How Brands Tell Stories and Influence Behavior Without Words

By Richard Gillingwater / November 7, 2024 /

In an age where audiences are bombarded with visual stimuli, brands must communicate quickly and effectively, often without relying on text. Brands increasingly leverage design and visual elements to evoke specific emotions and tell compelling stories, tapping into universal human needs and archetypal emotions. This ability to influence perception and behavior through nonverbal cues is…

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The Impact of Cognitive Overload on Brand Design: A Shift Toward Simplicity

By Richard Gillingwater / October 25, 2024 /

In today’s world, where consumers are inundated with information, cognitive overload is reshaping the way brands communicate visually. With people encountering thousands of marketing messages daily, designers are increasingly prioritizing simplicity in brand messages, particularly in logos, to ensure they capture attention in a crowded landscape. The shift toward minimalism in design is a direct…

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Demonstrating the Value of Design:
How Design Helps Tell a Brand’s Story

By Richard Gillingwater / September 16, 2024 /

Design is more than just aesthetics — it is a form of communication. It tells stories, conveys emotions, and creates connections, all without uttering a single word. The value of design lies in its ability to translate abstract ideas, feelings, and experiences through a visual language that resonates deeply with people. When done effectively, design…

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Graphic Design:
Art or Science?

By Brand Palette / September 7, 2024 /

The debate over whether graphic design is an art or a science has long been a topic of discussion. For many, design is synonymous with creativity and artistic expression. However, in my view, graphic design should be seen and taught as both a science and an art, giving equal weight to both disciplines. My Journey…

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What’s the biggest bias creatives face?

By Brand Palette / July 3, 2024 /

No, it’s not their client’s or customer’s confirmation, framing or any other type of bias. It’s our own and it’s emotional! As marketeers, creatives or designs we know we buy on emotion and justify with logic. We know emotions impact how consumers perceive the world. Yet, as creatives we rarely seek to challenge how our…

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Tuning into your Emotions: The Foundation of Effective Communication

By Brand Palette / June 18, 2024 /

Effective emotional communication is critical in branding and marketing because it fosters deeper connections with consumers, enhances brand loyalty, and differentiates a brand from its competitors. However, successfully analyzing and crafting these emotional messages requires brands to develop a sophisticated language to describe and understand emotions. This is where emotional granularity comes into play. Emotional…

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The Emotional Lexicon of Design: How Visual Language Speaks through Archetypal Needs

By Brand Palette / June 6, 2024 /

Research shows a brand’s design plays a crucial role in influencing consumer decision-making by evoking specific emotional needs. So, why take something that’s done intuitively and decode it to create an industry wide lexicon? When we experience design, we don’t just see it — we feel it. A brand’s visual language extends beyond mere aesthetics; it serves as a…

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Finding the Right Blend of Human Emotions for Your Brand

By Brand Palette / June 1, 2024 /

“Cooking is like painting or writing a song. Just as there are only so many notes or colors, there are only so many flavors – it’s how you combine them that sets you apart.” Wolfgang Puck Great marketeers and designers know too that there are only so many emotions a brand can convey, it’s how they…

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Embracing Emotions: The Imperative for Business Leaders

By Brand Palette / May 19, 2024 /

In a world where the essence of connection is undeniably human, it’s a profound yet overlooked truth that every stakeholder interacting with a brand — be it clients, prospects, employees, investors, or partners — is driven by a complex tapestry of emotions. Despite this, many senior leaders find themselves at a crossroads, equipped with the…

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Design as a Strategic Tool; Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Talk

By Brand Palette / April 17, 2024 /

Beyond Aesthetics: Design as a Strategic Tool At first glance, a brand’s design might seem primarily concerned with logos, color schemes, and typography. However, its potential runs deeper, acting as a conduit between the brand and its consumers. Strategic design interprets and reflects the complex needs of consumers, making the brand not just seen, but felt…

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