BRAND:NEW

Donovan Fourie

BRAND:NEW is the straight-talking podcast for business owners who want a stronger brand without the marketing jargon.

Hosted by Donovan, a Creative Head and Brand Champion with over 30 years of global experience, each 5–10 minute episode breaks down the principles of professional brand design—from logos and websites to color, typography, messaging, and everything your business says before you say a word.

No fluff. No design-school jargon. Just practical advice, real-world examples, and the occasional war story to help you make smarter branding decisions before you spend a single dollar on design.

New episodes twice a week.

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15 episodes
a few times a week
Avg 5 min
English

Episodes 15

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S1 · E15
Yesterday · 6 min
Eps. 15: How Do I Choose The Right Colors?
Send us Fan Mail In this episode we discuss the emotional and technical process that goes into choosing your Brand Colors. We also discuss what happens when you share a base color with a competitor. If you're interested in a comprehensive audit of your Logo, your Brand, your Colors - reach out to us today with your details to this address: brandnew@jeffpayne.net. One listener will receive a Brand Audit that we will discuss on-air. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and never miss an episode. BRAND:NEW is hosted by Donovan, Creative Head & Brand Champion, and author of the upcoming book ‘The Business Owner's Guide to Branding’. Questions or episode ideas? brandnew@jeffpayne.net
- Transcript
S1 · E14
Wednesday · 4 min
Eps. 14: What happens if my brand is used incorrectly?
Send us Fan Mail What actually happens when someone gets your brand wrong — a stretched logo, the wrong Pantone, a font nobody approved? Donovan closes out the Brand Manual chapter with why bringing on a new designer without a manual is the single riskiest moment in a brand's life. If you're interested in a comprehensive audit of your Logo, your Brand - reach out to us today with your details to this address: brandnew@jeffpayne.net. One listener will receive a Brand Audit that we will discuss on-air. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and never miss an episode. BRAND:NEW is hosted by Donovan, Creative Head & Brand Champion, and author of the upcoming book ‘The Business Owner's Guide to Branding’. Questions or episode ideas? brandnew@jeffpayne.net
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S1 · E13
Monday · 6 min
Eps. 13: What goes into a ‘Beginner’ Brand Manual?
Send us Fan Mail What actually belongs in a beginner Brand Manual — and what can wait? Donovan lays out the essentials, answers the questions clients ask most (do you need to print it? do you need a dedicated Brand Manager?), and settles the argument once and for all: no, your web developer does not know better without one. If you're interested in a comprehensive audit of your Logo, your Brand - reach out to us today with your details to this address: brandnew@jeffpayne.net. One listener will receive a Brand Audit that we will discuss on-air. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and never miss an episode. BRAND:NEW is hosted by Donovan, Creative Head & Brand Champion, and author of the upcoming book ‘The Business Owner's Guide to Branding’. Questions or episode ideas? brandnew@jeffpayne.net
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S1 · E12
August 21 · 6 min
Eps. 12: What Is A Brand Manual?
Send us Fan Mail What is a Brand Manual, really — and why do so many business owners skip it, only to regret it later? Donovan calls it your brand's Atlas, breaks down the real difference between a Brand Manual and a basic style guide, and makes the case for why even the smallest business can't afford to go without one. If you're interested in a comprehensive audit of your Logo, your Brand - reach out to us today with your details to this address: brandnew@jeffpayne.net. One listener will receive a Brand Audit that we will discuss on-air. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and never miss an episode. BRAND:NEW is hosted by Donovan, Creative Head & Brand Champion, and author of the upcoming book ‘The Business Owner's Guide to Branding’. Questions or episode ideas? brandnew@jeffpayne.net
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S1 · E11
August 19 · 7 min
Eps. 11: Which Type Of Logo Is Right For Me?
Send us Fan Mail Which type of logo fits your business, and do you need a designer who specializes in your industry? Donovan also breaks down why he only presents one logo concept — not twenty — and how too many choices ends up creating Frankenstein’s monster. Plus, the real reason a fifty-dollar logo hands you a useless file instead of a usable brand. If you're interested in a comprehensive audit of your Logo, your Brand - reach out to us today with your details to this address: donovan@jeffpayne.net. One listener will receive a Brand Audit that we will discuss on-air. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and never miss an episode. BRAND:NEW is hosted by Donovan, Creative Head & Brand Champion, and author of the upcoming book ‘The Business Owner's Guide to Branding’. Questions or episode ideas? brandnew@jeffpayne.net
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S1 · E10
August 18 · 6 min
Eps. 10: What Makes A Good Logo?
Send us Fan Mail Ten episodes in! — What actually makes a logo good? Donovan breaks down the four traits every great logo needs (using Metallica and the Rolling Stones as unlikely brand case studies), then tackles the bonus question every dentist ever has asked him: does your logo need to literally show what you do? Featuring a molar. Wearing a top hat. If you're interested in a comprehensive audit of your Logo, your Brand - reach out to us today with your details to this address: donovan@jeffpayne.net. One listener will receive a Brand Audit that we will discuss on-air. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and never miss an episode. BRAND:NEW is hosted by Donovan, Creative Head & Brand Champion, and author of the upcoming book ‘The Business Owner's Guide to Branding’. Questions or episode ideas? brandnew@jeffpayne.net
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S1 · E9
August 17 · 4 min
