by Miriam Hara | Aug 8, 2025 | Advertising, Agency, Business Success, Creative, Design
Unmistakably Purple
If voice shapes how a brand sounds and represents, its visual identity is how it’s remembered. In a world crowded with choices, visuals are strategy, personality, and first impression all at once. For my business... my brand, that unforgettable visual identity begins with one unexpected colour: purple.
The Layering Approach
An unforgettable visual identity is never just about what looks good on a page. It’s about crafting patterns, moments, and details that make an impression before you’ve said a word. It embodies and propels forward the brand's logo while carrying the momentum to social media communications, and advertising.
When I considered what would signal my business to the world, I started with the simplicity of a my business' visual identity. I started with a colour that was unexpected 37 years ago. It was a colour that was rarely seen or utilized in the business world yet oddly traditional. It was a bold move in the seas of grey, blue and burgundy. Additionally, I wanted a colour that sparked curiosity, commanded attention, and reflected the kind of creative courage I bring to every project.
Why Purple?
Purple wasn’t chosen by accident. It’s the signature of my brand for a reason. Throughout history, purple has signalled creativity, originality, and even a little bit of rebellion. It’s confident, distinctive, and unapologetic just like the brands I love to build. And let's not forget...purple is often associated with courageousness...with braveness.
Albeit, purple is also personal for me. It reflects imagination, a bias toward bold ideas, and a commitment to standing for something unique, not just what’s expected. It’s the heartbeat of every piece of creative, every campaign, and every brand moment we deliver.
Consistency Creates Confidence
Of course, visual identity is about more than just one shade. It’s the patterns, rhythms, and small details that turn colour into memory. Purple is the visual thread that runs through our brand. It appears in the logo, the website, event booths, even the energy of the team.Consistency is a competitive advantage. I want people to feel the brand before they even know it’s us.
Purple invites a double take. It stands out in a sea of sameness and, in our world, that matters. Clients and potential clients alike, take note of our brand colour. Unbeknownst to them, from the very first hello, we are already having a brand conversation. One that enables us to really show what we can accomplish for their brands. The use of purple is very intentional.
Visuals That Speak Volumes For My Clients, Too
Many of the brands I work with are navigating complex, crowded spaces; health, innovation, food, lifestyle, and legacy industries that can feel overwhelming and even feel a little sterile. For them, standing out isn’t just a luxury; it’s survival.
When I and my team are given to develop an unforgettable visual identity... it isn't only about colour. It's about being unexpected...and whatever that form takes. We aim to make their message impossible to ignore and giving their brand sense of confidence and cohesion that transcends vehicle. Confidence in their communications, advertising and of course, confidence for their sales force to articulate what needs to be. The visual identity is the springboard for which all brand communications (digital, print, sales) take flight. Clients have told me that our creative choices, especially the signature visual elements, help their brands claim space, spark conversations, and signal that they’re not afraid to lead.
When someone is exposed to one of my businesses' campaigns or walks into our office, I want them to feel that spark. Purple makes sure they do. It’s a colour that opens doors, starts conversations, and makes the brand unforgettable not just for me, but for every client I have the privilege to work with.
by Miriam Hara | Aug 5, 2025 | Agency, Business Success, Marketing, Miriamisms
In my previous blog, the first of this series of six, I explained how every business has a story. And since every story has a beginning,… every business has one too. If “what” is the heartbeat of any entrepreneurial story, then “why” and “how” are the soul. Here’s a little synopsis of my business beginnings.
Business Beginnings
Before I could start a business, let alone build a business, I needed to dig into what truly mattered to me. That meant pausing, reflecting, and asking myself some real and serious questions. What shaped me in my career? What do I actually stand for within the industry that I wanted to shape and be a part of? What did my experience thus far, teach me, frustrate me, invigorate me? More importantly, how did I want to sound out in the world? By answering those questions, I had the makings of my business beginnings.
My business beginning was stitched together from curiosity, drive, and, honestly, a stubborn streak. I always questioned the usual way of doing things. Why not try something different? Why not find a way for strategy and creativity to meet without compromise? In all honesty, the stubborn streak was essential…and the curiosity also had a constant companion…sheer determination. Nothing about my path was handed to me. I carved it out, sometimes the hard way. Trusting instincts, even when it meant taking the harder route, became a pattern. When something felt right, I doubled down, even if it made things messier at first.
Business Adventure
It goes without saying that the in the beginning, you really don’t know what it’s going to take to actually start, build and maintain a business. Nothing quite prepares you. We all know the adage ignorance is bliss. When I started my business adventure, not knowing was the silver lining that I needed to keep going. I just started and off I went to take the curve balls and the outs, and the homeruns in stride.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my team. Throughout the 37 years I’ve been blessed. Key to my business journey is that I found an eclectic team of like-minded professional and quirky people who got me… who believed in my vision… and who would propel my business forward. I had one additional thing going for me that many didn’t. I leaned on my family’s and husband’s unwavering support and belief that what I wanted to do, could be done. That’s really where my brand story began.
