This manifesto, originally published as part of Lemley Design, has a timeless ring of truth and casts a potent light on the spirit of what we are doing today. Enjoy -DL
Stellenbosch University (one of the four top research universities in S. Africa) is using David Lemley’s article, Identity Crisis: The Seven Deadly Sins of Branding in their course pack for Masters in Branding.
Identity Crisis: The Divine Comedy of Brand Management
Economic limbo cannot erase the fact that we live in a world where cars start the first time, phones are addictive and the gourmet coffee, is well, gourmet. Only the Unaware offer products or services they deem good enough to a world where everyone can get anything they want almost anywhere.
Today’s consumer is looking for you, the brand steward, to provide them with a self-actualizing experience. And while this needs to be orchestrated carefully, take heart, ending up in branding purgatory doesn’t happen overnight. It comes after a lifetime of refusing to be saved. Sadly, for every good thing we can do, there are many more actions we take either purposefully or by happenstance, that simply don’t contribute anything worthwhile to the brand’s presence, personality and strength.
So what can the faithful do to avoid such a fate? Keep a watchful eye over the Seven Deadly Sins of Brand.
The Sin of Ennui (more…)