Eps. 09: What Does A Professional Logo Design Cost?
Send us Fan Mail What does a professionally designed logo actually cost — and why? Donovan makes the case that you're not paying for an afternoon's work, you're paying for the decades it took to know exactly which shape to draw. A real look at what goes into the craft, and why a logo built by the right designer is a wealth-generating asset, not an expense. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and never miss an episode. BRAND:NEW is hosted by Donovan, Creative Head & Brand Champion, and author of the upcoming book ‘The Business Owner's Guide to Branding’. Questions or episode ideas? brandnew@jeffpayne.net
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S1 · E8
August 14 · 6 min
Eps. 08: Do I Really Need a Professionally Designed Logo?
Send us Fan Mail The last piece of brand strategy before we get specific: what are the actual building blocks of a brand? Then Donovan dives into logo design proper — do you really need a professionally designed logo, and what's the real, hidden cost of using a cheap or temporary one to start? Includes the story of the "interim" logo that outlived its expiration date by two years. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and never miss an episode. BRAND:NEW is hosted by Donovan, Creative Head & Brand Champion, and author of the upcoming book ‘The Business Owner's Guide to Branding’. Questions or episode ideas? brandnew@jeffpayne.net
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S1 · E7
August 12 · 7 min
Eps. 07: What Does It Cost To Build A Brand Properly?
Send us Fan Mail Brand strategy and the true cost of branding, explained honestly: what does it actually cost to build a brand properly — and what does it cost when you get it wrong? Donovan breaks down real cases (Fendi, Bud Light, Jaguar) on cost and risk, then tackles whether brand value actually pays off when you sell your business. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and never miss an episode. BRAND:NEW is hosted by Donovan, Creative Head & Brand Champion, and author of the upcoming book ‘The Business Owner's Guide to Branding’. Questions or episode ideas? brandnew@jeffpayne.net
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S1 · E6
August 10 · 5 min
Eps. 06: What is a Brand Audit - and Do I Need One?
Send us Fan Mail What actually happens in a Brand Audit — and is it just a fancy word for "pay me to tell you what you already know"? Donovan breaks down exactly what gets examined, why skipping this step is one of the most expensive mistakes in rebranding, and when you genuinely need one. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and never miss an episode. BRAND:NEW is hosted by Donovan, Creative Head & Brand Champion, and author of the upcoming book ‘The Business Owner's Guide to Branding’. Questions or episode ideas? brandnew@jeffpayne.net
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S1 · E5
August 7 · 4 min
Eps. 05: What Is The Difference Between A Refresh and A Rebrand?
Send us Fan Mail Refresh or rebrand? Donovan breaks down the real difference with two client stories — one company forced into a full rebrand through no fault of their own, and one that thought they needed surgery but only needed a facelift. Plus: how do you actually know if your brand is working? Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and never miss an episode. BRAND:NEW is hosted by Donovan, Creative Head & Brand Champion, and author of the upcoming book ‘The Business Owner's Guide to Branding’. Questions or episode ideas? brandnew@jeffpayne.net
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S1 · E4
August 5 · 4 min
Eps. 04: When Is The Right Time To Think About Branding?
Send us Fan Mail Startup, refresh, or full rebrand — there's a right time for each, and Donovan breaks down all three so you know exactly which one you're actually facing. Bonus: can you build your own brand, or is it time to call in a professional? The honest answer might sting a little. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and never miss an episode. BRAND:NEW is hosted by Donovan, Creative Head & Brand Champion, and author of the upcoming book ‘The Business Owner's Guide to Branding’. Questions or episode ideas? brandnew@jeffpayne.net
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S1 · E3
August 3 · 3 min
Eps. 03: Does My Small Business Need Branding?
Send us Fan Mail "My business is small — do I really need a brand?" Yes. And Donovan makes the case that small businesses need branding more than the big guys, not less — plus why a genuinely good product still won't sell itself without one. Real examples included. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and never miss an episode. BRAND:NEW is hosted by Donovan, Creative Head & Brand Champion, and author of the upcoming book ‘The Business Owner's Guide to Branding’. Questions or episode ideas? brandnew@jeffpayne.net
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S1 · E2
July 30 · 3 min
Eps. 02: Is Your Logo Your Brand?
Send us Fan Mail Your logo is not your brand. It's the foundation — but the brand is everything built upon it. Donovan unpacks the famous Bezos line about brands being "what people say about you when you're not in the room," and why every color, font, and photo you use is either building that reputation or quietly working against it. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and never miss an episode. BRAND:NEW is hosted by Donovan, Creative Head & Brand Champion, and author of the upcoming book ‘The Business Owner's Guide to Branding’. Questions or episode ideas? brandnew@jeffpayne.net
- Transcript
S1 · E1
July 28 · 5 min
Eps. 01: What Is A Brand?
Send us Fan Mail What's the actual difference between "branding" and "a brand"? Most business owners use the words interchangeably — and it's costing them. In this opener, Donovan breaks down the split that everything else on this show hangs off, explains what BRAND:NEW is really about, and answers the question nobody wants to ask out loud. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and never miss an episode. BRAND:NEW is hosted by Donovan, Creative Head & Brand Champion, and author of the upcoming book ‘The Business Owner's Guide to Branding’. Questions or episode ideas? brandnew@jeffpayne.net
- Transcript

Showing 1–15 of 15 episodes