Developing my Strategic Voice
If you’ve spent any time with me, or read any of my blogs, you know I don’t do generic. I like clarity with a bit of edge. I’m always asking another question, never stopping at the surface. Brands deserve to sound confident, not cautious. I leave out the jargon, skip the filler, and focus on ideas that leave a mark. My business follows the same logic.
I talk, write, and collaborate with openness. But there’s backbone in there too. I’m not afraid to challenge a comfortable answer. Curiosity is great, but so is decisiveness. Those two live side by side for me.
My Business Pillars
I’ve built my business by thinking a certain way and by establishing brands in a context that would enable them to achieve success. In my line of work, it gets busy…but no matter how busy things get, there are no short cuts to how we create and develop brand. Whether I’m in a client meeting, kicking off a new campaign, or up late turning over ideas, these business pillars are what I always strive for.
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Owned Confidence:
Developing brands own who they are. Not just what they sell. Confidence isn’t just a buzzword. It’s how brands grow.
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Strategic Originality:
Big ideas are nothing if they aren’t rooted in real insight. I believe creativity works best not only when it serves a purpose, but is unexpected.
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Boldness:
Vision needs a framework. Strong action. Loud Voice. . Forward propulsion. That’s when the magic truly begins.
These are the pillars I always circle back to. This is what I built my own business… my own brand with. These pillars are what drive my all my work and, honestly, what gets me out of bed in the morning.
by Miriam Hara | Jul 29, 2025 | Agency, Business Success
Every business has a story. Which means that every entrepreneur has their story. This six-part series is mine. In these blogs, I’ll walk through what matters most; from the big “why” to the daily decisions, and how it all comes together to create a brand with staying power.
When you’re an entrepreneur, there is a fine line between your very personal brand and that of the company you have founded. Sometimes the lines just get blurred. It goes without saying, there’s a symbiotic relationship between the two. It comes down to leadership and how that leader drives the organization and team members each and every day. More on that later.
In the Beginning…
As with most big decisions in life, it all starts with a question. Entrepreneurship isn’t a single moment of inspiration.
It’s a series of pivots, doubts, and the kind of clarity that only comes from asking tough questions.
Early on, I realized that finding my “what” wasn’t just about naming a service. It was about defining a promise for the company I was establishing… an extension of myself. It was simple: What do I deliver that actually matters? Not just what I do, but what I bring to clients, to brands, to the noisy, fast-moving world of marketing. That is what I wanted for my company…my organization…and for my team to live by.
Owning the “What”
What I deliver is more than strategy or creativity. It’s clarity, boldness, and an unshakeable commitment to outcomes that matter. My role isn’t just to make brands look good. It’s to help them find their voice, claim their space, and make an impact specially when the stakes are high and the landscape is complex. That’s what I bring to the table, and what my company is defined by. I remember when I first stepped out on my own, the temptation was to cast the widest net. I took on every project and brief. I could do this because I realized early on that growth doesn’t come from saying yes to everything… it comes from exceeding the brief. It comes from owning your difference and applying to however big or small the mandate is. Subsequently I also realized that saying no was also right, when what I deliver and how I deliver it isn’t aligned with the ask.
So what exactly is my difference?
“I help brands in complex, competitive spaces own their voice and their market through strategic clarity, creative courage, and a drive for measurable results.”
Why the “What” Matters
Brands always want to get the most attention. But beyond that, they want and need traction. Brands need to know who they are, what makes them different, and how to turn that difference into growth. My “what” is about giving them that edge, not with quick fixes, but with honest, sometimes uncomfortable, always strategic conversations. That is the only way forward towards building the foundation that lets a brand adapt to the newest trends, stand out, and keep moving forward, no matter how crowded the market gets.
The Heart of My Entrepreneurial Journey
Looking back, getting clear on what I deliver was the moment my entrepreneurial story really began. It’s what gave me the confidence to say no when it mattered, and the drive to say yes to challenges that scared me (in the best way possible). The “what” is never static. It grows as you do. But once you’ve found it, you have something solid to stand on. It’s the north star that guides everything else.
In my next post, I’ll dig into the “who”: the clients, teams, and communities I serve, and why their success is the fuel behind everything I do.
by Miriam Hara | Jul 24, 2025 | Advertising, Branding, Marketing
Asking When? when it’s important
In our recent bi-monthly LinkedIn newsletter we received quite a lot of interest and comments. In that newsletter, we emphasized the importance in marketing and branding of asking the question Why?.
That got me thinking about a few other key questions… like When? You can have the right message. The right words. Even the most thoughtful campaign. But if the timing is off, everything can fall flat.
In branding and marketing, asking when matters. It’s not just about delivery. It’s about impact.
We often think of timing as something left to logistics. A calendar detail. A scheduling issue. But when you zoom out, timing is strategy. It shapes how the message is received and how a brand is remembered.
The truth is, asking When? has never been more important.
The world moves fast. Attention spans are shorter. Cultural noise is constant. Brands don’t just compete for relevance, they compete for space in a distracted mind. While Why helps uncover purpose, Why not? propels the creative, and How shapes the execution. However it’s When that ensures the message lands with meaning.
Timing isn’t just about the calendar
Too often, timing gets pushed to the backend of the plan. But when you consider its impact, it belongs at the very beginning. Timing influences perception. It decides whether your audience has the capacity or the interest to care.
