Design - from all angles
A blog about branding, marketing, and design, mostly through the lens of practical psychology, intended to be a resource to small businesses and entrepreneurs. Unless otherwise noted, all articles are written by Nyla Smith, owner of n-Vision Designs. {Subscribe to the RSS feed here: }
Brand Archetypes — Meet the Explorer
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, April 05, 2016
Finding oneself — self-realization through discovery — is the ultimate goal of the Explorer. In our Western culture, the Explorer archetype is an undercurrent running through all of society. Brands that spring forth from this current are those that speak to the need for freedom, adventure, and independence.
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Brand Archetypes — Meet the Magician
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Transformation, change, renewal, metamorphosis, magic. No matter how you say it, the Magician archetype leaves others standing in amazement. Characterized by curiosity and foundational knowledge, the Magician finds solutions in science or the supernatural to create something from nothing — or turn a mess into a miracle. Read Article »
Brand Archetypes — Meet the Hero
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, February 23, 2016
The courageous triumph over adversity is the defining characteristic of the Hero archetype. Finding deep satisfaction, exhilaration, and purpose in this feat, the Hero archetype displays great tenacity to achieve it, with a “never give up” attitude. We’ve all been inspired — or saved — by a hero… where would we be without them? Read Article »
Brand Archetypes — Meet the Lover
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, February 09, 2016
Intimacy and connection — no man is an island. People want to feel special and Lover brands exist to meet this need. In this journey we call life, what’s love got to do with it? Everything. Read Article »
Brand Archetype — Meet the Creator
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Seemingly oxymoronic by nature, the Creator archetype desires freedom while at the same time deeply motivated by control. Hanging in this delicate balance, we find visionary and innovative brands that value imagination and self-expression, particularly in the fields of the arts, design, marketing, and technology. Read Article »
Brand Archetypes — Meet the Sage
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, January 12, 2016
What is truth? If you are the Sage brand archetype, this is the question that keeps you up at night. A perfectionist by nature, the Sage won’t settle for ambiguity and is on a mission to analyze everything to find the right answer and share it with others. News outlets, museums, and universities fall under the Sage archetype. Read Article »
Brand Archetypes — Meet the Caregiver
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, December 29, 2015
The Caregiver brand archetype can be summed up in two words: compassionate and self-sacrificing. Picture the empathetic nurse or the helpful concierge, and you will see how the Caregiver archetype is a personality fit for brands which aim to nurture or serve others, from healthcare, to nonprofit, to hospitality industries. Read Article »
Brand Archetypes — Meet the Innocent
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, December 15, 2015
The cute kid, the dreamer, the optimist, the do-gooder. What do they all have in common? They are manifestations of the Innocent brand archetype, used by corporations to speak to two often unmet needs in our fast-paced, hectic lives – simplicity and happiness. Read Article »
Does Your Brand Have Multiple Personality Disorder? A Look at Brand Archetypes
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, November 10, 2015