Branding as a Cultural Force

Most branding books sedate. This one slaps. Robin Landa drags branding howling into the twenty-first century, colliding with culture and building backbone. This book is about brands with hard opinions, campaigns with guts, and stories that make a difference. This is no manual for inventing a company mascot. It’s a call to stop being irrelevant. The bar is low. Step over it. – Brian Collins, cofounder and designer, COLLINSWhile most branding books polish corporate platitudes, Robin Landa’s delivers a bracing thesis: that brands, to endure, must rise from commerce to culture. Her case is lucid, timely, and—thankfully—free of the usual jargon. – Leland Maschmeyer, cofounder and CEO, COLLINSAs trust in traditional institutions declines, consumers today demand more from brands. Those that commit to social purpose are achieving new levels of brand loyalty. Through firsthand accounts from the shapers of the world’s most innovative brands, Robin Landa’s book expertly guides us through this new paradigm in a way that’s not only inspiring but actually achievable. – Greg Braun, retired dep. global chief creative officer, Commonwealth/McCannWow! This book is a practical tool for branding agencies and is excellent for use in an academic setting. It includes questions to ask clients guiding modern branding companies in strategy sessions. Landa gives examples of forward-thinking companies who have incorporated cultural values into their branding. – Diane Gibbs, University of South Alabama and host of Creatives Ignite podcastBranding as a Cultural Force is a comprehensive study of branding for today’s world. It provides a fresh take on the subject, bringing new insight through interviews with major players. Jam-packed with acumen and encouragement, Landa’s latest is a must-have guide for personal growth and success in a competitive field. – Steven Brower, professor emeritus, Marywood University

Robin Landa, a distinguished professor at Kean University, is a globally recognized expert in branding, design, advertising, and creativity. She has received numerous accolades, including recognition as one of the Carnegie Foundation’s “Great Teachers of Our Time.” Her insights have appeared in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Inc. She is the author of more than twenty-five books, including most recently Shareworthy: Advertising That Creates Powerful Connections Through Storytelling (Columbia, 2024, with Greg Braun).