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Branding as a Cultural Force

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Branding as a Cultural Force invites readers to reimagine branding as a force for good, one that shapes culture, sparks movements, and drives meaningful social impact.
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  • 06 January 2026
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The most powerful brands don’t just capture attention—they ignite change. Branding as a Cultural Force invites readers to reimagine branding as a force for good, one that shapes culture, sparks movements, and drives meaningful social impact.

Going beyond traditional branding, Robin Landa explores how companies play pivotal roles in shaping culture, advancing causes, and forging emotional connections with their audiences. While most branding guides focus on commercial success, this book emphasizes how brands can align with their audiences’ values to drive social transformation. Through real-world case studies and practical strategies, it reframes branding as a tool for influence, advocacy, and activism.

A standout feature of this book is a series of exclusive interviews with leading voices in branding, design, and advertising. These creative professionals share how they craft resonant campaigns, establish cultural legacies, and stay grounded in core values, offering insights for building brands that stand for more than just profit.

Branding as a Cultural Force provides actionable guidance on telling authentic brand stories, aligning with consumer values, and creating shareworthy campaigns. With a distinctive focus on the intersection of brand purpose and cultural impact, this book challenges readers to rethink branding as a vehicle for systemic change.

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Price: $38.00
Pages: 344
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Imprint: Columbia Business School Publishing
Publication Date: 06 January 2026
Trim Size: 9.25 X 6.12 in
ISBN: 9780231217057
Format: Hardcover
BISACs:

BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Marketing / General, DESIGN / Graphic Arts / Branding & Logo Design, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Advertising & Promotion, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Skills

Most branding books sedate. This one slaps. Robin Landa drags branding howling into the twenty-first century, colliding with culture and building backbone. This book is about brands with hard opinions, campaigns with guts, and stories that make a difference. This is no manual for inventing a company mascot. It’s a call to stop being irrelevant. The bar is low. Step over it.
Robin Landa, a distinguished professor at Kean University, is a globally recognized expert in branding, design, advertising, and creativity. She has received numerous accolades, including recognition as one of the Carnegie Foundation’s “Great Teachers of Our Time.” Her commentary has appeared in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Inc. She is the author of more than twenty-five books, including most recently Shareworthy: Advertising That Creates Powerful Connections Through Storytelling (Columbia, 2024, with Greg Braun).

Foreword by Leland Maschmeyer, co-founder/CEO of COLLINS
Introduction
1. Moving at the Speed of Culture
2. Differentiation
3. North Star Brand Construct
4. Brand-Building Ideas
5. Designing Brand Identity
6. Designing Brand Experiences
7. A Brand Is a Promise Kept
8. Planet-First Brand Building
9. Audience-Focused Brand Building
10. Brand Building: Forging Emotional Connections
11. Brand Building: Manifestos
12. Brand Building: The Power of Stories
13. Social Impact
14. Advancing Equity
15. Brand Building: Archetypes
16. Connecting to Culture(s)
Acknowledgments
Appendix: Tool: Scrutinizing Archetypes
Notes
Index