Ask yourself: When is our audience most open to this conversation? When is the space too crowded to be heard? When is the brand truly ready to deliver on this promise?
These aren’t tactical questions. They’re strategic ones. They can prevent missteps, protect the message, and preserve brand equity.
Context makes the difference
Great campaigns don’t always win because they’re first. They win because they arrive at the right time.
Nike’s “You Can’t Stop Us” campaign hit when the world was still in lockdown. People weren’t just looking for shoes or sports. They were looking for reassurance. For unity. For a reason to believe in something. That’s what the campaign offered. Not just a product story, but a cultural moment.
Contrast that with campaigns that jump into trending conversations without pause. Even with the best intentions, the message can fall flat or worse, backfire. The timing may feel reactive, rushed, or tone-deaf.
Asking When? forces a necessary pause. It makes space to think, assess, and align before releasing anything into the world.
Sometimes, waiting is the strategy
In a world where everything feels urgent, holding back can feel counterintuitive. But restraint can often be the smarter move.Wait until the product is truly ready. Wait until internal teams are aligned. Wait until the audience has room to listen.
Speed isn’t always a strength. In some cases, it’s the reason campaigns fail. Strategic timing isn’t about delay, it’s a discipline about choosing the right time.
The best moments aren’t in your calendar
Effective marketers don’t just focus on launch dates. They pay attention to micro-moments. When does the customer start to seek out solutions? When are they most likely to engage? When are they most distracted?
You won’t find these answers in a traditional timeline. They show up in data, yes, but also in empathy. In listening. In observing behaviour without forcing your way into it. That’s the difference between internal timing and external relevance. One follows a schedule. The other follows the audience.
The right message needs the right moment
Creative brilliance isn’t enough. Relevance has a shelf life. A good idea, poorly timed, is still a missed opportunity. But when a message and moment meet? That’s when it resonates. It doesn’t feel forced. It feels right. And it works.
Asking When? speaks volumes. It isn’t just a tactical decision. It’s a brand decision. One that signals thoughtfulness, awareness, and a genuine understanding of who your audience is and when they’re ready to listen.
by Miriam Hara | Jul 8, 2025 | Advertising, Creative, Marketing
The importance of asking What If?
What if? It’s a small question, but one that has shaped some of the most memorable brand moments in recent history. It opens the door to creative freedom, to alternate outcomes, to ideas that move a message beyond expectation. Not every great idea begins with a plan. Sometimes, it begins with a possibility. A simple question asked at just the right moment. One that doesn’t look for confirmation, but for expansion.
In marketing and branding, asking What if? is about formulating vision. It invites us to imagine something just outside our usual frame and to explore how to bring it into view.
What if? invites us to challenge assumptions
Most briefs are built on a defined problem and a set of guardrails. They are written to sharpen focus. But sometimes, they also limit possibility.
Asking What if? allows a team to to imagine up to the fringe of those parameters and possibly step just beyond those edges. It offers a way to reframe the assignment. What if the product is not the hero? What if the audience is broader than we thought? What if the solution lies in the opposite direction?
These questions do not suggest that strategy gets thrown out. Instead, they keep it fluid long enough to explore the territory that often gets overlooked.
When asked early, What if? prevents ideas from settling too quickly. It keeps curiosity alive and creativity honest.
Imagination makes space for innovation
The best ideas rarely arrive fully formed. They begin with exploration. They need time to stretch before they take shape. What if? gives them that space.
Consider Apple’s early marketing shift. Rather than focusing on product specs, they asked a different question. What if we spoke to the creative spirit behind the user? That led to Think Different, a campaign that didn’t describe the product, but elevated the mindset of its audience. That shift in focus became a cornerstone of brand storytelling. It worked not because it followed the rules, but because it imagined something better.
What if? makes room for that kind of thinking.
Curiosity opens doors that research can’t
Strategy often begins with what we know. Research, insights, data are the tools that ground us. Imagination, however, is what helps us leap.
What if? lets us ask questions that the data may not suggest, but that the audience might feel. What if our brand stood for more than its category? What if we stopped trying to win attention and earned trust instead?
These are not ideas that come from spreadsheets. They come from creative confidence. They come from a willingness to explore before locking into the familiar.
What if? makes the process more collaborative
In a creative environment, What if? is one of the most inclusive questions you can ask. It lowers the pressure to be right and raises the potential to explore. Everyone gets to contribute. Everyone feels invited in.
It also softens the edges in feedback brainstorming sessions. Instead of saying no, teams say What if we tried another way? That shift changes the tone from evaluation to exploration. From critique to conversation.
In the long run, it builds better work. Because it builds better culture.
Asking What if? leads to stronger ideas
No brand finds its edge by repeating what already works. It finds it by testing the limits. That does not mean being reckless. It means being open.
When teams ask What if? they find room to pivot, to reimagine, and to reset. They create the conditions for breakthroughs, not by forcing them, but by staying curious long enough for new paths to emerge.
What if? does not ask for perfection. It asks for possibility. And possibility is where the best ideas begin.
Ready to start? Lets chat!
