These are grouped into five core dimensions: 1. Sincerity: domestic, honest, genuine and cheerful 2. Excitement: daring, spirited, imaginative, up to date 3. Competence: Reliable, responsible, dependable, efficient 4. Sophistication: glamorous, pretentious, charming, romantic 5. Ruggedness: tough, strong, outdoorsy This technique can be used to dis

Rather than simply avoiding failure, what a brand ultimately aspires to is to achieve a strong emotional connection with its customers – to become, and remain, what is often referred to as a ‘beloved brand’.

A logo, brand mark or brand icon is a deceptively simple device. It employs a combination of shapes, colours, symbols and sometimes letters or words in a simple design that symbolizes the values, quality and promise offered by the manufacturers of a product or service.

To succeed in branding you must understand the needs and wants of your customers. There are many different ways to create a successful branding strategy, but most design agencies start with research.

‘There is a fundamental shift taking place in the way that brands build relationships with consumers, driven by the combined forces of social and mobile technologies.’4 The Internet has provided the perfect platform for two-way communication between individuals and brands, with instant opportunities for consumers to capture ‘real time’ experiences

‘… for long-term value, brands need emotional as well as technological appeal. Indeed, [forward-looking companies] will have to invest in their brand as their major sustainable competitive advantage.’

You need to be either better, different or cheaper. Challenge yourself to stay relevant, simple and compelling.

A successful brand uses its unique set of values to drive a successful business strategy – to encourage consumers to choose it over its competitors. Therefore a successful brand is one that achieves a high degree of recognition by consumers. However, this relationship is based upon reputation, so for a brand to retain its position, it must ensure t

A successful brand identity is made up of a series of interlinked elements that all aim to communicate the values of the brand. Alongside the brand icon or logo, the most memorable is perhaps the strapline – also known as a tagline or slogan. (The word ‘slogan’ comes from the Gaelic sluagh-ghairm, the war cry of Scottish clans.) Made up of a few wo