Brand Insights is the editorial channel where Inkbot Design publishes thinking that exists outside the service structure — commentary on significant rebrands, analysis of shifts in the B2B marketing landscape, observations on how artificial intelligence is changing the practice of brand strategy and visual identity, and the occasional opinion piece on what the industry is getting badly wrong.
The branding industry generates a lot of noise. Trend reports are written by trend analysts rather than by project executors. Opinions are shaped by what generates engagement rather than by what is true. Awards that reward visual novelty over strategic rigour.
Brand Insights is the counter to that — a space for the kind of thinking that develops when you have 17+ years of agency practice to draw on and no particular incentive to tell people what they want to hear.
Stuart Crawford writes from Belfast, where Inkbot Design has operated since its founding, and from client engagements across 21 countries. The perspective is always practitioner-first: what is actually happening in brand strategy, what is working, what is failing, and why.
If you want polished takes from someone who observes the industry from the outside, there are plenty of those available.
If you want the view from inside a working branding agency that has run strategy workshops, designed identity systems, and managed global rebrands in the same week, this is it.
Most brand agencies charge hourly because it feels safe. It isn’t. It ties your revenue to time rather than impact, and it’s the single biggest reason good agencies undercharge for work that genuinely transforms a client’s business. Here’s how to price differently-and defend it.
Most B2B service firms price backwards and end up discounting. Decoy pricing fixes that — not through manipulation, but through architecture. This guide explains how to build a three-tier service lineup where one option makes your preferred package the obvious, intelligent choice. Includes pricing structures, how to set objective fences, proposal tactics, and a full FAQ.
Gap’s 2010 redesign lasted just 144 hours before the brand surrendered. It remains the ultimate case study in why “listening to the crowd” is fatal for brand strategy. This guide audits the wreckage to ensure your 2026 identity has the conviction to survive the digital court of public opinion.
Graphic design in 2026 has moved beyond aesthetics into the realm of “Computational Aesthetics.” This case study proves that visual friction and technical asset structuring are now mandatory for ranking in AI Overviews and capturing human attention in a scroll-heavy digital market.
Most designers focus on aesthetics while ignoring how the human brain actually processes information. This guide breaks down the 10 Gestalt principles to ensure your branding and UI drive commercial results rather than user frustration.
Erik Spiekermann didn’t just design fonts; he engineered communication. For entrepreneurs, his work is a masterclass in removing friction. This guide explores his methodology, debunking design myths that cost businesses money, and provides a blueprint for typographic authority.
Raymond Loewy wasn’t just a designer; he was a master of the “Sales Curve.” This guide breaks down his MAYA principle and streamlining techniques, proving why his 20th-century logic is the only solution for the cluttered, over-designed digital markets of 2026.
Stefan Sagmeister isn’t just a “famous graphic designer”; he is a master of cognitive friction. This guide dissects his career, his obsession with “Beauty,” and why his radical approach to typography and sabbaticals is a blueprint for modern business innovation.
Paula Scher isn’t just a designer; she is a visual strategist who redefined how we perceive typography. From the iconic Citibank logo to The Public Theater, this guide examines her “Serious Play” methodology and why her direct approach to branding remains the gold standard for modern business.
Neville Brody didn’t just design magazines; he dismantled the visual status quo. From The Face to global corporate identities, his work provides a blueprint for entrepreneurs who refuse to settle for generic, “safe” branding. Discover why his typographic rebellion still matters for your business in 2026.
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