Top 5 Brands I love for their design taste
Top 5 Brands I love for their design taste
Beauty amazes, fashion disrupts, food embodies, and education creates opportunity
👋 Hello, Brand Revealers. How are you doing today?
Today, we are diving into a list of my top 5 brands that stand out for their mission and tasty design. A combination of systems, storytelling, and functional traits that elevate their brand experience.
Some brands operate on another level, making an impact through design
There are iconic brands—like Nike, Coca-Cola, and Disney—that we all applaud for their legacy. Their long histories echo a powerful presence. Additionally, the design systems they have popularized have transformed our understanding of design. These giants set industry standards. Yet, innovative brands are raising the bar and questioning the power of design in branding. For example, brands leveraging AI at full speed are redefining visual language in eye-opening ways. Many new brands bring fresh perspectives, but this list will make you (re)think priorities.
☕ Grab some tea or coffee and let’s go!
My Top 5 brands with tasty designs
Bright brands and news of the week.
Cheerleading song of the day.
✦ Did you miss the last post? We had a new Brand Revealer: strategy and positive impact.
✦ Do you know how to speak the language of honey?
Gisou has developed a visual language that embodies its DNA and drives innovation in beauty. They have a unique and recognizable style. One that combines iconography, animation, and design in a way that feels both refreshing and timeless. The brand’s artful use of honey as a visual trigger infuses into campaigns. There is an intentional art direction that captures and conveys a feel.
Gisou is more than catchy visuals and designs. They are crafting a brand language that echoes deeply with the core ingredient of their product. Speak, show, highlight and embody the product. That signature glow is spot on!
💎 I featured them a few years ago in my ''love brand'' issue, you can read it here.
✦ A prospective and disruptive Play brand
Petit Pli has been on my radar for years. I featured them in my Play Brands series, highlighting their mission-driven designs. First, their logo reflects functionality. A smart structure that echoes how their fabrics are made. It is also a symbol of adaptability and growth. The science and technology behind their collections are even more meaningful when you explore their world. Here, design elevates the solution. Their fabrics work beautifully in solid colors and patterns. They also infuse art and illustration as a visual language (I love brands that do this), often through collaborations with artists. Petit Pli’s design taste is a generational gap filler. Their hand-drawn elements resonate with grown-up kids at heart. Their whole world is a playground where design meets function—and they are nailing it!
✦ Art and Parisian flair are a language
Sézane is a fashion brand that brings a Parisian touch that elevates art. They offer an effortless masterclass in using art and lifestyle to captivate clients. Founder Morgane Sézalory brings a nurturing vision that embodies the French art de vivre. From pastel crayon illustrations to bold patterns inspired by Italy and travels, each collection feels like a voyage. It's a visual treat to see how much art she infuses into every aspect—from structure to pattern. Her nonprofit Demain, also reflects this playful, illustrative style. A commitment to uplift the unseen and unheard that strengthens their empowering and poetic vision. A future brand spotlight for sure!
✦ That packaging moment is memorable
Typology embodies simplicity and sustainable artistry in its design. I discovered the brand thanks to its founder, Ning Li. He is a serial entrepreneur and former co-founder of Made.com. When I stumbled on his new brand with healthier and straightforward beauty products, I knew I would follow this new venture. Today, Typology stands as a leading disruptor in the French beauty market.
To better grasp their philosophy, you need to experience a delivery. For me, it was a memorable brand experience. Simplicity and focus on the product can feel good. Less is More is not only a saying. It is a branding statement. Instead of showing it all as a beauty brand, they focus on a natural, effortless routine, one that shifts the inner dialogue. Typology’s designs are sleek, clean, and artistic, with a touch of poetry. Their visual language embodies the saying: Speech is silver, but silence is gold.
✦ An Ed-tech that can magnetize wisdom
A mind brand has it all: Choosing a standout EdTech brand was not easy, as there are many I admire and use. However, my top choice for the power of design is Mindvalley. With its iconic wing logo and vibrant purple. Mindvalley creates a cohesive identity that connects everything under its umbrella brand. They offer a variety of sub-brands, each with unique visual identities that reflect the lead speakers of their programs. In my opinion, they are the "Netflix of personal growth." When introducing a new series, each one exists as its own universe within the larger Mindvalley framework.
With a mission to drive human transformation, the brand’s design aligns perfectly with this purpose. If you’re a fan of meditation, yoga, and wellness, you can truly resonate with the elevating tones. While their design isn’t overly bold, it is both effective and on-trend. The wing logo serves as a memorable anchor for the brand. Although colors may vary across different programs, purple remains the signature hue—a consistent and effective choice that hasn’t changed and works like a charm!
I wrote about them in my Mind Brand series; you can read that here. It’s quite a vintage piece.
💈Bonus: I had to talk about this smart disruptor
Marmite is a masterclass: My admiration for this food brand continues to grow—even if, breaking news, "I am a hater." Everything about them is spot on! The product design, with its vintage shape and packaging, is iconic—a true design object. Their campaigns and vintage looks are also impressive. "Marmite" means "pot" in French, and this product truly offers a cultural experience.
The real star of Marmite is its unique recipe and the strong reactions it provokes. I love how their storytelling embraces both love and hate. They successfully connect people through a divisive product that is unlike any other. The recipe is not for everyone. Yet Marmite has made trying it a memorable experience for everyone. They are masters of inclusion and intentional play. I have had many hilarious moments with their creative campaigns, which are treasures of advertising. Will they make my top five again next year? Absolutely!
I use and admire many brands from afar that excel at leveraging design to support their vision. Design is a powerful tool—a key to both brand identification and expansion. How about you? Can you name your top 5 brands with design taste?
🤩 Bright, they are!
🎯 French Tech Updates (I love discovering new founders and their visions. Often, I come across a start-up before learning who the founder is, which is a revealer of the impact of their solution. If you are curious about the latest trends and operations in the startup and VC landscape, this newsletter is a must-read. James takes you on an in-depth journey through what makes Paris a thriving start-up hub).
👏 Romance is not dead! (An agency that has been infusing sharp storytelling in advertising. After many spots, I was intrigued and noticed a pattern, a brand style. Who is behind these clips? It was Romance and you will love them. A Genius, French romantic, yet impertinent style. They are revamping brands and the way they connect with their audiences. Pretty cool!).
✅ Roasting the pitch deck (John Hu takes us on a time-travel journey through the pitch deck he used to raise capital for his startup, Stan. As I am writing my first book for female founders, I came across his work and found it super valuable to understand these feedback loops).
I leave you with my song selection of the day. Wherever you are in the world sprinkle some Good Brand vibes your way.
Keva.
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