As technology advances and new trends evolve, businesses are getting more and more creative with their branding. But there comes a point where bigger isn’t better; it simply becomes overwhelming, and dare I say, tacky.
Sometimes, less is more. And here are three brands that prove exactly that.
Apple
Steve Jobs is a pioneer of minimalistic branding, with his passion for simplicity fuelling the design behind everything from his products to his website. But for Steve, simple doesn’t mean lazy – in fact, it’s rather the opposite: “Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.”
Rather than trying to wow audiences with complex designs, he chose to focus instead on functionality. Ultimately, flashy looks may attract people initially, but usability is what will make them stay.
Zara
Another world-renowned brand demonstrating less can be more is Zara. Like Apple, their logo is so simple you can’t help but remember it. From their iconic brown bags to their clean and crisp website, Zara shows that simple is effective.
But there’s more to Zara’s minimalist approach than just aesthetics. Their transition to simplistic bags was triggered by a drive to become more sustainable – and it’s worked: both Zara and Zara home have now eliminated the use of plastic bags and will continue to implement more sustainable practices throughout their stores.
Wxy
Wxy uses clean branding to represent their clean candles; they use no animal-derived materials and no parabens, and wherever possible, make use of recyclable materials. Rather than focusing on designing showstopping packaging, they instead channel their energy into creating higher quality products that deliver what the consumer expects.
Their simple branding allows them to create premium candles for affordable prices – and in our opinion, the minimalist style adds a high-end feel. And by using sustainable, simplistic packaging, they minimise costs which allows them enough leeway to donate a percentage of their profits to Mind Charity.
There we have three brands that prove by doing less with branding, they can give back more to where it matters most. So, yes, simple really is more effective – well, in some cases. Like with most things in life, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to branding; what works for some may be a total disaster for others. It’s all about what best fits the values and offerings of the brand, so take things case by case, but keep in mind that not everything has to be elaborate.
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