Glossary of Branding

Strategic terms, decoded. So your next packaging brief doesn’t sound like a therapy session gone wrong.
Designed for founders, skincare nerds, and anyone tired of guessing what “brand architecture” actually means.
Brand Infrastructure

Brand System

What it means:

The full ecosystem of your brand’s visuals, voice, behaviour, and structure — not just your logo. It’s how your brand behaves when you’re not watching.

What it really means:

More than just vibes. It's your brand’s operating system.

Brand Infrastructure

Consistency Fatigue

What it means:

The point where brand guidelines feel like a prison — but breaking them too early kills your recognition.

What it really means:

When you want to change everything but know you probably shouldn’t (yet).

Brand Messaging

Voice vs Tone

What it means:

Voice is who your brand is. Tone is how it sounds in different situations. Think of it like this: same personality, different volume settings.

What it really means:

Voice = your brand’s personality. Tone = the mood it’s in today.

Brand Messaging

Skincare Copywriting

What it means:

Words that balance science, emotion, and regulatory compliance — used on packaging, websites, and ads.

What it really means:

It’s not just about glow. It’s about credibility, clarity, and conversions.

Brand Personality

Founder-Led Brand

What it means:

A brand where the founder’s voice, story, and presence is deeply embedded in its identity — often magnetic, but sometimes messy.

What it really means:

Equal parts power move and pressure cooker. If you know, you know.

Brand Structure

Brand Architecture

What it means:

The structure of your brand ecosystem — how your main brand, sub-brands, product lines, and extensions all relate to each other.

What it really means:

Like a family tree, but messier (especially when no one planned it properly).

Customer Experience

Brand Touchpoint

What it means:

Every single place your brand makes contact with someone — from your unboxing experience to your Instagram bio. If it leaves an impression, it’s a touchpoint.

What it really means:

Basically, anywhere your brand whispers, shouts or seduces someone.

Consistency

Design System

What it means:

A structured set of design components, rules, and behaviours that ensure consistency across brand touchpoints.

What it really means:

Like a brand bible, but cooler and actually useful.

Layout & Flow

Visual Hierarchy

What it means:

The intentional order in which your eye moves through design. It’s how we make sure the product name hits first, not the recycling symbol.

What it really means:

A.K.A. why we don’t make the SPF size the smallest type on the label.

Layout & Flow

Whitespace

What it means:

The intentional empty space in a design that gives your content room to breathe, digest, and be seen.

What it really means:

No, it doesn’t mean it looks empty — it means you finally stopped cramming things.

Layout & Flow

Grid System

What it means:

A structured design framework that keeps layout clean, consistent, and readable — invisible when done right.

What it really means:

The lines you follow before your layout goes off the rails.

Typography

Typography Hierarchy

What it means:

The structure of your brand's text. Headlines, subheads, product titles — all laid out in a way that your reader doesn’t get lost (or bored).

What it really means:

Making sure your text knows who's boss.

Compliance

Compliance Design

What it means:

The design work that balances creativity with legal requirements — ingredient labels, SPF disclaimers, barcode positioning, and anything the TGA might breathe down your neck about.

What it really means:

The stuff that keeps your pretty packaging from getting pulled from shelves.

Compliance

SPF Label Hierarchy

What it means:

How SPF, broad spectrum, PA ratings, and ingredients are visually prioritised on sunscreen packaging to meet compliance *and* look damn good.

What it really means:

Making sure your SPF doesn’t look like a budget chemist knockoff (even if it is).

Customer Experience

Unboxing Experience

What it means:

The emotional and sensory moment of opening your product — where design, messaging, texture, and timing collide.

What it really means:

How your brand says 'I’m worth it' before they’ve even tried the product.

Design Tools

Packaging Mockup

What it means:

A visual rendering of what your packaging will look like — used to test, pitch, and visualise before production.

What it really means:

How you sell the vision before you’ve spent a cent on print.

Hierarchy

Front Panel Hierarchy

What it means:

The order in which a customer processes your packaging at first glance. What jumps out first, what lingers, what’s absorbed subconsciously. It’s make-or-break stuff.

What it really means:

How to make someone care in 1.3 seconds.

Label Content

INCI

What it means:

International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients. The universal language for what’s actually inside your skincare — whether it sounds sexy or not.

