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.
Wondering which graphic design style fits your brand? We break down 20 iconic movements, from Art Nouveau to Flat Design, with real-world advice for entrepreneurs. Learn the difference between a style that looks ‘cool’ and a style that actually works.
I’ve spent over a decade running a design agency, and this is my practical, filtered, no-rubbish list of the 25 tools that actually power a creative business. We’ll cover the titans (Adobe, Figma), the potent challengers (Affinity, Procreate), and the productivity tools that stop your projects from catching fire.
Tired of the same old “retro” take on the 70s? This guide breaks down the four competing design styles of the decade—from earthy and organic to raw punk—and shows you what made 1970s graphic design tick.
Learn the timeless principles of branding by studying the work of 25 famous graphic designers. This isn’t a history lesson; it’s a practical guide for business owners who want to build a lasting brand.
The future of graphic design isn’t about holographic logos or brain-implanted ads. It’s a fundamental shift in value from “making pretty pictures” to “solving business problems.”
Explore 13 professional font combinations that transform your brand’s visual identity and create instant credibility through strategic typography pairings.
When someone lands on your design, you’ve got about 3 seconds to communicate what matters. Visual hierarchy is the secret weapon that guides their eyes exactly where you want them to go.
Bad graphic design isn’t just an aesthetic problem—it’s a business liability that silently drains resources, undermines trust, and sabotages your brand faster than you can say “Comic Sans.”
Discover how to leverage your skills to start an online business in 2025. This comprehensive guide covers everything from identifying your marketable abilities to launching and scaling your digital venture.
Explore how 10 major brands transformed pink logos into powerful business assets, driving recognition and revenue across diverse industries.
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