11 December 2025
I get it, we probably sometimes feel over consumed with a world overflowing with logos, slogans, and endless “content,” so it’s easy to forget what brand building is actually for: connection. The brands we fall in love with, the ones we champion, recommend endlessly, or choose without thinking have something deeper going on and usually an inspiring or entertaining story to tell.
They don’t just sell products.
They sell meaning
So let’s see if we can find inspiration from five very different brands. Whether their stories are woven from mythology, rebellion, craftsmanship, community, or pure childlike joy, each one proves the same thing: the most powerful branding doesn’t come from talking non-stop. It comes from knowing who you are, understanding what you offer, and having a little fun with it along the way to ensure you remain memorable, relatable and reliable.
NIKE
From Ancient Goddess to Global Icon
Did you know Nike’s brand story literally comes from the gods! Long before it became a global icon, the name Nike belonged to the Greek goddess who embodied speed, power, and victory. Basically the original hype woman for anyone trying to win at anything.
Warriors prayed to her before battle, and athletes in the early Olympic Games dedicated their triumphs to her spirit. Her wings symbolised swiftness and speed, a quality sought by both soldiers and athletes. If there had been ancient sponsorship deals, Goddess Nike would’ve had them all.
When the company that would become Nike needed a logo, student designer Carolyn Davidson created the now-famous swoosh in 1971, inspired directly by the goddess’s wing. It was a fitting symbol for a brand built on pushing limits, striving for greatness, and inspiring human potential. Can you believe, Nike Co-Founder, Phil Knight wasn’t immediately convinced. His first reaction? “Well, I don’t love it, but it will grow on me.”
And thankfully it obviously did.
In 1988, Nike introduced the slogan “Just Do It”, a line that captured the bold spirit of the goddess as well as the brand’s evolving philosophy: to move, to try, to push through uncertainty, and to chase victory in whatever form it takes. Over the decades the swoosh has taken on many visual variations, yet it has remained the heart of the brand and it’s no myth that it’s become one of the most recognised symbols in the world.
Together, the swoosh and the slogan transformed Nike from an athletic company into a global mindset and belief that greatness is within reach for anyone willing to pursue it.
Moral of the story: Your branding becomes the recognisable signpost along the journey, but it’s your mission and values that create true longevity and loyalty.
Rose Bakery:
Nothing Sour about this Dough!
In a world obsessed with high-tech design and AI precision, Rose Bakery went back to basics. Their creative partners at Superstudio literally broke bread and painted it and in doing so created a print as artisanal as their products and an equally delicious feast for the eyes. Going against the grain (and in this case, using the grain) is exactly the reason why they have made themselves stand out.
The identity tells a beautiful story of craftsmanship: ancestral techniques, hyper-local ingredients, and a devotion to the slow, intentional process of baking. Rose Bakery hasn’t just branded their product, they’ve transformed it into a piece of art. By embedding the bread itself into their visual language, they’ve created a brand experience that feels authentic, tactile, and deeply connected to the hands that made it.
Moral of the story: Focusing on the roots of who you are is what makes your storytelling and branding stand out.
THE ORDINARY
Ordinary by Name, Extraordinary by Impact!
In a beauty world filled with unicorn serums, magic potions and promises of eternal youth, The Ordinary walked in wearing a lab coat and said, “Get ready with you pipettes and your spatulas and welcome to your science class!”
Their name alone was a plot twist. The Ordinary? Not exactly premium or inspirational but that was exactly the point.
The entire brand is a cheeky rebellion against decades of over-the-top marketing. No romancing over the secret Elixir of Youth (for anyone who remembers Death Becomes Her). Instead, they just put the ingredients on the front of the bottle, pure and simple with no fancy frills.
Their packaging leans more pharmacy than haute couture: simple black-and-white labels, percentages instead of fluffy narratives and no ingredient hiding behind mystical names.
And the prices? That was the real mic drop. Founder Brandon Truaxe believed people shouldn’t be paying over the odds for fancy packaging and premium dreams. You pay for the ingredients in the bottle, nothing more, nothing less.
The Ordinary didn’t just launch products; it launched a movement. Suddenly, ingredients became celebrities in their own right.
Moral of the Story: You don’t need to pretend to be something you’re not, substance always outshines chatter.”
AIRBNB
A brand you want to get in to bed with
Have you ever heard of a global empire that started with three air beds on a living-room floor? No?
Well, that’s exactly how Airbnb began before it reshaped travel entirely.
Back in 2007, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia were struggling to pay their rent in San Francisco. When they realised a big design conference had left visitors scrambling for hotel rooms, so they put their creative business heads together and inflated a few airbeds, offered Wi-Fi and breakfast, and created “air bed and breakfast.”
What started as a clever way to make rent soon changed the lives of homeowners and travellers everywhere. Suddenly you didn’t need a hotel budget to see the world, you just needed someone willing to share their space.
More than that, Airbnb connected people. Opening your home. Welcoming strangers. Building community. A tiny idea inflated (pun very intended) into a global movement.
Even their branding reflects that spirit. The Airbnb logo cleverly represents:*
- People: An abstract figure with raised arms, symbolising human connection
- Places: A location pin, representing exploration and travel
- Love: An inverted heart, signalling warmth and hospitality
- Airbnb (A): A subtle nod to the brand’s initial
*(check out the diagram above)
A whole world of meaning tucked into one simple symbol.
And here’s the twist: this wasn’t the first time anyone had this idea. When I was travelling Cuba, I stayed in places labelled Casa Particulares. These were private home rentals allowed by the government since 1997, essentially an early, local version of Airbnb’s model. These home-stays thrived for years before Airbnb took the concept global but whether or not it inspired Airbnb we do not know.
Moral of the story:
A great idea doesn’t have to be completely new it just has to be meaningful, well-timed, and executed with purpose.
JOLENE
A brand that embodies the ‘start them young’ theory.
When a six-year-old designs your logo and it becomes iconic, you know you’ve won at branding.
It may not nod directly to the bakery’s history, but some would say it’s as wholesome as its products, offering that feeling of nurturing, care, and looking after your loved ones.
The scribbly word that now appears on menus, and interiors, signage and a cool array of merchandise was drawn by the young son of Studio Frith’s founder, and it absolutely hits the spot. It’s not trying to impress anyone, yet the little drawing speaks volumes. With its nostalgic wink to childhood, it feels warm, human and authentic, the perfect expression of Jolene’s regenerative, community-focused spirit.
And the best part? This tiny crayon-born logo sparked the interest (and admiration) of marketeers and branding professionals everywhere. Proof that sometimes the most meaningful identity comes not from polish, but from play.
Moral of the Story: Have fun when creating your brand, sometimes the best ideas come from the most unusual places.
Finding inspiration for your brand doesn’t mean chasing trends or guessing what people want to see. It’s about digging into what makes you different: the quirks, the craft, the character, the bits that only you can bring to the table.
Do something that feels real, feels engaging to your audience, and feels true to what you make.
Because when your brand comes from an authentic place, people don’t just notice it… they feel it.
That’s where the magic is.