This week we’re talking about how branding can be one of the biggest assets for your business. It can help people remember you and make you stand out in a crowded market. It can also be pretty fun to design a compelling one! So without further ado, let’s get into the show.

[smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/honestdesigners/HD_157.mp3″ social=”true” social_twitter=”true” social_facebook=”true” social_gplus=”true” title=”Episode 157: The Power of Brand”]

Also on:Honest Designer SticherHonest Designer Soundcloud

Watch more of the Honest Designers episodes here: Honest Designers Podcast Playlist. And remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel for regular updates direct to your inbox.


Show Notes for This Episode:

[1:30] Dustin opens up the show with the RetroSupply brand.
[2:00] RetroSupply’s original name was inspired by Abercrombie and Fitch.
[3:00] Dustin’s earliest logo was just a font.
[4:20] Proof that a great brand will impact a business positively.
[5:00] All things a great brand needs.
[6:00] The power of brand value.
[7:00] Getting brand clout.
[8:00] The guys discuss the Aaron Draplin brand.
[9:00] The power of Draplin’s name in the design industry.
[10:00] Sales based on brand because of what it represents.
[11:00] The dads talk Disney brand reaction.
[12:00] There is no money in apathy.
[13:00] Breaking down all the parts of a brand.
[14:35] Algebra and branding.
[15:20] Dustin thinks about branding differently.
[16:00] Human invented frameworks for branding.
[17:30] How you know your business is on-brand.
[18:20] A yearly customer survey can reveal a lot about your brand.
[19:00] Listen to your audience. They know you.
[20:00] Dustin listens to his audience to dial into his brand.
[21:20] Ian still feels like his brand is random.
[22:00] The shift from vintage into more instruction and lettering.
[23:40] The release of InkWell.
[24:00] AquaType comments pushed Ian to pivot.
[25:20] Vintage Arty, Type, Lettering.
[26:00] The fork in the road that defined Ian and Dustin.
[27:00] Ian talks about Mid -entury American design.
[28:40] Dive into what is within reach.
[29:10] Design is easier when it speaks to who you truly are.
[30:20] The process of video creation can be draining.
[32:40] Design Cuts and RetroSupply are very different from Ian Barnard.
[33:00] Celebrity brands can work outside the confines of company brand.
[34:00] Personality sells brands.
[35:00] Tom uses Gin as a lesson in branding.
[36:00] Great branding compels you to buy.
[37:30] How brands make you feel.
[39:20] Planning is huge for brand clarity.
[40:00] Tom shares how and why he plans brand shifts regularly.
[41:40] Honest, gentle touch, community-driven is Tom’s brand feel.
[42:00] Brand channels one’s true self.
[43:00] Telsa, Boring Company and SpaceX are all Elon-centric.
[44:00] Leaders and CEOs are closely intertwined into brands.
[45:30] Small brands being absorbed by larger companies.
[46:20] There is always one standout person in each band.
[47:00] Tom is the face of Design Cuts.
[48:00] Tim Cook is not Steve Jobs, yet Apple is still strong.
[49:45] Dustin asks you, the listeners, what brand you love and why.
[50:30] Ian and Tom talk favorite brands.
[51:10] Don’t be a floater and become more deliberate about your brand.
[52:00] A future deep dive on brand strategy.
[53:00] And that’s a wrap!

Find us on iTunes, Spotify, and Instagram by searching for The Honest Designers Show.

“A must for every creative freelancer (or those aspiring to freelance). Thank you for being so… honest! Such a wealth of information from people I admire who have ‘been there and done that’. Listening to the podcast every week feels like I’m among friends. Can’t wait for more episodes!” – AG_GD