Jayne Walsh

This is the first draft of my manifesto. All comments welcome.

Manifesto

I am not a brand.

In World War Two the Nazis branded the Jews like cattle and then slaughtered them, like cattle.

I am not a brand.

In the 1990’s Coca Cola branded Tanzania, financing all their road signage that included the Coke brand on every sign.

I am not a brand.

In October 2010 Gap attempted to update their logo twice but went back to the original after complaints about the new brand identity from the public and complaints about crowd sourcing from AIGA’s president Debbie Millman.

I am not a brand.

In November 2011 Benetton provoked furious protests from the Vatican by using a digitally manipulated photograph of Pope Benedict XVI kissing Islamic Imam Ahmed el-Tayyeb.

I am not a brand.

In February 2012 Dave Brown of the Brand Union advised students at the Four Designers conference to brand themselves.

I am not a brand.

A brand is a commodity to be bought or sold; accepted or rejected.

I am not a brand.