101 - Q&A: Rebrand for new markets? Templates vs. custom art? Keep (or fire) your OG designer? Plus, tangents!

Points of discussion: Q1: Should a brewery consider rebranding when expanding into new markets or reaching beyond its local audience? Q2: Is a full rebrand typically more effective, or can a strategic refresh of the existing identity be enough? Q3: If a company has worked with the same designer for years and is thinking about a brand refresh, how can they evaluate whether that OG designer is still the right fit? And if not, how should they navigate that tricky transition? Q4: How do you determine when a system like Left Field’s templated approach makes sense, versus something more customized and illustration-driven like NoDa’s? Q5: You mentioned that a rebrand usually isn’t the first move when sales are declining, but your Wachusett example seems to break that rule. Why was a full rebrand the right call in their case? Q6: A lot of the work you showed uses a clear design system or template. How do you think about that approach compared to creating more individualized packaging within the same portfolio? Q7: When refreshing a brand, do you find it more effective to start from scratch, or to build on the existing identity and evolve what’s already there? - Learn more at: www.craftbeerrebranded.com / http://www.beyondbeerbook.com - Have a topic or question you’d like us to field on the show? Shoot it our way: hello@cododesign.com - Join 9,500+ food and bev industry pros who are subscribed to the Beer Branding Trends Newsletter (and access all past issues) at: www.beerbrandingtrends.com