The Elements of Brand Design

Form, color, and typography—alongside values and vision—can make or break a brand. Framed by an interview with Pentagram’s Paula Scher and Michael Bierut, this book explores the design elements of renowned corporations in 110 case studies. Thanks to clever branding, the likes of Nike, Burger King and Uniqlo have become desirable in their own right.

Branding is a kind of alchemy, conjured from form, color, typography, imagery, sound, and motion. How do these elements work their magic on the way we perceive companies and products? From Netflix and Instagram to Nike and Deutsche Bank, this volume deconstructs the design DNA of recognizable brands from all over the world.

From the late 19th century, symbols and names were used to identify different products. Soon after, corporate colors arrived, then custom typefaces, and ‘house styles’ for brochures, posters, and packaging. Roll on a century, the digital revolution has brought about a whole new raft of media, brand touchpoints and consumer experiences. Today’s designers and brand managers must keep interrogating the established principles to navigate these new playing fields. The work collected here proves that great brand creation and redesign are always rooted in conceptual individuality and visual originality. 

Jens Müller and Katharina Sussek have structured more than 100 case studies in 17 chapters, each exploring a core element of brand identity, and conducted lengthy interviews with two design giants: Pentagram’s Paula Scher and Michael Bierut, the creative minds behind some of the world’s most famous brands. 

From logo origination to creating pictogram systems, from the use of sound or moving images to generative AI, the volume delves deeper into the multifaceted work of creative studios and in-house design departments, at companies and institutions worldwide. Making for a completely riveting read and today’s most comprehensive book on contemporary branding.