Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez got married - and we couldn’t care less about the dress, the guests, or the gondolas. We’re here to talk about the invitation. Specifically: why does it look like it was designed in MS Word 2003 by a bored teenager with a clip art addiction?

In this bonus Brand Odyssey episode, Miranda and Kylie dissect the now-viral Bezos x Sanchez wedding invite. From default cyan butterflies to illegible script fonts, we break down the bizarre design choices, what they say about billionaire branding, and whether this was a PR blunder… or a masterstroke in disguise.

New season coming soon. Until then - soak up the chaos, one butterfly at a time.

Connect with us @brandodysseypod or at https://threeblocksleft.com.au/

Produced by Mylk Media

This week, we’re biting into the surprising history of the apple - the fruit that has shaped mythology, science, and branding. From Adam and Eve to Isaac Newton to a certain tech empire, how did this everyday fruit become such a powerful icon?

Then, we take a whiff of iSmell, a bizarre attempt to bring the internet to your nose. Imagine browsing the web and suddenly smelling fresh coffee or ocean waves. It was supposed to revolutionise digital experiences - but instead, it disappeared without a trace.

Connect with us @brandodysseypod

Produced by Mylk Media

As promised - and in our very first interview episode - we’re sitting down with Tony Ibbotson, founder and creative director of The Creative Method, to talk all things logos. From the bold Red Rooster rebrand to what makes a great logo stand out, Tony shares his insights on design, storytelling, and building brands that last. Short, sharp, and packed with branding gold!

This week, we’re diving into two very different brand stories - one that rose from the ashes (or the deep fryer) and one that crashed before it even got started.

First up, Red Rooster’s redemption arc. For years, Australia’s OG chicken chain had an identity crisis - was it fast food? Was it a Sunday roast? Did anyone actually go there on purpose? But in a move no one saw coming, Red Rooster went from forgotten to fan favourite with a bold new look, a fresh menu, and the kind of confidence that says, “Yes, we do belong in the late-night drive-thru rotation.”

Then, we get into a failed Bumble campaign that literally no one asked for. Instead of empowering singles, the campaign backfired spectacularly, leaving users confused, annoyed, and wondering if Bumble even knew what its own app was for.

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We're back, and this time, we’re unwrapping the colourful and unexpectedly sophisticated world of Chupa Chups - the Spanish-born lollipop brand that’s been delighting taste buds since the ‘50s. Chupa Chups is proof that smart branding (and a whole lot of sugar) can go a long way.

Then, we’re diving into one of the strangest brand extensions of all time - Cosmopolitan magazine's attempt to break into the dairy aisle. In the ‘90s, Cosmo decided that telling people how to dress and date wasn't enough. Spoiler alert: it did not go well.

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First, it’s time to unwrap the vibrant story of Tony's Chocolonely - a brand as bold in its mission as it is in its colourful packaging. From its humble beginnings as a journalist’s crusade against child labour in the cocoa industry to becoming a global phenomenon, Tony's proves that purpose and personality can mix deliciously.

Then, Kylie and Miranda take a saucy detour into Heinz’s QR code campaign mishap from 2012. Back when QR codes were still a novelty, Heinz launched a promotion that went hilariously off-track. It's a nostalgic look at a simpler (and blurrier) digital era!

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Another big bumper episode - but this time it’s a break takedown with Miranda exploring one of the biggest relics of 90’s content consumption, Blockbuster!

When we think of Blockbuster’s demise, we think of netflix and streaming services being the reason for their bankruptcy, but as always, when you scratch the surface there’s always more to the story. 

From refusing an offer of purchase from an early-stage-Netflix that would send shivers down any good capitalist’s spine, to an ad campaign that flat out lied to customers and landed them in court, this is a juicy one with an unexpected and uplifting ending - exit through the gift store! 

Tangents include face swap apps, the excellence of Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, and how during 2008-2013 we all risked jailtime by illegally downloading content via limewire. It is revealed that Kylie cannot do accents. Like at all.  And Miranda and Kylie's tips for hijacking primary school assignments.

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Shock horror, Miranda and Kylie are changing up the format again! Kylie got lost in the Barbie Malibu dream house and needed her own episode to do the 2023 Barbie brand world takeover justice. 

Hold onto your pink party pants people - Kylie is taking us through the journey of the world’s most beloved and the world’s most problematic doll. BARBIE. How did this little lady change the narrative from being viewed as a vapid, one dimensional, out of date toy with flatlining sales in the 2000’s, to cultural phenomenon and valid lifestyle choice in 2023. 

The devil works hard but the Barbie brand and marketing team work harder. 

Tangents include but are not limited to why Miranda recommends wearing hand puppets to music festivals, the state of Kylie’s Hokas, the kookiest Barbie’s on the market and what kind of degenerate Barbie’s we think we would be. 

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A deep dive into the cutest little guys on text message and how a rebrand cost the company close to $1 million a day in orange juice sales.

Strap in! In this episode Miranda takes us on a journey through the secret lives of emojis. From their birth in Japan, to their rise in popular culture and how different generations use them to communicate, these critters really are a central part of modern day communication. 

Kylie takes down Tropicana Juice and their 2009 rebrand disaster, one of the most famous, and expensive, rebrand fails in modern history. How did they get it so wrong and what can we learn?

Tangents include but are not limited to why google would think to put cheese under the patty on their burger emoji, why Gen X are always forgotten and our incredibly underwhelming internship tasks. 

Due to popular demand (one person - our Studio Manager) we have added a segment! A personal make and break in which it is revealed that neither Kylie or Miranda have a shred of car pride, Miranda deals with a multi-generational stinkbug family and Kylie overthinks her buggy tour outfit. 

Research links:

https://medium.com/@agzmn/the-making-of-apples-emoji-how-designing-these-tiny-icons-changed-my-life-16317250a9ee

https://www.wired.com/story/guide-emoji/

https://unicode.org/emoji/emoji-proposals-status.html

https://www.moma.org/magazine/articles/998

https://emojitimeline.com/

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How did a poster by a previously incarcerated street artist manage to influence a presidential election and what is the one thing you’d want to steer clear of when designing a logo for a women’s network? 

This week Kylie dives into the glory days of 2008 and the presidential election that saw Barack Obama become the first African-American president in U.S. history. Specifically how a poster by street artist Shepherd Fairey managed to capture the mood of the moment, ‘go viral’ on a new technology called social media, and ultimately influence the election. 

Taking it low brow, (so low in fact, we gave out our very first content warning!) Miranda explores the Women’s Network logo that got Australia talking… let’s just say, the designers probably should have taken a quick visit to genitalsornot.com to give it the once over. 

Side tangents include but are not limited to 2008 era Facebook and the blight on society that is Facebook memories, Kylie seeing things she didn’t want to in a piece of coral and Miranda manages to bring up Havianas yet again. 

Links: 

Obama/ Shepherd Fairey

https://medium.com/fgd1-the-archive/obama-hope-poster-by-shepard-fairey-1307a8b6c7be

https://obeygiant.com/

https://obamapostermaker.com/

https://npg.si.edu/blog/now-on-view-portrait-barack-obama-shepard-fairey

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepard_Fairey

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/16/politics/kamala-harris-forward-shepard-fairey/index.html

Women’s Network

https://amp.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/mar/15/australian-pms-department-drops-widely-mocked-phallic-womens-network-logo

https://www.pmc.gov.au/news/statement-departments-womens-network-logo

https://genitalsornot.com/

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