urban regeneration
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Oita Airport recently rebranded itself as the “Hello Kitty Airport” in an effort to attract more international tourists. But beneath the pink bows and photo ops lies a more revealing question: What does this say about the airport’s brand maturity? In this article, I explore why borrowed branding may bring short-term attention but risks long-term…
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Most brands obsess over identity—logos, slogans, style guides—yet forget one essential truth: it’s not what you say that shapes your brand, but what people feel when you’re not in the room. This article explores the crucial gap between brand identity and brand image—and why bridging it is the key to building lasting trust.
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My nine-year-old son was struggling with a math concept about triangles and required some assistance. We sat down together, and as I refreshed my Euclidean geometry knowledge to help him, I was reminded of a graphic I often use to illustrate brand strategy to my clients: a triangle that represents your brand, your customers, and…
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Imagine you’re visiting a bustling city you’ve never been before. You have multiple options: You could visit the vibrant arts district of the city, buzzing with galleries, theaters, and street performers. Another option is to go to an idyllic park, perfect for reading or a quiet stroll. Alternatively, you can go to the heart of…
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Discover why cities, like people, have their own “innovation personalities.” Whether they’re trailblazing Innovators or cautious Late Majority, each city navigates change in unique ways. Dive into how diffusion of innovation theory merges with place branding, giving cities archetypal identities that evoke specific emotional responses. This is essential reading for policymakers and brand strategists looking…
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Tired of bureaucratic jargon and confusing messages from your local government? Dive into our latest article to discover a game-changing antidote: “Show, Don’t Tell.” We reveal how municipalities like Izmir are replacing abstract statistics with relatable visuals and language that resonate with their citizens. Find out how this two-part approach—comprising vivid imagery and the AGL-4…
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This article critically examines the phenomenon of ‘Logo Tunnel Vision’, a tendency among decision-makers to focus heavily on logo design when attempting to rebrand a place, often neglecting other crucial aspects of place branding. The article illustrates this concept through the case studies of Montreal and South Australia, both of which faced significant public backlash…
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When it comes to branding a place, relying solely on marketing tactics is like trying to build a house with just a hammer. Prioritizing the quality of life, creating a hospitable environment, and attracting sustainable businesses are the real bricks and mortar of a successful brand.
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The world is facing a significant threat. In times like this, managing the crisis is not enough; one must also properly communicate the crisis. That said, communication tactics that work in regular times do not work when there is a crisis. If you want to communicate effectively in times like this, then read the below…
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If you were to search for images on Google for the word “city,” the overwhelming majority of the results would be about skylines of relatively new towns such as New York City, Toronto, and Sydney. What the search results won’t include, however, are the images of Dubrovnik’s picturesque rooftops, the fascinating streets of the Fener and Balat…
