Branding Bites: A Brief History of Branding (EP2)

1. Class Trailer: Branding today has come a long way from the days when cattle were marked using a burning hot iron rod. What started as a simple mark of ownership has evolved into a powerful tool that shapes perceptions, builds trust, and drives customer loyalty. Hey Guys! My name is Ketan. I'm a brand consultant and the founder of a branding firm called Brandzpree, and welcome to a new mini class in my branding-focused series, here on Skillshare, called Branding Bites. In this class, we'll dive deep into the history and evolution of branding, right from its origins, all the way to its modern-day scenario that we see today. 2. Class Project: As part of the class project, please pick a popular brand of your choice and make a note of the evolution of its branding and advertising practices throughout its existence. Upon completing the project, please upload your work to the "My project" area in the 'Projects & Resources' section of the class. Also, keep an eye out for any interesting guides and resources available in this section. 3. The Origins: The roots of branding date all the way back to 2000 BC when branding was solely done to depict ownership. In fact, the term 'branding' itself is derived from an ancient Norse term 'Brandr', which means "to burn". Farmers and craftsmen used to imprint their unique symbols on their cattle and goods as a way of marking ownership. These early stages of branding were carried out to make their products and cattle stand out from the rest. 4. The Ancient Marketplace: In ancient civilizations like Babylon, people used verbal sales pitches to attract customers to buy their products. When it came to civilizations like Greece and Egypt, where most of the populations were fairly illiterate, illustrated displays and storefronts were used to communicate and attract customers. 5. The Origins of Printing: In China, the invention of woodblock printing in the 7th century during the rule of Tang Dynasty eventually led to the invention of printing with movable type during Sung Dynasty's 11th century China. These inventions slowly gave rise to the early stages of advertising. 6. Printing Press: With the invention of the first printing press in Germany in the mid 1400s by Johannes Gutenberg, based on the European mobile type printing technology that he had earlier developed, mass production of printed books and literature started to emerge. 7. Industrial Revolution: Between the 1600s and 1700s, printed advertisements started to appear in mass media like newspapers. During the industrial revolution in the mid 1700s, as a result of the mass production of goods, logos were used to identify the manufacturers and also as symbols of quality. 8. The 1800s: Multiple ad agencies were established in the 1800s, which led to innovative ways of advertising using various sizes of media, like newspapers, billboards, signages, etc. It was during this time that companies started promoting their brand names through well designed packaging and catchy slogans. 9. The 1900s: In the late 1900s, brands like Coca-Cola and Apple started to connect with their customers on an emotional level through their ads. This led to companies understanding the importance of long-term brand identity over short-term ad campaigns that are solely focused on selling a particular product. 10. Modern Age: All of this eventually made way for the modern branding that we see today, where more and more brands constantly look for new and innovative ways for providing the customer with a memorable experience instead of just selling them the product or service. 11. Conclusion: Branding has come a long way since its beginnings as a symbol used to mark cattle, to a powerful tool that companies use today to shape their brand image in a crowded marketplace. For a much deeper understanding of the branding, business, and design world, please check out all the other classes listed on my SkillShare profile page. And if you found this class interesting and insightful, please feel free to leave an honest review about the class. Thanks a lot for joining in. I'll see you in a different class. Have a wonderful day!