JUST Branding
JUST Branding - by Jacob Cass & Matt Davies
The JUST Branding Podcast, hosted by Jacob Cass & Matt Davies, is the only podcast dedicated to helping designers & entrepreneurs grow brands.
Each episode goes deep into the details of the brand building process, with professional insights, actionable tips and resources to help you build better brands.
The focus is on helping designers & entrepreneurs bridge the gap between strategy and design. Branding professionals from around the world join Jacob & Matt in discussing the benefits of brand strategy, top tools, how to sell strategy, brand purpose, brand positioning, neuroscience, brand personality, messaging, storytelling, brand naming, tag lines, logo design, brand identity design and brand experience.
ABOUT JACOB CASS
Jacob Cass is a Sydney-based designer & strategist who runs JUST Creative, an award-winning branding & design firm that doubles as an industry leading blog. Jacob helps brands grow & get results by crafting distinctive logos & brand identities that are backed by a solid brand strategy.
He recently rebranded San Francisco and Puerto Rico, and also branded New York's Digital District. Other clients have included the likes of Disney, Nintendo and Jerry Seinfeld. Jacob has spoken at TEDx, been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur and has been awarded LinkedIn’s “Best of” for branding.
For him, design is a lifelong journey of continuously honing his craft, as well as educating other fellow designers & business owners to build on theirs, which has allowed him to build a large and loyal following, including his website which has been been viewed over 50 million times. Jacob is an avid traveler and has traveled to 87 countries.
ABOUT MATT DAVIES
Matt is a brand strategy specialist working with leaders to align around their brand and get it ready to connect deeply with those inside and outside of their organisations. His work enables you to grow your business faster and easier. Matt solves a variety of brand challenges, from strategy and positioning to naming and identity right through to company culture and product innovation.
Each episode goes deep into the details of the brand building process, with professional insights, actionable tips and resources to help you build better brands.
The focus is on helping designers & entrepreneurs bridge the gap between strategy and design. Branding professionals from around the world join Jacob & Matt in discussing the benefits of brand strategy, top tools, how to sell strategy, brand purpose, brand positioning, neuroscience, brand personality, messaging, storytelling, brand naming, tag lines, logo design, brand identity design and brand experience.
ABOUT JACOB CASS
Jacob Cass is a Sydney-based designer & strategist who runs JUST Creative, an award-winning branding & design firm that doubles as an industry leading blog. Jacob helps brands grow & get results by crafting distinctive logos & brand identities that are backed by a solid brand strategy.
He recently rebranded San Francisco and Puerto Rico, and also branded New York's Digital District. Other clients have included the likes of Disney, Nintendo and Jerry Seinfeld. Jacob has spoken at TEDx, been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur and has been awarded LinkedIn’s “Best of” for branding.
For him, design is a lifelong journey of continuously honing his craft, as well as educating other fellow designers & business owners to build on theirs, which has allowed him to build a large and loyal following, including his website which has been been viewed over 50 million times. Jacob is an avid traveler and has traveled to 87 countries.
ABOUT MATT DAVIES
Matt is a brand strategy specialist working with leaders to align around their brand and get it ready to connect deeply with those inside and outside of their organisations. His work enables you to grow your business faster and easier. Matt solves a variety of brand challenges, from strategy and positioning to naming and identity right through to company culture and product innovation.
Episodes
Mentioned books
10 snips
Dec 17, 2024 • 1h 7min
S05.EP20 - Bridging Strategy and Design with Richie Meldrum
Richie Meldrum, a distinguished brand strategist and educator, shares his journey from copywriting to impactful branding. He discusses the vital connection between strategy and design, emphasizing how aligned branding fosters cohesive identities. Richie's insights on collaborating effectively between designers and strategists are invaluable. He also explores the importance of understanding target audiences, the role of storytelling in brand identity, and the need for research in developing strong branding strategies.
8 snips
Dec 3, 2024 • 54min
S05.EP19 - Rethinking Brand Purpose with Nick Asbury
In this engaging discussion, Nick Asbury, a creative writer and branding expert known for his thought-provoking insights, critiques traditional purpose-driven marketing. He argues that brands often mishandle their ethical responsibilities, leading to unintended consequences. By examining Patagonia's unusual campaigns, he highlights the tension between business profit and environmental ethics. The conversation also emphasizes the importance of authenticity, community support, and the need for brands to adapt over time, blending creativity with genuine purpose.
20 snips
Nov 20, 2024 • 50min
S05.EP18 - Simplifying Strategy with Mark Pollard
Mark Pollard shares his journey from hip-hop to brand strategist, emphasizing the power of storytelling and empathy in brand narratives. He introduces a 4 Point Framework for creating simple, actionable strategies that resonate. The discussion delves into the balance of creativity and analysis, highlighting memorable campaigns. Challenges strategists face today, such as client skepticism and the need for innovative approaches, are explored. Insights into consumer connections and evolving industry dynamics round out this engaging conversation.