What it really means:

The fine print that ingredient nerds live for (and founders love to ignore).

SKU Structure

Packaging System

What it means:

A cohesive, scalable structure for all your product packaging. Built to expand across SKUs without losing your brand identity.

What it really means:

Your packaging’s personal ecosystem — minus the chaos.

Visual Recognition

Shelf Impact

What it means:

The instant recognisability and desirability your packaging creates at first glance on a physical or digital shelf.

What it really means:

The reason someone picks you instead of the boring beige tube next to you.

Conversion

Call to Action (CTA)

What it means:

The prompt that tells someone what to do next — buy now, book a call, swipe, save, click, convert.

What it really means:

Where you stop being mysterious and start being direct.

Conversion

Conversion Copy

What it means:

Writing designed to get a specific action — buy, book, sign up, click — without fluff or filler.

What it really means:

Where your words stop being cute and start doing their job.

UX Patterns

Above the Fold

What it means:

The area of a web page that’s visible before scrolling. Prime real estate for attention and conversion.

What it really means:

Where you win or lose them in under 3 seconds.

UX Patterns

Information Scent

What it means:

The cues a user follows (copy, layout, buttons) to decide if they’re on the right path — especially in digital experiences.

What it really means:

If they can’t smell the answer coming, they bounce.

Marketing + Growth

Influencer networks + PR specialists

what it means

Plug‑in partners for outreach, seeding and earned media with beauty‑specific relationships.

what it really means

Build authority and distribution faster.

Marketing + Growth

Beauty‑specialised copywriters + content creators

what it means

Tap talent who understand claims, textures and before/afters—so you sound expert, not vague.

what it really means

Words and visuals that sell skincare.

Growth Infrastructure

Influencer partnership strategies + PR guidance

what it means

Selection criteria, briefs and measurement to turn partnerships into revenue and brand lift.

what it really means

Creators that move product, not just impressions.

Growth Infrastructure

Wholesale presentation + retail expansion strategy

what it means

Builds sell‑in decks, planograms and margin models to land and grow retail accounts.

what it really means

Pitch like a brand buyers trust.

Growth Infrastructure

Retention strategies + loyalty program design

what it means

Designs perks, tiers and triggers tied to behaviour, not vanity points.

what it really means

Keep customers coming back.

Industry Network Access – Manufacturing & Compliance

Compliance experts + regulatory guidance

what it means

Access to TGA/INCI, labelling and market claims expertise so creative stays compliant.

what it really means

Stay bold without getting burned.

Industry Network Access – Manufacturing & Compliance

Packaging suppliers with premium finish capabilities

what it means

Network of suppliers skilled in frosted glass, metallisation, emboss/deboss, soft‑touch and specialty closures.

what it really means

The right partners for premium tactility.

Industry Network Access – Manufacturing & Compliance

Luxury skincare formulation specialists

what it means

Introductions to vetted labs focused on sensorial textures, stability and claim support.

what it really means

Chemists who understand “luxury feel” and efficacy.

Launch + Scale

Customer journey mapping + experience optimisation

what it means

Removes friction points and adds loyalty cues across the lifecycle to increase LTV.

what it really means

Tighten the path to repeat purchase.

Launch + Scale

Klaviyo setup + email automation flows

what it means

Builds core flows (welcome, browse/cart, post‑purchase, replenishment) and a campaign calendar starter.

what it really means

Lifecycle revenue on autopilot (the good kind).

Launch + Scale

Go‑to‑market strategy + launch campaign execution

what it means

Territories, hooks, offer architecture and channel mix for launch—plus execution support.

what it really means

Make noise that converts.

Digital Ecosystem

Social media asset templates + brand application

what it means

Reusable template systems and usage rules so the feed looks consistent without slowing you down.

what it really means

Posts that stay on‑brand in two clicks.

Visual Identity – System & Guidelines

Art direction (photography, product framework, label conventions, supporting material, social guides, email guides)

what it means

Subject, lighting, framing and layout systems so shoots and content aren’t reinvented every time.

what it really means

A look that’s unmistakably yours.

Visual Identity – System & Guidelines

Values + mission, brand story, logo, typography, colour, iconography, imagery, packaging application, online application

what it means

Narrative and core assets with practical application rules across packaging and digital.

what it really means

Everything defined and ready to deploy.

