BRANDING CRIME #09

The Trend chaser

“AI-generated? Retro-futuristic? Maximalist? Whatever’s trending, we’re on it!”

How it kills

  • The brand wants to be *modern* and *dynamic*, so it changes styles so often that customers can’t recognize it anymore—one day sleek minimalism, the next day neon chaos.
  • People feel like the brand is playing dress-up, with no real personality—just a wardrobe full of borrowed identities.
  • Refreshing is fun, but if the goal is to be recognizable, constantly reinventing yourself is like changing your phone number every week and then complaining that no one ever calls.

What Works

  • Trends come and go, but your brand’s core identity should be consistent. Start from your story and build something people recognize, even when styles shift.
  • Pick trends that align with your values—don’t chase every passing aesthetic just because it’s hot this week.
  • If your brand looks unrecognizable every quarter, ask yourself: are you evolving, or are you just a shapeshifter hoping someone, somewhere, will eventually recognize you?

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