The Art of the Brand

This week on Art of the Brand, Camille and Phillip unpack why Lululemon’s stock is down 57%, what Dior’s logo change really signals for fashion, and how AI is reshaping (and limiting) creativity. From Chip Wilson’s brutal honesty to Trump’s micro-script mastery, they connect the dots between brands that win by taking risks and those that die trying to please everyone. Expect contrarian takes on luxury, AI, influencers, and why even OnlyFans creators understand brand psychology better than billion-dollar companies. Chapters 00:00 – Welcome to Art of the Brand The most controversial, unfiltered branding podcast in the world.01:00 – Lululemon’s Collapse Why founder Chip Wilson took out a full-page ad to call out his own company.04:00 – The Death of Innovation How bureaucrats, bean counters, and “feel good” marketing destroyed a legacy brand.10:00 – What Founders Can Learn from Chip Wilson The importance of risk, focus, and making products that actually mean something.16:00 – Rory Sutherland & The AI Problem Why agencies replacing creatives with AI is a dangerous illusion.20:00 – AI vs. Human Creativity Camille’s take on why AI can’t hook audiences—and how founders should actually use it.24:00 – The Hairdresser Lesson What most entrepreneurs get wrong about content and why it’s not about you.30:00 – The Truth About Virality Why follower counts don’t matter and how micro wins compound into massive results.38:00 – Dior’s Logo Change Why luxury fashion is moving away from logos—and what it means for brand scarcity.45:00 – Chanel’s $4,000 Shirt & Calculated Risk How controversy fuels earned media and why brands need more danger, not less.47:00 – CNN & Trump’s Branding Strategy Camille breaks down her CNN interview and what Trump teaches us about attention.53:00 – The Power of Micro Scripts How “Sleepy Joe” and “Crooked Hillary” prove simplicity wins in the attention economy.57:00 – OnlyFans & Reverse Psychology in Branding What Bonnie Blue understands about awareness and why brands should study her.01:02:00 – The Death of Moral Branding Why most marketers want to be right instead of successful—and how that kills growth.01:10:00 – Skims’ Viral Drops Are hairy thongs genius marketing or lazy shock tactics?01:16:00 – Brand Coherence & The Porsche vs. Volvo Test How to know if your brand actually stands for something.01:20:00 – Final Challenge: Don’t Be Boring Why being safe is the fastest way to die in today’s market.

This week on Art of the Brand, Camille and Phillip unpack the biggest shifts shaping media, luxury, and marketing today. From losing a 4-year TikTok account overnight to Cartier’s first Love Bracelet redesign in 56 years, they explore what happens when platforms, products, and people lose their edge. They break down Kris Jenner’s $500K facelift as a masterclass in exclusivity, Jimmy Fallon’s failed branding show, ChatGPT’s surprisingly human ad, and Prada’s acquisition of Versace, revealing how consolidation is killing consumer choice.Expect sharp insights on attention, algorithm risk, and why true brand power still comes from taste and trust.

This week on Art of the Brand, Camille and Phillip return from Italy with fresh insights on what timeless brands get right—and why giants like Apple are getting it wrong. From the Grand Tremezzo’s orange towels and “stealable” swag to Gucci’s cinematic risk-taking, they reveal how details, boldness, and taste separate icons from irrelevance. They also unpack Apple’s influencer gifting strategy, the rise of in-house affiliate networks from Sephora and Vogue, and the “paperclip game” as a metaphor for smart scaling. Expect contrarian takes, case studies, and practical lessons every founder can apply.

This week on Art of the Brand, Camille and Phillip take aim at the giants: Nike’s “Why Do It” campaign, Target’s mushy middle, department stores stuck in the past, and Vogue’s gamble on quality over quantity. They unpack how these once-iconic names lost their edge, what guerrilla strategy small businesses should learn instead, and why beauty’s obsession with Instagram Face and facelifts proves that status always seeks scarcity. Expect strong opinions, brand autopsies, and practical lessons for founders who don’t want to repeat the same mistakes.

This week on Art of the Brand, Camille and Phillip break down the smartest and dumbest moves in beauty and wellness right now. Summer Fridays turned lip balm into a gateway product and took the #1 spot in beauty. Alo Yoga, meanwhile, is trying to sell a $3,000 handbag that could expose them to ridicule. They also dive into tariffs reshaping the market, why most founders misuse influencers, and the hard truth about scaling: marketing is warfare, and without strategy, you’ll lose. Expect contrarian takes, sharp analysis, and lessons you can apply to your own brand today.