What 50,000 years of cultural evolution can tell us about branding today

"Branding and storytelling is a profound manifestation of the human experience." 

—Debbie Millman, Design Matters

Part 1: The earliest visual cues

Highlights:

• Why are humans infatuated with telling stories? 
• The history behind symbols and what it can tell us about branding today. 

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Part 2: The '5 waves' of branding

Highlights:

• The "5 waves" of branding throughout history and their direct relationship to major cultural shifts.
• The roots of modern branding and how brands have captivated different generations of consumers.  

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Part 3: Human connection at the core

Highlights:

• Why do we believe these stories, and why do we follow brands? 
• Overview of the cultural waves and understanding the obsession with social media. 

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Part 4: Where are we now? 

Highlights:

• What is the next wave, and how do new generations connect with brands?
• Why brands must create compelling content in order to reach today's consumer.

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Part 5: Deliberate differentiation 

Highlights:

• Advice for the natural brands to differentiate when the word "natural" has become litigious. 
• How can brands work around people's short attention spans?

This session—Visual Storytelling, How to Use Art & Language to Grow Your Brand—was recorded at Natural Products Expo East 2016.