I like to debate. Not in an angry or aggressive way, and typically not about anything of particular consequence. I prefer silly, obscure, semantic, and nuanced debate. A meat salad my friend had in Germany started a 30-year debate about what constitutes a salad, a concept that is challenged often, most recently as a “candy salad” this past Halloween – which may have finally laid that to rest. Not long ago, I lost an entire day of work debating over whether something could be of heirloom quality, whether heirlooms themselves must be of some intrinsic value, or can they be sentimental in value alone like my grandmother’s lucky socks?
In brand strategy we are often required to understand something foreign or novel quickly, so some level of interest and mental flexibility is required. Since we work across a variety of industries this can be both challenging and exciting and sometimes daunting. In this role we are lucky to get the opportunity to meet interesting people often doing wildly ambitious things. Learning about new industries, technologies or missions fulfills a curiosity that many careers cannot.
When getting to know a new client my favorite thing to hear is “that’s a good question”. I think what sets us apart is our genuine curiosity and desire to help clients succeed. Ultimately friendly debate is at the foundation of everything we do: push, question, and distill. We pressure test ideas, words, syntax. We ask ourselves why a lot, but this is what makes our work durable. The results are not simply beautiful but also designed to create a genuine connection between customers and brand.