COVID-19 is a social, cultural and business disruption that our generation has never faced. As humans, community members, citizens, and business leaders, we are re-orientating our lives, reshaping our businesses, and remaking our society at a […]
Focus Your Post-Pandemic Evolution with Familiar Strategy Tools
I’m at my kitchen table working on my laptop. I spend so much time on it now, my phone is getting jealous. My dog is barking, my son joined his […]
Brand Reinvention: Considerations for Now & Post-COVID-19
COVID-19 has required unparalleled business agility. Businesses have had to navigate the knowns, unknowns and uncertainty brought on by the pandemic. They’ve had to adjust marketing plans to ensure appropriate, […]
Get the Bad Ink Out: A Hard-Won Lesson on Creative Inertia
Recently at Joe Smith, we spent some time dwelling on a simple question: “In order to be my most creative self, what do I need to end?” We identified fear, […]
Fitness Brands Build Success by Removing Barriers
Once in a blue moon, I’ll wake up in the morning feeling truly revitalized. My iPhone alarm need hardly ring before I’m out of bed, pulling on my running shoes […]
Joe Smith’s Brands to Watch 2020
The confetti has settled, and we’ve rung in the new year. It’s time to peer into our crystal ball and see which brands will be worth watching in 2020. We […]
Banking for Humans: Don’t Lose the Person in the Numbers
When it comes to finding a place to store their dollars, today’s customers have plenty of options. Financial brands compete to help customers do more with their money. And many […]
Brands becoming themselves: LEGO
A brand’s visual identity should last 5-10 years. Yes, years, so it needs to outlast short-lived trends. And while trends can offer inspiration when creating a visual identity, they should never […]
Your Organization’s Values May Just Lie in the Shadows
Integrity. Respect. Trust. Innovation. These are the values that scroll through screensavers, blanket mousepads and hang prominently in hallways and meeting rooms. So why are employees publicly shamed through email? Watch […]
Bye-bye brand police: Governing brand in a decentralized workforce
The jobs of brand and creative professionals, regardless of company size, are growing in complexity. More than just developing and deploying a brand that can rise above competitive noise, they […]