6 snips
Nov 6, 2024 • 34min
S05.EP17 - Humour in Branding with Paddy Gilmour
Join Paddy Gilmour, a branding expert who helps brands like Harley-Davidson and Epson harness humor in their communications. He reveals how humor can make brands more relatable and memorable. Discover the strategic application of humor in branding, including when and where it's most effective. Paddy shares his step-by-step guide to crafting humorous copy and highlights pitfalls to avoid. With real-world examples, he emphasizes that calculated risks in humor can lead to substantial rewards, enhancing customer experiences and brand affinity.
9 snips
Oct 22, 2024 • 46min
S05.E16 - Brand & Performance Marketing with Tom Roach
Tom Roach, Vice President of Brand Strategy at Jellyfish, shares insights from his 20+ years in advertising. He tackles the balance between long-term brand building and short-term performance goals, urging marketers to blend creativity with measurable results. Roach explores the impact of generative AI in marketing, highlighting its potential while stressing the need for human oversight. He also discusses the evolving role of technology and social media in shaping effective brand strategies for a digital-first world.
12 snips
Oct 9, 2024 • 1h 6min
S05.EP15 - Brand Positioning Models with Magdalena Adamska
Magdalena Adamska, founder of BrandStruck and a branding strategist with over 20 years of experience, shares her expertise on brand positioning. She discusses the essentials of brand strategy and common mistakes businesses make, providing actionable insights. Magda breaks down popular brand positioning models like the brand benefit ladder and the Bullseye model, emphasizing simplicity and emotional connections. Additionally, she highlights the importance of strong brand differentiation, particularly in industries like fintech, while advocating for clear internal brand understanding.
7 snips
Sep 18, 2024 • 52min
S05.EP14 - Brand Management with Raitis Velps
Raitis Velps, CMO at Corebook and multidisciplinary lecturer, dives into the future of brand management. He discusses the challenges of traditional style guides and how outdated assets can harm brand perception. Velps unveils innovative tools like Corebook Studio that offer real-time, dynamic solutions to improve brand consistency. The conversation touches on the transformative role of AI in branding, the importance of transparency, and actionable insights for agencies and brand leaders navigating today’s fast-paced market.
Aug 20, 2024 • 45min
S05.EP13 - Building Brands with Soul with Maria Brasil
The episode features a compelling discussion with Maria Brasil, founder of Essence Branding and a champion of conscious capitalism.
👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast
Maria shares her journey from working in traditional branding agencies to pioneering a brand strategy approach that emphasizes aligning brand positioning with organizational culture.
She explains the concept of conscious capitalism, which revolves around four pillars: higher purpose, conscious leadership, conscious culture, and stakeholder integration.
Maria and the hosts delve into the importance of building brands “from the inside out,” stressing that true brand authenticity stems from the company’s core values and culture, not just external marketing efforts. Maria shares insights from her work, including a project with a fintech company in Brazil’s favelas, where she helped develop a brand that resonates deeply with its community by addressing their unique needs and challenges.
The episode also explores the challenges of integrating conscious capitalism into business practices, emphasizing the need for leaders to take the time to understand and authentically embody the brand’s values. Maria concludes by encouraging companies to consciously build brands that are not only profitable but also meaningful and aligned with their internal culture.
Conscious Capitalism is a business philosophy that emphasizes the importance of aligning business practices with social and environmental responsibilities. It advocates for a business model that serves all major stakeholders, including customers, employees, investors, communities, suppliers, and the environment, rather than solely focusing on maximizing shareholder value.
Aug 4, 2024 • 58min
S05.EP12 - Secrets of Logo Design with Ian Paget
In this episode of JUST Branding, we unlock “Logo Design Secrets” with the esteemed Ian Paget, the creative mastermind behind Logo Geek.
👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast
Ian, a celebrated logo designer and author, has made a notable impact in the branding world through his visually stunning and memorable logo creations.
Our conversation begins with Ian sharing his journey into logo design, then we delve into the intrinsic value of logos, their role in business success, and examine real-world examples of impactful logos.
Ian provides insights into the attributes of a good logo, common pitfalls, and how to choose the right logo designer for your business.
We explore the logo design process, current trends, and touch on the future of logo design, including Ian’s thoughts on AI’s role in the field.
Finally, the episode offers practical advice for entrepreneurs on leveraging logos for brand success and for designers on building a successful career and personal brand in the industry.
Join us for this insightful discussion that bridges the perspectives of both business owners and designers in the world of logo design.
Jul 16, 2024 • 1h 1min
S05.EP11 - The No BS Guide to Strategy with Alex Smith
In this episode, we dive deep into the world of strategy with Alex Smith, the author of the insightful book “No BS Strategy.”
👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast
We start by exploring Alex’s background and what inspired him to write “No BS Strategy.”
Alex then defines strategy and branding in his unique, straightforward style.
We then discuss what makes a great strategy and the typical processes involved in creating one, plus Alex shares invaluable tips to sense check your strategy and highlights common pitfalls to avoid.
Tune in for practical insights and no-nonsense advice on crafting a winning strategy with Alex Smith!
