The Art of the Brand

Why Trend Forecasting Is Dead

This week on Art of the Brand, Camille and Phillip unpack why traditional authority in branding is collapsing — from Pantone’s fading relevance to corporations losing control of culture in the age of AI. They explore how trends now emerge from crowds instead of experts, why brands like Lululemon lose identity as they scale, and how nostalgia, heritage, and emotional storytelling are outperforming innovation. The episode also breaks down AI’s growing role in commerce, the rise of fake content and outrage cycles, and what Christmas advertising still teaches us about meaning, memory, and human connection. This is a candid conversation about why brands that chase growth, safety, or automation without soul inevitably lose relevance — and what it now takes to earn trust in a hyper-accelerated world.

The New Rules of Branding: From Chanel to TikTok Live

This week on Art of the Brand, Camille and Phillip unpack one of the biggest shifts happening across luxury, culture, and marketing. From A$AP Rocky becoming Chanel’s newest ambassador to Kim Kardashian reinventing live shopping, they break down why legacy brands are scrambling to stay relevant. They dive into the rise of parasocial relationships, Diet Coke’s genius “fridge cigarette” micro-script, the ethics of “Pick Your Baby” advertising, Justin Bieber’s attempted brand comeback, and the collapse of major advertising agencies in the age of AI. It’s a sharp, modern look at what it now takes to capture attention — and why risk, clarity, and creativity matter more than ever.

Why K-Beauty Is Taking Over Beauty

This week, we break down the Korean anti-aging experience everyone in beauty needs to understand — from the treatments we did, to what they cost, to why Korea is still a decade ahead of North America. We get into the real differences in technology, clinical efficiency, cultural attitudes toward skincare, and why K-Beauty’s functional approach completely outperforms the spa-ified North American model.We unpack the full treatment stack: salmon DNA injections (Rejuran/Healer), density tightening, collagen boosters, skin Botox, redness reduction, toning lasers, and more — including what actually works, what hurts, and what lasts for a full year. We also talk male skincare, founder takeaways, and why studying the Korean market is becoming mandatory for anyone in beauty.If you care about anti-aging, longevity, or building beauty brands that stay ahead of trends, this episode is your roadmap.

Bogota & Beauty Brands: The Power of World-Building

This week on Art of the Brand, Camille and Phillip return from Colombia with a masterclass in world-building, culture, and how unforgettable brands are actually built. From sitting beside Dua Lipa in a Bogotá speakeasy to experiencing Andrés Carne de Res — one of the most extraordinary brand worlds on the planet — they break down how atmosphere, detail, and emotional truth shape customer loyalty more than any marketing tactic ever could. They unpack Bella Beauty’s explosive rise, why the brand’s controversy made it stronger, how AI shopping will rewrite retail, why influencer fatigue is real, and why big brands like Sephora and Skims are heading

The Secret Behind Japan’s Most Obsessive Brands

This week on Art of the Brand, Camille and Phillip return from Japan and Korea with a masterclass in what real branding looks like outside the West. From Bulgari’s flawless hotel experience and Muji’s “no-brand” philosophy to Gentle Monster’s art-driven retail universe, they break down why some cultures still obsess over detail, craft, and discipline — and why that obsession builds brands that last. They unpack the collapse of merit in Western institutions, the danger of licensing over commitment, why On Cloud x Loewe collaborations feel hollow, and how luxury tech and wellness aesthetics are rapidly evolving. Most importantly, they reveal the truth every founder needs to hear: excellence is a choice, attention is earned, and brand power comes from doing the hard things well — consistently, deliberately, and without shortcuts.