Given the fact that our roots are in the toy industry, appealing to kids has always been an area of expertise for our team. Over the past twenty years, we've conducted a considerable amount of research to understand how best to capture and maintain the attention of … Read More
As a self-proclaimed Star Wars geek, I had been anxiously awaiting Disney+’s latest Star Wars live-action series, The Book of Boba Fett, since that feeling of sadness and emptiness washed over me after the incredible first season of The Mandalorian was over. The Book of Boba Fett debuted … Read More
Packaging for toy and entertainment brands, whether licensed or non-licensed, can't be successfully developed without first considering its context at retail. After all, it won't exist in a vacuum in the retail environment, so it shouldn't be designed in one either. Gain insight by conducting a retail audit The … Read More
Experiential marketing is a tactic used by brands to appeal to consumers' senses to engage them more meaningfully. Experiential branding goes much deeper. It's a powerful differentiator, generating excitement and pleasure for consumers that lead to stronger brand preferences, purchases and loyalty. Entertainment brands are experiential by their … Read More
When I was 12 years old, the rock band, KISS, released their Destroyer album. One of my cousins brought it over to my house and let me listen to it. I had no idea who KISS was at the time, so I hadn't heard any of their … Read More
The marketers of strong brands inevitably turn their attention to licensing. It's a natural progression of things. Usually, their focus is on building even more brand awareness, sales and profits. It might sound counterintuitive, but that shouldn't be their primary goal. Their thought processes should be on … Read More
Brand devotees. Brand loyalists. Brand evangelists. That's what we are. How do we as consumers go from the willingness to give a brand a try, to connecting with a brand in such a powerful way that we identify it as an integral part of our lifestyle? This … Read More
Maybe it's because we work with licensed entertainment properties and toy brands that were drawn to not only their unique brands, but the separate universes they create. Kids and adults find their imaginations fueled by characters with unique personalities and backstories. Ongoing storylines filled with colorful protagonists … Read More
Consumers have changed completely in the past couple of decades. They're better informed than ever and research consumer product reviews online. They're not easily swayed by advertising which does lead to brand recognition but doesn't necessarily breed trust. They're more influenced by word of mouth. Due to … Read More
If you wanted, as a marketer, to create a unique brand story that would be avidly adopted by a group of consumers, how would you accomplish that? There is endless media – books, articles, blog posts, social media commentary and interviews – focused on the magic of … Read More
If you want to engage the Design Force team and put more than three decades of expertise to work for your brand...