JOURNAL /01
Explore our latest thinking on brand, business and creativity, from deeper Studio Papers and original perspectives to observations, stories and ideas from inside the studio.
In June last year, Instagram shared that they are no longer classifying itself as a photo-sharing app, and the drastic changes haven’t stopped from there. We have seen Reels take off, Stories get new features and purpose (with all users
In the world of social media, it is commonly perceived that things posted online are ingenuine or staged and more of a highlight reel than reality. Therefore, the notion of authenticity can sometimes go astray. For businesses and brands, appearing
Often people think that once they have a logo, they have a brand. This is not the case. A brand – including your website design – is your company’s entire identity, from who you are and what you stand for
“Let’s go viral!” – is a phrase that’s definitely easier said than done. However, going ‘viral’ may not be as beneficial as you might think – especially for a business trying to grow on a new platform. TikTok, the rapidly
We’ve said it a hundred times before, but we’ll say it again – your brand is SO much more than your logo. All the best brands we love have comprehensive branding strategies that have allowed them to grow into the
After two years of being in and out of lockdown, many workplaces are back in the office full time. As a result of time apart, growing teams and a new ‘normal’, team bonding is an important way to ensure your
The speed at which the web development space is changing is rapid. Navigating this landscape and adapting to changes plays a significant role in the work of web developers, as well as the companies they work for. The ability to
Jeff Bezos, Executive Chairman of Amazon, put it well when he said, “A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn your reputation by trying to do the hard things well.” Essentially, you can’t just
Your reputation is the most important thing when it comes to your business. There’s no point in having a great branding strategy if your company has a reputation for poor customer service or a bunch of negative online reviews. Just
Meet Leanne, Co-founder, Creative Director and the curious mind behind a lot of the brands that come through our studio.
She`s usually the one asking why? (and then asking it another five times), digging into the stories, people and ideas behind a business before working out how they can take shape visually.
Outside the studio, you’ll probably find Leanne painting with symphonic metal playing in the background, halfway through a fantasy novel, out exploring with Toby and Simon, or at a gig.
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Filed by: Oraco Agency
Reference: TF-001
Photo source: @joannaphotography.au
Filed under: #TeamFile #BrandStrategist #BrandIdentity #BrandStory #BrandStrategy
Rebranding doesn’t mean erasing everything that came before.
If you’ve been in business for five, ten or twenty years, you’ve already built recognition, reputation, relationships and stories that have value.
The interesting part is working out what still belongs.
What should stay? What has the business outgrown? What needs to evolve? And what would you be crazy to leave behind?
A rebrand should make room for where you’re going, while still feeling unmistakably yours.
Think you might have outgrown your brand? Take another look.
Brand + rebrand projects now booking. Visit our link in bio to book a chat.
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#Branding #Rebrand #BrandStrategy #BrandIdentity
Happy Father’s Day to the dads behind the Oraco team 💛
To our dads, stepdads, partners who are dads, and all the father figures who have supported us, shaped us and made us laugh along the way, today is for you.
And a very happy Father’s Day to all the dads and father figures in our wider Oraco community. We hope you’re feeling very loved and appreciated today x
I’ve always been fascinated by symbolism 🌀
By how a single mark, image, word or gesture can represent something far bigger than itself. Across cultures and civilisations, we’ve used symbols to communicate identity, beliefs, stories, belonging and ideas that sometimes go far beyond what words can explain.
And somewhere along the way, I realised that’s also how I’d started to see brands.
A logo can become a symbol of what a business stands for. A colour can carry years of recognition. A phrase can represent an entire belief. A story can become shorthand for where a business came from and why it exists. Iconography can represent services, philosophies, products or ideas.
What we see on the surface carries meaning because of everything sitting behind it.
Over nearly two decades of working in branding, I also began noticing the same themes appearing again and again in the businesses people really remembered.
Their past, beliefs, future, people, identity, expression, impact and longevity.
Eventually, I gave each of those ideas a symbolic form.
They became Oraco’s Eight Brand Marks, and today they give us a way to look at a business from eight different perspectives and uncover the stories, ideas and meaning that make it distinctly its own.
The strongest brands aren’t built by adding meaning that was never there. More often, the clues already exist.
You just need to know where to look.
Explore the Eight Brand Marks via the link in bio.
One of the hardest things about running a business is knowing what actually deserves your attention.
When you`re inside it every day, everything can feel important. The website needs updating, content needs creating, marketing isn`t quite working, the messaging feels off. Someone suggests a new platform, another campaign or a complete change in direction. But more activity isn`t always the answer.
A big part of Jessica`s work, both through Oraco and the business owners she mentors, is helping people step back far enough to see what`s really going on.
– What are you actually trying to achieve?
– Who are you trying to reach?
– What`s already working?
– Where is the real disconnect?
– And what can probably wait?
Sometimes the most valuable strategy isn`t adding another thing to the list. It`s creating enough clarity to know what matters now, what comes next and what doesn`t need your attention at all.
If you`re looking for strategic advice, a fresh perspective and someone to keep you accountable to actually doing the things you said you were going to do, Jessica offers one-on-one business strategy and mentoring sessions. Shoot us a DM to find out more.
Last week, we lost someone very special.
Sean was a former Principal of Mannix College, a longstanding client of Oraco`s, and someone I was lucky to get to know over many years.
I first met Sean in 2012 through my work with Mannix, and I remember instantly clicking with him. He was incredibly kind, funny, super organised and genuinely caring. He made working together easy, but he was also someone who took the time to get to know you beyond the work itself.
Every year, without fail, Sean would send me a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year message, always accompanied by a quirky little Bitmoji of himself. Even after he finished as Principal and we were no longer working together regularly, those messages continued. It`s such a small thing, but I think it says a lot about the kind of person he was.
I`ve worked with Mannix since 2009, a relationship that now spans close to two decades, and Sean sits right in the middle of so many of those memories. He was there through an important chapter in my career and Oraco`s growth, trusting us with Mannix for many years, and still making the effort to stay in touch long after our working relationship changed.
Looking back, it means a lot that such a longstanding professional relationship also brought someone like Sean into my life.
As the Mannix community gathers today to celebrate Sean`s life, I`ll be joining the service from home and thinking of his family, friends and everyone at Mannix. I had hoped to be there in person, but I`m glad I`ll still be able to join everyone in remembering him.
Thank you, Sean, for your kindness, your humour and for always finding a way to put a smile on people`s faces. You made a difference to so many people, myself included, and I`m very grateful our paths crossed.
Leanne x
Photo courtesy of Mannix College.
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