JUST Creative FLAIR™

The branding industry hates this idea, but Kevin Finn makes a strong case for it anyway, and we found ourselves quite aligned too. Designers don’t build brands. Businesses do.The reality is that we talk about brands constantly.Agencies claim to build them.Startups launch with them.Founders declare themselves one before their first real customer experience.But what if most businesses aren't actually brands at all?In the latest episode of JUST Branding, we sit down with Kevin Finn, founder of...

The Simply Profitable Designer Summit (March 16-20) is live! We just wrapped a live panel on What Helps Websites Convert with 7 other experts, and the replay is now available inside the summit portal. My keynote "Build a Signature Offer That Makes Websites Convert" goes live March 17 @ 7pm GMT followed by a live Q&A with me at 7.45pm where I’ll answer your questions. The replay will be available for 48 hours. If you want to learn how to design for conversion in the age of AI search, grab your...

A few years ago, my website was peaking at over 1 million visits per month. Today? Less than 2,000. That's not a typo. Search has changed. Discovery has changed. Behaviour has changed. AI tools now answer questions directly. They summarise articles. They recommend providers. And here's the twist... Some of my most recent clients didn't find me through Google. They found me through ChatGPT. And Claude. They literally told me: “I asked AI who is the best brand strategist in Sydney… and your...

Chris Do and Jacob Cass circa 2023 + 2026 Rise to Greatness Event Last week I attended the ‘Rise to Greatness’ event here in Sydney.There were 14 speakers across brand, business and leadership.There was even a magician.And then there was Chris Do with a 2 hour keynote with 250+ beautiful slides.His session focused on branding, personal branding and design.Everything from brand ROI, positioning, storytelling and some friendly debate on brand vs product. (Do not get Chris started on Ikea!)Chris...

I have designed websites for Nintendo. Powerade. Vitamin Water. Cutty Sark. Jerry Seinfeld. And let me tell you something. None of those clients cared about pixels alone. They cared about performance. They cared about outcomes. And here's the uncomfortable part. In 2026, if your value is execution alone, you are competing with AI. And AI is faster. Like... way faster. The designers who will thrive are not the ones who can make things look good. They are the ones who can make things convert....

Reminder: We are looking for 3 ambitious brand builders to join our March-June mastermind. Click here to apply. Hello friend, I have a stack of updates for you in this edition of FLAIR. A new JUST Branding Podcast episode is out now, on something we have not properly tackled in seven seasons: PR (public relations). We're joined by PR expert Nikkia Adolphe to discuss how to turn brand strategy into something people actually see, trust, and believe. Listen or watch here. Recently, I was...

Hello brand builder, Yesterday, I sent an email about something I see far too often. Talented brand builders being hired as the hands instead of the brains. Taking orders.Executing decisions made by someone else.Selling time instead of thinking. If that email hit a nerve, this one is the follow up. Because moving from execution to leadership doesn't happen by mindset alone. It happens when you change the rooms you're in and the conversations you're having. That's exactly why we built Ally...

If things feel harder than they should right now, it's not because you need to work more. You don't need more clients.You need to stop playing the wrong role in the room. I've seen this pattern again and again.I've lived it myself. If you're an experienced designer or creative, this might sting a little. You have the skills.You've worked with real clients.You know good work when you see it. Yet somehow, you're still being hired like a pair of hands. Selling time instead of thinking.Execution...

Hello friend, This is a mixed bag edition of Flair. Here's what's inside: A different take on the 2016 vs 2026 conversation LogoLounge Book 15 and a jury seat alongside legends How to Become a Brand Consultant New client work and an upcoming speaking gig Why Debbie Millman says personal branding is a trap Apple vs Adobe vs Affinity What I’m reading, listening to, and remodeling Brand Builders Alliance turns one! A Signature Offer Accelerator update Let's get into it. 2016 vs 2026 Everyone’s...

What a way to kick off Season 7 of the JUST Branding Podcast! We sat down with Debbie Millman, one of the most influential voices in design and brand thinking. We talked about what actually lasts in branding, why "personal brand" is an oxymoron, and how meaning gets built (without faking it). It's the perfect follow up to the 'State of Brand' live panel we hosted with Debbie and David Aaker at the Brand Builders Summit last year. And if you missed it, catch our Best of 2025 episode here....