Packaging, Web & Digital

E‑commerce strategy + conversion optimisation

what it means

CRO roadmap across PDPs, bundles, CX patterns, reviews and post‑purchase to lift AOV and repeat rate.

what it really means

Turn traffic into customers, not bounce rates.

Packaging, Web & Digital

Brand photography direction + content strategy

what it means

Shot lists, angles and storytelling mapped to campaigns and evergreen content.

what it really means

Plan the shots that actually sell.

Packaging, Web & Digital

Packaging design + production file preparation through luxury specialists

what it means

Design and prepress built with specialist suppliers—finish specs, dielines and compliance mapped in.

what it really means

Packaging that looks premium and prints perfectly.

Packaging, Web & Digital

Website design + full Shopify implementation (with platform training)

what it means

Theme selection or custom build, app stack, tracking and handover training so you can run it in‑house.

what it really means

Beautiful, fast, and built right in Shopify.

Visual Identity – System & Guidelines

Asset library

what it means

Icons, patterns, textures, mockups and base templates packaged for fast, consistent production.

what it really means

Ready-to-use brand ingredients.

Visual Identity – System & Guidelines

Complete visual identity system + brand guidelines

what it means

Full identity build with a maintainable guideline set so teams and partners stay consistent.

what it really means

One cohesive visual language, documented.

Strategic Foundation – Brand Strategy

Pricing strategy that supports luxury positioning

what it means

Sets price architecture, anchors and bundle logic that reinforce premium cues while protecting margin.

what it really means

Price as a signal, not a guess.

Strategic Foundation – Brand Strategy

Competitive analysis + market gap identification

what it means

Maps the category to spot over‑served/under‑served needs and defines a gap you can sustainably win.

what it really means

Find the white space worth owning.

Strategic Foundation – Brand Strategy

Personality, tone of voice, journey mapping, messaging framework

what it means

Locks voice, key messages and the path to purchase so every touchpoint nudges conversion.

what it really means

Aligns how you sound with how people buy.

Strategic Foundation – Brand Strategy

Mission, Vision & Values + Unique Selling Points

what it means

Clarifies purpose and values, then distils real USPs backed by evidence customers care about.

what it really means

Your north star and the proof you bring.

Strategic Foundation – Brand Strategy

Product naming + SKU architecture + active ingredient positioning

what it means

Creates a naming system and SKU logic with ingredient-led claims that are scientifically credible and marketable.

what it really means

Names that sell and a line-up that makes sense.

Brand Guidelines

A documented and easy to follow plan

what it means

An actionable rollout plan that sequences priorities, owners and timelines for smooth implementation.

what it really means

No chaos. Everyone knows what to do next.

Strategic Foundation – Brand Strategy

Complete brand strategy + product development consulting

what it means

End‑to‑end brand strategy with guidance on product roadmap, hero SKUs and claim architecture.

what it really means

Strategy tied to what you’re actually selling.

Brand Guidelines

Art direction guidelines

what it means

Product framework, lighting cues, label conventions, supporting materials, social and email guidance.

what it really means

Photography and content that actually looks like you.

Brand Guidelines

Application guides (packaging & online)

what it means

Clear specs and do/don’ts for packaging finishes, compliance areas and digital placements.

what it really means

How to apply the brand in the real world.

Brand Guidelines

Brand guidelines (master)

what it means

Centralised documentation covering strategy, story, logo, typography, colour, iconography and imagery.

what it really means

Your brand’s rulebook—so nothing goes rogue.

Complete Brand Foundation

Typography system

what it means

Hierarchy, pairings and usage guidance so headlines, body and numerals stay consistent across channels.

what it really means

Readable, flexible and distinctive type rules.

Complete Brand Foundation

Logo design and brand mark development

what it means

Primary, secondary and mark treatments engineered for clarity across print, packaging and digital.

what it really means

Your signature, built for every size and surface.

Complete Brand Foundation

Colour palette

what it means

Primary, secondary and utility tones with print-safe and digital specs for consistent reproduction.

what it really means

Ownable colours with enough range to work.

Complete Brand Foundation

Visual Identity System

what it means

A coherent set of visual rules—logo, colour, type and components—built to scale across packaging, web and content.

what it really means

The toolkit your brand uses everywhere.

