Six Branding Principles To Take Into Consideration When Thinking VisualBrand identity has powerful symbolic value, here's six principles to delivering a specific message to consumers.

ByMarc Kandalaft

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Marc Kandalaft Design
The Theory of Thought design by Marc Kandalaft Design

The search formeaning and identityhas always been and always will be a very deep need. The desire to deliver a specific message to consumers, reflect a contemporary image in the business arena, attract and retain clients, and to enter the market competition. Globalization in particular generates a strong desire for identification: Imagine 300 million entrepreneurs trying to launch 150 million new businesses every year of which only one third will see the light of day.

The ultimate reason that major market players engage with and work seriously on the identification process? Simply becausebrand identity有强大的年代ymbolic value. After almost fifteen years of identity development experience with both small and large firms and multinational corporations from different sectors of activity and across four continents, I would say that to be efficient and results-oriented, brand identity should comply with six principles:

联合国iqueness and recognizabilityA brand should be individualized, patented and customized, enabling theconsumerto immediately recognize the product and/or service it represents.

Adherence and faithfulnessBusiness leadersshould not limit themselves to mere differentiation. They understand that they have to go further with the brand creation process as they ultimately aim to provoke both internal and external adherence and faithfulness.

Social Club Poster by Marc Kandalaft Design

Sustainability and trendsBrand creation should not be dictated by trends. Brand identity cannot merely rely on logos or colors or graphic lines- solid identity foundations are required for a lasting formula.

Adaptability and changeBrand identityis flexible and open to life. Unlike living entities doomed to disappear and die once they become static and motionless, brands last and outlive. This is not because of their strength or intelligence, but rather because of their innate ability to evolve by embracing change and progress thus persisting durably.

Metal and Wood Logo Construction by Marc Kandalaft Design

Metal and Wood Logo on window by Marc Kandalaft Design

Interconnection and coherenceBrand creation is not a patchwork operation, it is an elaborate mechanism. Just like the high precision movements of all the components of a good watch work simultaneously to deliver the correct time, so must the different elements of an identity work together to build a sharp brand. With this in mind, understand that interconnection and coherence contribute to generating trust in a brand.

联合国iversality and nichesIn a globalized market where we are all increasingly faced with the difficult challenge of universality it begs the question: Shouldbrandsbe able to speak to everyone and in every culture? The more a brand is universal, the greater its edge over the competition.

The Volts Naming, Branding and Visual Identity by Marc Kandalaft Design

I strongly believe that observation is among the top qualities required in first analyzing then understanding, subsequently injecting these intodesign thinkingto effectively innovate. Aesthetics -as the result of a delicate, clever and thorough work process- must be accomplished with a great sense of care, grace, and simplicity. I like to refer here to the "Craftsman's Spirit" originally by Kenya Hara- another facet (that of luxury) which lies in the invisible and in the detail, and ultimately makes all the difference.

If science concerns itself with what things are and how things could become,designthen is the study and execution of how things should be, making life easier, safer, more effective, more enjoyable, more intelligible, and overall more meaningful.

Marc Kandalaft research sketches
Source: Marc Kandalaft Design
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Marc Kandalaft

Founder of Strategic Creative Design, Marc Kandalaft Design

Marc Kandalaft is the founder of strategic creative bureau ofMarc Kandalaft Design(MKD), a multidisciplinary consultancy firm empowering strategy and branding through the mastery of design. MKD is based on a philosophy of reconciling art and industry, commercial efficiency, and creative power, offering branding, design, and communication services. After establishing clientele in the Middle East, Europe and North America, MKD operates mainly in Paris and Montreal, but also frequently in Beirut and New York City for businesses in luxury, commerce, industry, services, cultural affairs, and interior design. Kandalaft attended l’ESAG Penninghen in Paris studying under the tutelage of eminent figures in graphic design and photography such as Roman Cieslewicz, Peter Knapp, Michel Bouvet, and Etienne Robial. In 1999, Kandalaft was conferred his Masters with honors with the title of artistic director in graphic arts and digital design. Kandalaft is a board member of the Society of Graphic Designers of Québec SDGQ, a Member of Mission Design, and acts as a mentor for the HEC Startup Weekend and the Adobe Mentorship Program, in addition to being an active participant in various relevant university conferences across Canada and France.

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