Field Notes

Janni Valkealahti Janni Valkealahti

Back to basics: 101 of branding

In the mix of design trends and evolving market theories, it’s important not to forget the basics and the core principles of branding. Because no matter how innovative or disruptive your brand concept is, it still needs a solid foundation to stand on.

Read More
Janni Valkealahti Janni Valkealahti

Why brands like Notion embrace illustrations

Some weeks ago, I sat in on a design talk by Rob Giampietro, the Head of Creative at Notion. He explained their approach to not just the style choices, but the underlying philosophy: why they chose illustration at all, and how it helps Notion feel less like a tool and more like a place you’d want to stay a while.

Read More
Janni Valkealahti Janni Valkealahti

Rethinking the freelancer bias

There’s an unspoken assumption that freelancers are too independent to integrate into traditional teams. And so, when hiring, companies often lean toward candidates with more conventional titles and career paths. But in today’s landscape where change is constant and innovation highly prized, this instinct may be due for a rethink.

Read More
Janni Valkealahti Janni Valkealahti

The sacred logo: When to break the rules of branding

In the typical brand guidelines, there are many rules of how to use the logo and what not do. And yet, we often see brands bend them. So the question is simple. When is it okay to break the rules of logo usage?

Read More
Janni Valkealahti Janni Valkealahti

So ugly, I love it.

There’s a growing trend in design and illustration: rejecting perfectionism and embracing uniqueness. Brands are moving away from slick, overly polished visuals. The quirky, hand-drawn aesthetic signals something deeper: authenticity, approachability, creativity. It tells you, “We’re human, not a faceless corporation.”

Read More
Janni Valkealahti Janni Valkealahti

Miten luodaan nuoria puhutteleva brändi?

Miten brändi voi aidosti puhutella nuoria? Tämä kysymys nousee esiin yhä useammin, erityisesti kun sosiaalinen media on viestinnän keskeinen ja yhteys nuoreen yleisöön. Jos aihe on herkkä tai arkaluontoinen, kuten kiusaaminen tai seksuaalinen häirintä, viestinnän on oltava aidosti koskettavaa, ei päälleliimattua.

Read More