The answer is, yes. Of course it does! The differences may seem minuscule, costly, and not matter as much to you but to your customer they will pickup on the extra effort. If it isn’t obvious by now, we’re obsessed with great design. We appreciate all forms of design in any medium - especially when it comes to branding. A well designed and beautifully crafted visual identity not only supports your brand, it elevates it beyond conventional Indigenous graphic design. The details matter from your packaging to your social presence. A strong visual identity tells your customers who you are, what you’re about, and why they should purchase from you in a matter of seconds.
On the flip side, a weak identity system can degrade your brand. It goes without saying that the times are changing; a simple food truck, your menu sharpied on a piece of cardboard, and some rough napkins aren’t enough to get you by these days. It only takes a competitor with a good brand presence and a strong social following to show up to the Pow Wow you once dominated at and you’re finished! Holaaay, okay, maybe that’s an exaggerated example but the principle remains. If your visual identity is disconnected, inconsistent, or an inaccurate reflection of you and your business, then you aren’t telling a cohesive story for your brand which will inflict your customers purchasing behaviour.
Luckily, we’ve curated a list of the top 10 examples of Indigenous design and branding for businesses that are doing it right. These are just a few examples we could find. The best brand - your brand - has yet to be created.
These are our top picks of real-life examples of Indigenous businesses, from clothing to food, using their unique visual identity to entice and engage in cree-ative ways. We hope you feel inspired to do the same.
TVHC is a great example of Indigenous branding done right. The minimalist aesthetic allows you to focus on what they do best and that’s crafting beautiful, reclaimed, hand-sourced headwear. Each piece is unique and truly a work of wearable art.
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Mother Earth Essentials creates bath & beauty products sourced from natural ingredients and is a great example of Indigenous branding that feels contemporary yet traditional. Their simplistic colour palette combined with their Insta-feed positions their brand as a premium holistic product.
This next brand may be a little controversial, as alcoholism is a real threat that plagues many Indigenous communities across the nation. However, this brewing company out of New Mexico’s branding is on point and we can certainly appreciate great aesthetic.
ImagineNATIVE is an annual festival that showcases Indigenous-made film, video, radio and new media from many Indigenous artists across the globe. Recently, they underwent a rebrand and the change is most welcome. The bold colour palette, playful use of video/audio symbols pattern, and new logo make for one cohesive identity system.
If we take it back to the food truck analogy that we previously mentioned at the beginning of this post, it goes without saying, if this food truck pulled up to the Pow Wow I was at... you best believe I'm eating there. Perfect example of a brand that utilizes the power of social media through beautifully crafted and curated imagery.
Section 35 is an Indigenous streetwear brand based out of Vancouver that has done an incredible job at blending streetwear culture with Indigenous flare.
An Indigenous owned shop that stocks amazing quality goods for simple, everyday living. Naturally, with an emphasis on modernity, the brand takes a unique approach through their product-heavy imagery and encourages people to make the most of their space.
The Red Road Project's purpose is to document, through words & visuals, the inspiring and resilient stories of Native America. The overall feel is minimalistic allowing viewers to focus in on the awe-inspiring photography. What really ties their brand together is the use of their logo created in a playful pattern that they use across their social platforms.
Tribal Trade Co. is an Indigenous business that's dedicated to teaching Native American culture through traditional and contemporary products. The brand reflects their mission and is a great example of contemporary Indigenous design.
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Ginew is the only Native American-owned denim collection. Their website features some of the amazing products they have to offer and their Instagram captures their brand philosophy beautifully.
If these Indigenous businesses have inspired you to reinvent your brand, there are many things you can do to build a strong visual identity. We plan on releasing a short guide for you to follow which should set you up for success if you wish to take a stab at doing it yourself. That being said, we know creating your businesses story can be a daunting task and if you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing, you might want to consider hiring Indigenous design professionals for support. We’re here to help, we’d be thrilled to bring your Indigenous business to life in any way we can.
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