Strategic Clarity Audit

Journey mapping

what it means

From first glance to repeat purchase—pinpoints drop‑offs and optimises moments that drive action.

what it really means

Remove friction, add delight, lift conversion.

Complete Brand Foundation

Brand Strategy

what it means

Defines the commercial goals, audience focus, positioning, and messaging so design is doing a job—not just looking pretty.

what it really means

The plan that everything else executes.

Strategic Clarity Audit

Perception goals

what it means

The reputation we’re building and the brand signals to send so it sticks in people’s heads.

what it really means

How you want to be seen—on purpose.

Strategic Clarity Audit

Competitor analysis

what it means

Maps competitor positioning, strengths and blind spots so we can claim white space with intent.

what it really means

See where rivals sit—and the gaps you can own.

Strategic Clarity Audit

Unique selling points & how to leverage them

what it means

Real differentiators turned into proof points, offers and repeatable talking lines across channels.

what it really means

What truly sets you apart—and how to use it.

Strategic Clarity Audit

Personality & tone of voice + messaging framework

what it means

Voice rules, do/don’ts and message pillars that keep every caption, page and ad on‑brand.

what it really means

How you sound—and what you say on repeat.

Strategic Clarity Audit

Market positioning recommendations

what it means

A clear market angle and category claim so customers know exactly why you over the next tab.

what it really means

Your “why us” in one sharp stance.

Strategic Clarity Audit

Audience segmentation

what it means

Clear segments, needs, pains, and behaviours—so we speak to the right people with the right message and channel.

what it really means

Who buys, why they care, and what gets them to act.

Strategic Clarity Audit

Strategic audit

what it means

A forensic review of your brand, data and touchpoints to expose wins, gaps and quick fixes.

what it really means

Deep dive to find what’s working and what’s leaking.

Layout & Flow

Grid System

what it means

A structured design framework that keeps layout clean, consistent, and readable — invisible when done right.

what it really means

The lines you follow before your layout goes off the rails.

Design Tools

Packaging Mockup

what it means

A visual rendering of what your packaging will look like — used to test, pitch, and visualise before production.

what it really means

How you sell the vision before you’ve spent a cent on print.

Brand Infrastructure

Consistency Fatigue

what it means

The point where brand guidelines feel like a prison — but breaking them too early kills your recognition.

what it really means

When you want to change everything but know you probably shouldn’t (yet).

Brand Messaging

Skincare Copywriting

what it means

Words that balance science, emotion, and regulatory compliance — used on packaging, websites, and ads.

what it really means

It’s not just about glow. It’s about credibility, clarity, and conversions.

Brand Personality

Founder Energy

what it means

The unfiltered charisma, chaos, and conviction a founder brings to their brand — often magnetic, sometimes overbearing.

what it really means

When the brand *is* the founder... for better or worse.

Conversion

Conversion Copy

what it means

Writing designed to get a specific action — buy, book, sign up, click — without fluff or filler.

what it really means

Where your words stop being cute and start doing their job.

UX Patterns

Information Scent

what it means

The cues a user follows (copy, layout, buttons) to decide if they’re on the right path — especially in digital experiences.

what it really means

If they can’t smell the answer coming, they bounce.

Customer Experience

Unboxing Experience

what it means

The emotional and sensory moment of opening your product — where design, messaging, texture, and timing collide.

what it really means

How your brand says 'I’m worth it' before they’ve even tried the product.

Visual Recognition

Shelf Impact

what it means

The instant recognisability and desirability your packaging creates at first glance on a physical or digital shelf.

what it really means

The reason someone picks you instead of the boring beige tube next to you.

Decision Bias

Anchoring

what it means

A cognitive bias where people rely too heavily on the first piece of info they see — often used in pricing, messaging, and layout.

what it really means

That sneaky thing that makes $49 seem like a deal after $89.

Consistency

Design System

what it means

A structured set of design components, rules, and behaviours that ensure consistency across brand touchpoints.

what it really means

Like a brand bible, but cooler and actually useful.

Brand Personality

Founder-Led Brand

what it means

A brand where the founder’s voice, story, and presence is deeply embedded in its identity — often magnetic, but sometimes messy.

what it really means

Equal parts power move and pressure cooker. If you know, you know.

