108. The art and science behind successful rebranding, with Lee Rolston
Jan 22, 2024
auto_awesome
Lee Rolston, chief growth officer at Jones Knowles Ritchie, shares insights on successful rebranding, including the importance of public opinion, staying true to identity, and the challenges faced by well-known companies. They also discuss trends in branding, the future of personalized content, and the impact of privacy settings on advertising.
Brand transformations should have a clear purpose and rationale to prevent confusion and negative reactions.
Successful rebranding goes beyond visual design and involves capturing the brand's essence and creating distinctive experiences.
Deep dives
The importance of brand recognition and reducing mental friction
The podcast episode highlights the significance of using brands to navigate choice and the importance of reducing mental friction. When brands evoke recognition and familiarity, they create less mental disturbance and provide a sense of trust and ease. The analogy of Google Maps suddenly blocking a road illustrates the negative impact of unexpected changes. The podcast discusses the need for brands to have a payoff for consumers, evoking positive emotions or meeting their desires. Without a clear purpose or rationale, brand transformations can lead to confusion and negative reactions.
The WH Smith rebrand trial and the importance of clarity
The podcast explores the recent WH Smith rebrand trial, which caused controversy and mixed opinions. The conversation emphasizes the importance of considering the reasons and thorough planning behind a rebrand. Clear communication about the strategic objectives is essential to garner public support and avoid negative backlash. The discussion addresses the need for brands to honor their heritage and evoke emotions that are associated with the brand's history. The trial's lack of clarity and symbols that represented the brand's identity resulted in confusion and negative reactions.
Successful brand transformations and the power of being distinctive
The episode discusses successful brand transformations, showcasing examples like Burger King and Dunkin Donuts. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding a brand's essence and creating distinctive and iconic visual representations. The success of a rebrand lies in capturing and amplifying what makes the brand unique and desired by its audience. It emphasizes the need to go beyond just visual design and incorporate distinct brand behavior, touchpoints, and experiences. The discussion also touches on the challenge of maintaining a brand's authenticity while adapting to cultural shifts.
The future of branding and the balance between simplicity and personalization
The podcast explores the future of branding, acknowledging the prevalence of graphic design and the need for brands to stand out in a cluttered environment. The conversation highlights the balance between simplicity and personalization in branding. While personalization offers tailored experiences, respecting privacy and avoiding intrusiveness is crucial. The discussion predicts that future advancements in AI may facilitate originality and help brands avoid genericism. It also emphasizes the importance of responsible and respectful approaches to personalization and the recognition that we may have gone too far with intrusive tactics in the past.
Have you ever seen a brand change its image and thought, 'Wow, that's bold!' or 'What were they thinking?' Today, we're unravelling the mysteries of successful brand transformation sparked by WHSmith's recent controversial trial to shift to 'WHS.' It was only a trial change but one that stirred debate. So, what can we learn from it?
To guide us through this maze, we're joined by Lee Rolston, chief growth officer at Jones Knowles Ritchie. Lee is a maestro in brand building, having steered JKR to craft iconic revamps for Burger King, Dunkin', and Budweiser. His agency's work doesn't just catch the eye; it wins hearts and awards.
But what makes a brand tick? Beyond public opinion, how do you measure true success? In a world brimming with ideas, can originality still make a mark? And how do you honour a brand's heritage while keeping it fresh and relevant?
Lee is here not just to answer these burning questions but also to share his vision for the future of design. Whether you're a seasoned designer, a brand enthusiast, or just curious, this episode offers a unique glimpse into the evolving world of branding today.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode