TOTEM Times:
Insights & Trends
Brands that capture attention and brands that leave a mark
The difference isn’t in how they look, but in what they convey from their truth. At TOTEM, we support creative branding processes that transform organizations from their core. We don’t do branding as an aesthetic task, but as a profound exercise in strategic authenticity. A practice we develop, refine, and evolve with each client, culture, […]
Not all cultures are visible. But they are all felt
Many companies love to talk about culture. They prepare presentations, define values, design internal campaigns. But at TOTEM, we know that culture isn’t designed with aesthetics. It’s forged with decisions. Culture is the silent conversation between what an organization says it values and what it truly prioritizes when there’s no focus, no cameras, no urgency. […]
Hugs are the refuge we give and receive in the moments we need them most
Today is the 8th: hashtag #8Hugs ✨ Today, like every 8th, together with the TOTEM Branding community, we celebrate the transformative power of this simple but powerful action. Let’s not underestimate the power of the 8 hugs in times of crisis, anxiety, and uncertainty. The power of the 8 hugs is limitless. They unite us, […]
Ego gets you to the edge, humility keeps you from jumping off it
🧠 Top 20 Discoveries of the 21st Century (Actual Discoveries, Not Just Advancements) Higgs Boson Particle (2012) – Proof of the particle that gives matter mass. The physics community wept, then gave themselves a Nobel. Gravitational Waves (2015) – Einstein’s “what if” turned into “yep, we found them.” Detected ripples in space-time itself. First Direct […]
Powering Purpose
First, it was a black screen. Then, an awkward silence. And then, the question no one knew how to answer: “Now what do we do?” When everything we took for granted disappears, there’s no choice but to return to the basics. Yesterday, Spain and Portugal experienced that firsthand. A power outage left them disconnected from […]
The internet didn’t change who we are. It changed how we do it.
Before, we said “hook up.” Now, we match. Before, we searched. Now, we Google. Before, we texted. Now, we WhatsApped. Before, we said “I’ll see you at the bar.” Now, it’s “I’ll stalk you on Instagram.” Before, we knew what to think. Now, we’re unsure what to believe. Before, brands spoke. Now… if they don’t […]
8Hugs for the 8th
Today is the 8th. And like every 8th, at TOTEM Branding we remember the power of the hashtag #8hugs of 6 seconds. And it’s not just a number. It’s an act as simple as it is profound. A genuine hug reminds us that we belong, that someone is there, that we are not alone. And […]
The generational shift is already here.
It’s not just coming. It’s already here. The generational shift isn’t an abstract phenomenon or a dinner-table conversation among sociologists: it’s tangible, visible, and brutally real. It’s felt in schools, in companies, on social media, in the streets. And it’s not just that young people think differently; it’s that they’re rewriting the rules of the […]
A father is like a great brand: he leaves a mark, inspires, and transcends
The most iconic brands are not just products or services; they are experiences, values, legacies that are built over time. A father is not just a provider or a guide, but a creator of identity, an architect of values, a builder of purpose. 🔹 Fathers teach by example. As in branding, what defines a brand […]
International Women’s Day 2025
Yesterday, the world celebrated International Women’s Day. Today, the conversation continues. Because while we honor achievements, the reality is that millions of women still face barriers in the workplace, pay disparities, and limited access to leadership roles. The 2025 Glass-Ceiling Index by The Economist ranks OECD countries based on workplace gender equality, shedding light on […]
