TOTEM Times:
Design & Branding
Today is 8, 8 hugs. Why 8 hugs? And why every 8?
Because there are gestures that don’t need translation. Because before brands, strategies, or algorithms existed, there was this: a hug. Science confirms it. Hugs reduce cortisol (the stress hormone), release oxytocin (the bonding hormone), and strengthen the immune system. Hugging not only soothes the soul, it also protects the body. And there’s more: studies show […]
TOTEM Branding around the world
These past few weeks have been extraordinary for several reasons. One of them is that our CEO, Andy Stalman (world-renowned as one of the leading branding experts) has championed our humanistic and transformative vision of branding at some of the most influential international events in the sector. At each of these venues—in Miami, Madrid, Bogotá, […]
Why is authentic storytelling key today?
In a market saturated with stimuli, brands no longer compete solely for visibility. They compete for credibility. And in this context, authenticity is not an aesthetic option. It’s a strategic decision. Brand storytelling—when it’s genuine—doesn’t seek to embellish a narrative, but rather to align what the organization is, with what it communicates, and with what […]
La sostenibilidad es un deber y las marcas que no lo entiendan dejarán de importar
Tener una identidad sólida es una base poderosa, pero no garantiza relevancia en el tiempo», añade el experto en branding que ha hablado en Donostia. Leer Noticia Completa
The future isn’t coming. It’s already here, and it didn’t even knock
Let’s talk about “brands of the future” — a.k.a. the inevitable marketing apocalypse wearing smart glasses. Here’s a few sparkly concepts to warm your little innovation-starved brain: 1. Sentient Brands Not in the “Skynet but for oat milk” way (yet), but brands that adapt in real time to your mood, voice, biometrics, and online drama. […]
The Twelve Totemic Behaviors
How a TOTEM Brand Lives in the Day-to-Day 1. Begin With Belief, Not Brief. Start all work by anchoring in purpose, not performance. Ask: What do we believe? before you ask: What should we post? 2. Protect the Center. Do not drift. Say no to what is profitable but misaligned. The soul is not a […]
21st-century brands face an existential dilemma: evolve or become irrelevant.
Disruption is no longer an isolated phenomenon; it is the natural state of the market. Rigid hierarchies, bureaucratic processes, and business models built on efficiency rather than resilience have turned many organizations into cumbersome structures, unable to adapt to the pace of change. However, some brands have understood something fundamental: companies are not machines that […]
When a Brand Has No Soul, It Has No Future
There’s something that isn’t designed in a manual, that isn’t imposed with a strategy, that isn’t programmed into an algorithm: love for what we do. 📌 If you don’t feel it, you don’t transmit it. 📌 If you don’t live it, you don’t inspire it. 📌 If it doesn’t engage you, it doesn’t belong to […]
The Future of Banking?
Transformation, Trust, and the Battle Against Obsolescence Imagine a world where banking is no longer a destination, but an invisible and integrated part of everyday life. Where financial transactions happen effortlessly, embedded in the platforms we use every day. A world where your bank understands you better than you understand yourself: predicting your needs, protecting […]
Key questions about branding
Successful companies don’t focus on transactions, but on relationships. They don’t compete just on price, but on value. They don’t seek customers, but build believers. Successful brands don’t just capture attention, but engagement. They don’t just sell, but create memorable experiences. They don’t just grow in revenue, but in relevance. Because customers buy. Believers defend, […]
