S01.EP21 - Making a Difference with Michael Johnson
Dec 14, 2020
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Michael Johnson, founder and creative director of Johnson Banks, discusses the importance of branding beyond visual elements. He shares insights on defining values and tone of voice, the power of distilling messages, and the inspiration behind his book on branding.
Branding encompasses both visual and verbal aspects, with strategic brand thinking playing a vital role in creating impactful brand identities.
Exploring unconventional and unique ideas in design projects can help brands stand out and create memorable experiences for their audiences.
Deep dives
The Power of Defining Brands
In this podcast episode, the guest Michael Johnson, founder of Johnson Banks, discusses the importance of defining brands. He emphasizes that branding goes beyond just a logo and visuals, but also encompasses the verbal aspects of a brand. Johnson shares examples of how his company has helped clients distill their brand message, such as Teach First and Cambridge University. The conversation highlights the power of strategic brand thinking and the impact it can have on organizations and their audiences.
Why Trying Something Weird Can Lead to Success
The podcast explores the concept of trying something weird as a way to stand out and make a difference. Johnson shares a personal story about a piece of advice he received to always try something weird in design projects. This approach pushes clients to consider innovative and unconventional ideas, even if they initially seem strange. By exploring unique possibilities, brands can differentiate themselves and create memorable experiences for their target audiences.
Navigating Client Relationships and Decision-Making
The interview delves into the dynamics of working with clients in the branding process. Johnson emphasizes the importance of understanding the client's market and goals to provide strategic recommendations that align with their objectives. He discusses the challenge of persuading clients to step out of their comfort zones and embrace differentiated ideas. Johnson encourages designers to push for distinctive solutions that will truly make an impact and offers insights on managing client relationships to achieve successful outcomes.
The Role of Brand Identity in Making a Difference
Throughout the podcast, Johnson underlines how brand identity can shape an organization's ability to create positive change. He shares examples of successful projects, such as Teach First and Duolingo, where a clear and purposeful brand identity helped drive their missions forward. Johnson also emphasizes the increasing importance of verbal branding, including tone of voice, as social media and digital platforms play a significant role in communication. Effective brand identity leads to brand recognition, differentiation, and engages audiences in meaningful ways.
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.
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