Branding News & Insights

Guillaume (Gee-um) Froome Cocken, Head of Business Development at Brash, comments on how to write a great brief, leading to a richer partnership, in City Nation Place.

“You don’t need to have ‘solved’ the problem – working collaboratively with a partner to identify the best approach to your challenge can open doors you’ve not considered.”

To find out more about writing a great brief, read the full article in the link: https://lnkd.in/e8eSCPM9

#placemaking #briefing #clientrelationships

London’s cityscape is about to change with the building of the 90-metre MSG Sphere music and esports arena near the Olympic Park.

The way the world is going, a more digital focused venue will be welcome, purpose built to immerse the audience in the event. The world is moving into a new age in favour of the youth – especially following COVID-19. This type of project is aligned with their expectations, where experiences take priority over possessions.

From a placemaking angle, the MSG Sphere could be seen as an extension to the modernisation of the Stratford area that is focused on appealing to the younger generation. The immersive venue would become an iconic development with time, that will attract not only tourists, but local residents too.

Click here to read the full article at dezeen.

One month ago, the innovative and futuristic Museum Of The Future opened its doors in Dubai. The expansive exhibition reimagines the future and asks us to open up to new possibilities.

Nick Bateman, part of our Creative Technology Team, flew from London to Dubai this week to experience the museum. Journeying to 2071, the exhibition allows you to pioneer new worlds and ways of living, bringing hope and knowledge back to the present.

Exhibits include ‘A new moon’, allowing you to voyage to a space station 600km above the Earth and witness how the moon could be transformed into a source of renewable energy for the entire planet, or visit ‘The Vault of Life’, a DNA library of thousands of species, where you can explore, collect and contribute to the wonders of nature, discovering new species and participate in a global effort to repair the damages of climate change.

An inspiring and eye-opening experience, this and so much more are some of the many reasons to visit what has been called the ‘most beautiful building on Earth!’

#museumofthefuture #museum #future #dubai #dubaimuseum #architecture #brandingagency #branddesign #brandexperience #brandarchitecture #brashbrands #brandsbybrash

Do you think certain areas of place branding are usually overlooked?

Gary O’Kelly, our Head of Creative shared his thoughts with City Nation Place on failing to bring the brand to life within the community.

“You need practical, tangible activations; going beyond logo and launch to genuinely bring the brand to life within the community.”

To read the full article, click here

#placebranding #placemaking #brandstrategy

We are delighted to be kicking off a new series called “Brash Asks”, where each month we sit down with a different expert within our network to discuss emerging trends, share insights and deliver interesting content.

As #InternationalWomensDay was yesterday, John Brash, our Founder and CEO had a chat with Michèle Dabaghian, a sought after marketing professional in the sector we operate in. Michele is an advocate for women in Saudi Arabia, so what better way to start the series than a Q&A about her career journey and  her top tips to young women.

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself and your career history to date / current role

A: Born multicultural (Lebanese/German/French) and innately adventurous, (I lived and worked in multiple continents), I am a storyteller at heart and a Marketing & Experience professional, specialized in creating “Liveable & Lovable” Destinations around the world. I aspire to build Placemaking through deep investigation of cultures and people beyond best practice and collective biases.

Q: Who or what inspires you most?

A: I am passionate about the correlation between cultures, societies, and places. I believe in the power of words and find my inspiration in people’s stories. Change agent at heart, and a fervent feminist, I thrive in diverse cultural environments and consider myself as an optimistic inclusion activist. Beyond all borders.

I discovered my calling a few years ago and wrote a thesis around Saudi women identity and leadership, with Oxford University and HEC business school Paris. This was the beginning of my personal journey as an action researcher and an active supporter of women empowerment. Consequently, I decided to engage in a PhD around the same topic, with the aim to put my work at the service of the development of women empowerment in Saudi Arabia, and around the world.

Q: What advice would you give young women?

A: My advice to the younger generations of women and future female leaders is to invest in themselves and education, hold on fiercely to their dreams, be fearless and bold and yet remain kind and compassionate, and finally, never doubt their capacities to become whatever they decide to be.

Our Global Head of Strategy, Roger Misun-Gray, discusses the importance and value of data to encourage residents to participate in your data eco-system.

“The more a brand starts to actively help its residents and engage with them through its own face, the more those residents are likely to participate in a data strategy. By opting into providing data, acting on it, and feeling part of a true digital environment and community, the investment would then pay back in the lorn-term.”

To read the full article in CityNationPlace, click here.

We are delighted to reveal our recent partnership with Yiti, one of the largest urban developments in the Oman Sultanate. Brash was selected as the global branding partner to provide cultural insights and deliver on Oman’s Vision 2040 programme.

Yiti is the embodiment of the Sultan’s vision for the country that not only celebrates the local landscape and culture, but it elevates the lifestyle, residential and tourism offering. It is the first International Trade Commision development of the new Sultan, so through dynamic harmony, we positioned the project as a community that enriches all aspects of people’s lives.

Sustainability is at the heart of Yiti! There are premium hillside and marina dwellings alongside housing for middle-class residents offering them a space to work. All the residential buildings encompass lifestyle activities allowing a truly livable extension of the city: from running and cycling tracks to water sports and ziplines.

With ESG driving the global agenda, we are pleased to have been a part of this monumental project in the Middle East. The region is only going to become stronger and more popular, so we are looking forward to a more sustainable and communal future that really highlights the country’s true potential.

Yiti Destination Omran Group OM

#sustainability #future #community #development #middleeast

Our CEO and Founder, John Brash, discusses what it takes to create an iconic building in City Nation Place: “Creating an icon, the goal is to be a disruptor and go places that no one else dares, grabbing global attention through dynamic strategies and headlining tactics.”

From storytelling principles to building a sense of community, read the full article here:

#placemaking #icondesign #storytelling #building

Wondering about 2022 trends in the Gulf? Listen to our Founder and CEO John Brash who recently spoke with Oxford Business Group about globalisation and businesses along with challenges and economic growth opportunities around the Gulf.

John notes the impressive tempo at which GCC markets are implementing their economic advancement strategies, putting tech-led solutions at the heart of their master plans while also discussing the ability of Gulf countries to establish themselves as tourist destinations.

“The entire region is a whole new market for tourism… It’s untouched and that’s what’s really exciting.”

Click here to watch the full vidcast.