Compliance

SPF Label Hierarchy

what it means

How SPF, broad spectrum, PA ratings, and ingredients are visually prioritised on sunscreen packaging to meet compliance *and* look damn good.

what it really means

Making sure your SPF doesn’t look like a budget chemist knockoff (even if it is).

Consumer Behaviour

Brand Recognition

what it means

How quickly and consistently someone identifies your brand from a logo, tone, colour, or even shape — often without needing to read a word.

what it really means

When someone sees hot pink and immediately thinks 'Oh, that’s them'.

Trust Signals

Credibility Markers

what it means

Visual or verbal cues that build trust with your audience — like certifications, reviews, years in business, or clean design.

what it really means

The quiet stuff that screams 'You can trust this' before they even read your label.

Brand Psychology

Perceived Value

what it means

What someone believes your product is worth — shaped by your visuals, words, price, packaging, and entire brand experience.

what it really means

It’s why you can charge $72 for serum in a frosted dropper and no one blinks.

Conversion

Call to Action (CTA)

what it means

The prompt that tells someone what to do next — buy now, book a call, swipe, save, click, convert.

what it really means

Where you stop being mysterious and start being direct.

UX Patterns

Above the Fold

what it means

The area of a web page that’s visible before scrolling. Prime real estate for attention and conversion.

what it really means

Where you win or lose them in under 3 seconds.

Layout & Flow

Whitespace

what it means

The intentional empty space in a design that gives your content room to breathe, digest, and be seen.

what it really means

No, it doesn’t mean it looks empty — it means you finally stopped cramming things.

Brand Structure

Brand Architecture

what it means

The structure of your brand ecosystem — how your main brand, sub-brands, product lines, and extensions all relate to each other.

what it really means

Like a family tree, but messier (especially when no one planned it properly).

Brand Infrastructure

Brand System

what it means

The full ecosystem of your brand’s visuals, voice, behaviour, and structure — not just your logo. It’s how your brand behaves when you’re not watching.

what it really means

More than just vibes. It's your brand’s operating system.

Typography

Typography Hierarchy

what it means

The structure of your brand's text. Headlines, subheads, product titles — all laid out in a way that your reader doesn’t get lost (or bored).

what it really means

Making sure your text knows who's boss.

Brand Personality

Brand Behaviour

what it means

How your brand acts, speaks, and shows up — everywhere. It’s the consistency between your tone, visuals, values, and actions. The good ones get this right. The forgettable ones don’t.

what it really means

It’s what makes your brand feel real — not just designed.

Hierarchy

Front Panel Hierarchy

what it means

The order in which a customer processes your packaging at first glance. What jumps out first, what lingers, what’s absorbed subconsciously. It’s make-or-break stuff.

what it really means

How to make someone care in 1.3 seconds.

SKU Structure

Packaging System

what it means

A cohesive, scalable structure for all your product packaging. Built to expand across SKUs without losing your brand identity.

what it really means

Your packaging’s personal ecosystem — minus the chaos.

Customer Experience

Brand Touchpoint

what it means

Every single place your brand makes contact with someone — from your unboxing experience to your Instagram bio. If it leaves an impression, it’s a touchpoint.

what it really means

Basically, anywhere your brand whispers, shouts or seduces someone.

Compliance

Compliance Design

what it means

The design work that balances creativity with legal requirements — ingredient labels, SPF disclaimers, barcode positioning, and anything the TGA might breathe down your neck about.

what it really means

The stuff that keeps your pretty packaging from getting pulled from shelves.

Brand Messaging

Voice vs Tone

what it means

Voice is who your brand is. Tone is how it sounds in different situations. Think of it like this: same personality, different volume settings.

what it really means

Voice = your brand’s personality. Tone = the mood it’s in today.

Label Content

INCI

what it means

International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients. The universal language for what’s actually inside your skincare — whether it sounds sexy or not.

what it really means

The fine print that ingredient nerds live for (and founders love to ignore).

Layout & Flow

Visual Hierarchy

what it means

The intentional order in which your eye moves through design. It’s how we make sure the product name hits first, not the recycling symbol.

what it really means

A.K.A. why we don’t make the SPF size the smallest type on the label.

I'm not a dirty secret, I'm a shiny weapon.

Let's make something worth keeping confidential.