monopo’s Post

Stop slapping generic "Instagram" filters on your multi-million dollar brand. Custom color grading and film emulation are the secret weapons to make your content shine. How many times have you scrolled past a video or ad that felt instantly familiar, blending into the endless stream of homogeneous visuals? Minimalism is everywhere, and nobody dares to use color anymore. In a world where every brand chases the same fleeting trends, a unique and striking visual identity is more crucial than ever. Professional color grading with film emulation is the secret weapon that sets leaders apart from their competitors. High-end music videos and commercials draw inspiration from cinema for their creation. Recently, I chatted with the cinematographer of Justin Timberlake's "Selfish" music video. (40M views on YouTube) The entire video was shot on a Kodak film camera. No digital, no memory card. A throwback to the old days, just for the pleasure of: - achieving a true cinematic image, - handling film like in the good old days, - reproducing the authentic and unmatched color that film produces, impossible to perfectly imitate with digital. For the tech-savvy: It's an Arri camera, a German brand (about $30,000), paired mainly with an Angénieux 100mm lens, a highly respected French brand (+$40,000). Here are some images from the video, as well as examples of color grading applied to my vacation videos, with before/after shots and explanations :

Nonfiction has developed a new brand for Lost Drinks Co. Lost Drinks Co. Lost is a new drinks company concocting the most delicious rum-based RTD's you've ever tasted. Based on the simple principles of craft, quality and full-noise flavour - the team at Lost create combinations that taste just like the classic holiday rum cocktails you love - without the fuss or the sugar content. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  CORE IDEA: Escape to where the flavour takes you. We saw a positioning opportunity for Lost to capture the spirit and sense of escapism. A brand that perfectly embodies the wanderlust mindset, evoking a sense of adventure and mystery. The brand identity, expression and bottle labels take cues from traditional Tiki culture, with a healthy dose of kitsch and just a sprinkling of nostalgia – reminiscent of your favourite island bar where you danced until sunrise and lost both your inhibitions and your jandals. The result is a brand and shelf presence that sits apart from anything else in the category. A brand with a fun, captivating story and tone that matches the delicious flavours of the drinks themselves. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  WHAT WE DID: → Brand Strategy & Positioning → Naming → Messaging Framework → Visual Identity → Bottle Labels & Packaging → Brand Photography → Social Media → Printed Collateral & Merch - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  PROJECT TEAM: Creative Direction: Nick Riley (PDINZ) Nonfiction  Strategy: Dave Hewitt & Simonne Mearns (Said & Done) Copywriting: Mark Easterbrook Design: Nick Riley (PDINZ), Sophie Blazey Photography: Digital Product Images Illustration: Marcus Watson Styling: Kayla Marie Jurlina See the full case study here: https://lnkd.in/g8Ma35zh Nonfiction ⏺⬇ #design #brandidentity #brandstrategy #typography #packaging #drinks

"Branding isn't the product you buy, it's who you believe you become when you buy it." - Tess Robinson Before I got into Product Photography, I was always fascinated by the BRAND. I was intrigued by the way two brands can sell the same product, but with different packaging & unique mass messaging, one brand could be radically more successful than its competitor. No one has ever summed it up more perfectly than Tess Robinson in the above quote. I believe Product Photography, videography & the like are integral parts of the story you tell when you create a brand. As the old cliche goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words." You can sell your brand all you want with words, but without the images that bring that story to life, your brand doesn't have the same emotive power. Images make us feel, they inspire us, move us, and help us build both visual and emotional associations that make a brand all the more REAL, all the more "sticky". When it comes to your brand, whether it's established or still growing, don't overlook investing high-quality images this upcoming Fall. They really might just make or break the story you're telling. 👉 For Fall inquiries, head to www.dainkobrands.com to book or inquire now!

Why do some personal brands connect, while others fade away? Success can often determined by how well you connect to the story you’re being told. Storytelling is the heart of your brand - both your personal brand, and your organisations brand. It’s not just about what you do, but why you do it. Here’s how you can craft a compelling narrative around your story: 1. Your Audience: Who are they, and what do they care about? 2. Your Core Message: What’s the one thing you want them to remember? 3. Be Authentic: People connect with genuine emotions and events they can related to. Share real experiences. 4. Create a Compelling Narrative: Every good story has a strong hook - plus a beginning, middle, and end. Make yours engaging. 5. Show Your Journey, including your highs and lows: People love to see growth. Highlight your struggles and triumphs. 6. Incorporate Visual Elements: A picture can indeed be worth a thousand words. Photos event more so. 7. Engage Emotionally - Be Human: Make your audience feel something – joy, sadness, inspiration. 8. Maintain Consistency: Your story should align with your overall brand message and values. 9. Call to Action: End with a takeaway or a step they can act on. Your story is your superpower. Your story makes you unique and memorable. Use your past experiences, good or bad, to help educate and inform others. Remember, it’s your story that will turn your brand from forgettable to unforgettable. Need some help with your branding? Drop me a DM or look me up - https://lnkd.in/e6JYt-um

