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 Jester
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Who doesn’t like to have fun?! The role of the Jester archetype is to bring everybody together to play and appreciate the joy in life. As the ultimate entertainer, the Jester is able to make people feel good — a feeling that any brand would like to have associated with it. Read Article »
Brand Archetypes — Meet the Everyman
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, May 03, 2016
It seems one of the highest compliments bestowed upon a celebrity is that the superstar “is so down to earth!” The comfort and appeal of knowing that something or someone who is larger than life is actually “just one of us” is the pull of the Everyman archetype, and brands who are relatable in this way will go a long way in capturing the hearts of their consumers. Read Article »
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.
Read Article »
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 »
"T" is for Typo: Why Good Grammar is Good for Business
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Possibly the most expensive typo in history was made by NASA in 1962. The omission of a single hyphen in a mathematical calculation resulted in the destruction of Mariner 1 mere minutes after launch and cost $80 million. While your typos may not cause rockets to explode midair, they could keep your profits from skyrocketing. 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