Why Your Brand Visuals Feel Off
Sometimes, it’s not the offer. It’s the vibe
Welcome to your brand check-in!
Sometimes your brand feels...off. Not because your offer is wrong, but because the vibe doesn’t match the message. Let’s dive into why that happens and how to fix it.
Story…Story
One day, Mia and Ben were sitting under the mango tree in Ben’s backyard, sketchbooks open, a half-eaten biscuit between them.
Ben was smiling to himself.
Mia tilted her head. “What’s so funny?”
Ben looked up. “My uncle told me a story last weekend about the animal kingdom.”
Mia squinted. “This better not be like the one with the talking crocodile.”
Ben laughed. “No, this one makes sense. Listen.”
He leaned in like he was about to share a big secret.
“So, there was this cheetah—the fastest animal in the kingdom. He wanted to open a speed school to teach younger animals how to run fast.”
Mia nodded. “Sounds fair. Who wouldn’t want to be fast?”
“Right? But here’s the twist,” Ben said. “He asked the peacock to design the ads. The cheetah told him to make him look cool—because being fast is cool.”
Mia raised an eyebrow. “And the peacock did what?”
Ben grinned. “He made ads showing the cheetah chilling under a tree, wearing sunglasses and sipping coconut water. He used pastel colors, soft fonts, and called the school ‘The Chill Zone.’”
Mia snorted. “What?”
“Yeah,” Ben said. “So the slow animals like sloths, koalas, and tortoises signed up thinking it was a spa. But the gazelles and leopards didn’t bother. They thought it wasn’t for them.”
Mia blinked. “But the cheetah wanted a speed school.”
“Exactly,” Ben said. “But the brand didn’t say speed. It said nap time.”
Mia laughed, then looked at her sketchbook. “So if I want people to know my project is fun and energetic, I shouldn’t make it look sleepy.”
Ben nodded. “Even the fastest cheetah won’t be taken seriously if its ad looks like a chill zone.”
Mia erased something. “No pastel coconuts for my robot poster, then.”
Ben smirked. “Unless your robot is opening a juice bar.”
People feel your brand before they understand what you offer.
What possible reasons can make our brands feel off?
Here are five reasons that might make your brand feel off right now:
1. Your visuals and voice don’t match
Your brand looks playful, but it sounds stiff. When the look and the tone don’t match, your audience gets mixed signals. They might like what they see but hesitate because the words don’t fit the vibe.
2. Your brand has evolved beyond its current visuals
Maybe you’ve evolved, but your branding hasn’t. Even the fastest cheetah won’t get sign-ups if the ad still says nap time.
If your visuals don’t reflect your current goals and values, they feel outdated.
That can make it hard for people to connect with who you are now.
3. There’s no system behind it
If you started with just a logo and colors but no clear vibe or voice, your brand feels hollow.
Without a strong identity system, design becomes guesswork and ends up confusing.
4. It’s trying too hard to follow trends
Chasing every design fad might make your brand look trendy, but it won’t help it feel authentic.
Trends fade, but a brand rooted in its true story lasts longer and connects more deeply.
5. It’s missing the human touch
Your brand might look polished, but it feels cold or distant.
People want to feel a real person behind the brand.
Adding warmth, personality, and a few imperfect details helps build trust and connection.
Take a moment this week to ask yourself:
Does my brand reflect what I offer today?
If it doesn’t, it might be time to rethink how you show up.
No pastel coconuts unless you’re actually selling juice.
Sending clarity and curiosity,
Dyndu 💚
