myths & Industry Bullsh*t

▶︎ The Biggest Problem with Brand Education (and why it’s broken)

▶︎ Branding vs. Performance Marketing (Are marketers still missing the point?)

▶︎ Positioning & Brand Strategy (+ Mark’s deep love for Kit-Kat)

▶︎ The ROI of Branding (Can you actually measure it?)

▶︎ AI & Branding—Beyond the Hype (Including the rise of RitBot)

▶︎ Mark’s Take on Branding Thought Leaders

▶︎ Differentiation AND Distinctiveness (Why the debate still won’t die)

▶︎ Rapid-fire Q&A madness

Warning: If you’re easily offended, maybe sit this one out.

Tune in now!

We get super practical with Israeli duo, Margaret Jerr-Jarrett, and Emunah Winer, founders of Jerusalem-based agency, Nihilo.

We tuck into how they use words and ideas to build powerful brands and we explore how the strategic elements of brand building find their way into the creative look and feel and customer experiences a brand produces for customers.

We review what a “Verbal” Identity is and why brands need one. We also explore the principles of the tone of voice and how a verbal identity connects with visual identity.

We also do a deep dive into how this duo works and goes about creating and defining brand identity as well as exploring live projects.

If you want a peak behind the scenes as to how the brand building works in practice - this episode is not to be missed.

Often we think of brand-building from a commercial or business perspective. This week's guest thinks this needs to change and that as brand builders we need to consider our efforts from the perspective of the meaning consumers will attach to a brand.

Tune in to list insights from Emmanuel Probst - author of Brand Hacks, How to Build Brands by fulfilling the consumer quest for meaning.

In this episode, we discuss the three levels of meaning, brand hacks, examples of meaningful brand building, and how to deal with “naysayers”.

When should a brand, rebrand? What makes a good rebrand? How can you use strategy to ensure your brand’s rebrand is a success?

Armin Vit answers these questions and more in this episode focused on Rebranding Strategy. Armin also reveals his design process, critiquing methodology, how he built a successful branding conference and shares some classic rebranding failures.

Want to learn more about rebranding? Then this episode is for you.

Jacob Cass & Matt Davies discuss the benefits of brand strategy for both designers and businesses using examples from their careers, including San Francisco and smaller local businesses.

LinkedIn is one of the most powerful platforms for making business connections and growing your personal brand.

But are you leveraging its power to the full?

Join us in this episode as we are joined by LinkedIn expert, Mike Roberts, to dig deep into how to use LinkedIn to grow your personal brand for success.

Together we review how LinkedIn can help you build a powerful personal brand and what you need to do to ensure your LinkedIn profile is in tip-top condition for success.

We also get Mike's top tips on how to use the platform, how video is the next big thing, and what you can do right now to bring awareness to your brand. Not to be missed!

What does Web3 mean for brands & creatives? What about NFTs and The Metaverse? 

We break it all down for you in layman’s terms, with special guest Kostas K!

We go over the fundamentals of Web3 including its definition, why it matters, tokens, the blockchain, cryptocurrency, wallets, and trends in the space. 

Plus a discussion around NFTs, what they are (and are not), and the opportunities brands and creatives can tap into such as AR & VR, DeFi, DAOs, Virtual Commerce, Digital Assets including Digital Real Estate, Virtual Worlds, the Metaverse, Mixed Reality Solutions, the Blockchain & the Decentralised Web, and so much more! 

Ready to go down the Web3 rabbit hole? Jump in. "

How can brands position themselves for success in today’s marketplace?

That is the question.

And we have the answer!

In this episode, we discuss proven brand positioning methodologies that actually work, complete with examples and practical steps you can use to develop your own brand positioning that are truly differentiating, distinctive, and highly relevant.

To guide us, we have Ulli Appelbaum, the author of the new book The Brand Positioning Workbook: A simple how-to guide to more compelling brand positioning, faster.

Ulli is an award-winning marketing and brand strategy consultant with more than 20 years of experience creating brand strategies and building brands, holding senior strategy roles at some of the largest advertising agencies in the world including BBDO, Leo Burnett, and SapientNitro.

If you want to be able to create attractive brands that succeed in today’s marketplace, this is the episode for you!

Do you run strategic brand-building workshops with your clients or team? Or wish to?

Then this episode is for you! We go deep into workshops with expert workshop designer Brittni Bowering (ex AJ&Smart).

In a jam-packed episode, we discuss why workshops are so powerful, when and when not to use workshops, and tips on how to create and run a powerful workshop.

We also go into the pros and cons of physical and virtual workshops and also explore the future of workshopping.

Lisa Hasting is an independent Creative Director, a brand strategist and an unorthodox solver of problems. She's experienced working all over the world including the far east. In this episode, we dig into coming up with ideas and being brave.

Lisa shares her techniques and ideas in this space and shows how asking the right questions and digging into problems in a deeper way can lead to the solutions that add real value. Along the way she gives live examples from some of her work and inspires us with fresh ways of thinking. If you want ideas this is the episode for you.

In this episode of JUST Branding, we unlock “Logo Design Secrets” with the esteemed Ian Paget, the creative mastermind behind Logo Geek.

👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast

Ian, a celebrated logo designer and author, has made a notable impact in the branding world through his visually stunning and memorable logo creations.

Our conversation begins with Ian sharing his journey into logo design, then we delve into the intrinsic value of logos, their role in business success, and examine real-world examples of impactful logos.

Ian provides insights into the attributes of a good logo, common pitfalls, and how to choose the right logo designer for your business.

We explore the logo design process, current trends, and touch on the future of logo design, including Ian’s thoughts on AI’s role in the field.

Finally, the episode offers practical advice for entrepreneurs on leveraging logos for brand success and for designers on building a successful career and personal brand in the industry.

Join us for this insightful discussion that bridges the perspectives of both business owners and designers in the world of logo design.