Today’s guest is Mark Kingsley, an award winning designer, brand strategist and author of the Universal Principles of branding. During the conversation, as well as understanding Marks career influences from Carlos Santana, working on HP where as Mark says “they printed everything I created” we uncover the balance between creativity and corporate demands. We discuss global branding challenges and his strategic approach to maintaining brand identity across diverse markets but allowing that all important space for local nuances. Yes those local nuances do actually matter.

We discuss some of Marks projects, like working on the Ogilvy positioning and the sometimes burdensome legacy of charismatic founders and the importance of experiential and emotional connections in brand development. 

And of course we chat about Marks acclaimed book, 'The Universal Principles of Branding,' providing insights into its creation and the overarching principles that guide effective brand strategy and how actually it is so nuanced. 

As is the case now, no episode is complete without a discussion on the ever-evolving role of AI in the creative industry, acknowledging both its potential and its challenges. We discuss how AI can democratise design tools while emphasising the irreplaceable human element in truly impactful art and branding. Mark's reflections on his teaching experiences and the importance of meditative thinking in creativity offer valuable lessons for aspiring designers.

Marks enthusiasm for his work is palpable, and his insights into the intersection of art, technology, and branding are inspiring. This episode is a treasure trove of knowledge for anyone passionate about creativity and its myriad applications in the modern world.

00:00 Introduction and Event Recap

00:27 Journey into Irish Music

01:52 Influence of Carlos Santana

03:43 Designing for Music Legends

05:08 Grammy Nomination Experience

07:15 Transition to Corporate Work

12:20 Global Branding Challenges

19:50 Writing the Book on Branding

24:21 Empowering Employees at Ritz Carlton

25:14 Understanding Brand Transformation

26:02 Political Ramifications in Branding

28:53 The Story of Dapper Dan and Gucci

33:50 AI's Impact on Creativity and Design

38:03 Balancing Calculative and Meditative Thinking

40:18 The Role of Taste and Pride in Creativity

42:49 Current Projects and Future Endeavours

Sponsor the podcast: https://www.thatswhaticallmarketing.com/sponsor

Find Conor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conorbyrne/

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