When building brands, it’s easy to get caught up in what we see on the shelf or on the billboard, to focus on the final result and neglect other parts of the process. But for our directors Cato Hunt and Malex Salamanques Amiel the key to creative success comes from square one – the brief 📝   Read their thoughts in Marketing Beat about the fundamental importance of strategy, the words we use, and how a thoughtful brief can inspire the best work from a creative team 🚀 https://lnkd.in/e2wvWPKs

How I Helped ROARK Create Impactful Lifestyle Content! Crafting visuals for a lifestyle brand isn’t just about design—it’s about capturing the brand’s essence. Here’s how I approached my work with ROARK, a lifestyle fashion brand: → Understanding the Brand Identity Immersed myself in ROARK’s ethos to ensure every design reflects its unique style. → Creating Eye-Catching Visuals Designed content with bold imagery and modern layouts to align with lifestyle aesthetics. → Emphasizing Consistency Across Posts Each post maintains brand consistency to strengthen recognition and trust. → Balancing Style & Message Focused on striking visuals that don’t overshadow the brand’s core message. Pro Tip: The best brand visuals aren’t just “on-brand”—they connect with the audience authentically. P.S. How do you approach designing for lifestyle brands? Share your thoughts below! 🔁 Find this interesting? Feel free to repost!

One of the biggest downfalls I see with ads - Artistic Expression. Let me explain... The consumer doesn't care much about creativity. They care about ONE thing, the PRODUCT. Ads that look like they belong in magazines don't work. Runways, Fashion Shows, Your product at the peak of Everest..people don't care. Why? They tell you nothing. Sometimes I think it's ego. Brands want to look like Gucci or Louis Vuitton. What's the difference? They're heritage brands. They just need impressions. They sell themselves. Ads should be quite simple. Show how the product will benefit them. THAT'S IT! What works? Flat lays, Gifs, Video Gifs, UGCs.... Ads that DO NOT COST A LOT TO MAKE, WORK! Keep it simple, just be strategic. All you need is a real strategy.

Spoiler Alert: Not All Brand will make it to the spotlight. My Paddy 😌 Now let me give you the hint and type of brand that won't make it to the spotlight. The last one is important. 🟣A brand that lacks Identity 🟣A brand that does not know it's Audience 🟣A brand with no strategy 🟣A brand that behaves like Nepa (inconsistency) 🟣A brand that lacks unique visuals 🟣A brand that talks to everyone 🟣A brand that resist spending for publicity. and lastly 🟣A brand that does not have me as their Designer. To know a brand that will make it to the spotlight Just put the opposite of everything that has been listed. No too much talk Today is Monday. Ps: Designs I made over the week. ↪️Seeing my post for the first time? ↪️ Follow me Miracle Cyprain -Graphic Designer ↪️I post insightful contents about Social media designs that elevates your brand. How was your weekend 😊

🌸 Bringing a Beauty Brand to Life on Instagram 💄 I recently had the opportunity to design a visual concept for a beauty client, focusing on creating a feed that evokes emotion and tells a story. Here’s how I approached it: ✨ Colors with Purpose: A soft, inviting palette—pastels for elegance, neutrals for inclusivity, and vibrant accents for energy. 📸 Angles for Impact: Thoughtful perspectives that highlight textures, moods, and artistry, from dynamic close-ups to luxurious overhead shots. 💖 Emotion in Every Detail: Genuine moments of confidence and care, captured through soft lighting and attention to detail. The result? A cohesive, inspiring feed that connects with the audience on a personal level. How do you approach creating content that sparks connection? Let’s discuss! 👇

Dear 𝘯𝘦𝘸-𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 (looking to hire Artists) You 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗽-𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀 like branding collateral, communication graphics, and illustrations 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝘂𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 💥𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆. It is 𝗻𝗼𝘁 a prerequisite! (𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵-𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩) And 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗼, when I started working as an ✏𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿, this was not my viewpoint. In fact, it was the 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲! As I 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 with businesses of varying sizes and nature, 𝗺𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 and refined. I have dealt with companies that have been 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀. It would 🤯boggle my mind. When I say "marginally impactful" I mean visual assets that, 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻, have a slightest potential of setting your brand apart! Hey, 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 it... Visuals is ✨𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝘆𝘆 crucial for businesses of any strength and maturity. (𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘤 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘺) 𝗛𝗼𝘄𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿. Creating unique and incredible library of visual assets for your brand that will 🤩dazzle people will 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀, my fren :) 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀, there's no point doing a brand identity design for ₹30k. Neha, you'd rather get a Canva pro subscription or use other tools to make कामचलाऊ visuals. Cheers! // artist manager, Creatimately.