Stop taking orders. Start leading clients.

Brand Sparks

Confidently lead branding conversations and get to the core of a brand’s visual identity. These cards help you map a brand’s strengths and weaknesses. No prep work needed! 
Whether it’s startups or global players, you’ll uncover what clients actually need, while turning them into partners in your process.

This includes 84 cards and lifetime access to digital downloads:

  • Deep-dive workbook with strategic follow-up questions, a glossary, tips and best practices
  • Report template to share your findings

Original price was: €95.00.Current price is: €79.00.

EARLY BIRD PRICE

Despite our different career paths, Philip hiding behind copywriters at Ogilvy, Nicky thrown into client meetings at a small studio, we shared the same frustration: clients can be wildly unpredictable. After decades of crossing paths, we realised how absurd it was that designers have a wide range of tools for everything except client conversations. That’s how Brand Sparks was born: a practical tool making client interactions less about performing and more about figuring things out together.

Philip & Nicky

Creators of Brand Sparks

Who's this for?

New designers

Fed up with just taking orders from clients? These cards help you lead the conversation confidently, even if you've never run a brand workshop before. 
No more wondering what questions to ask or how to structure the meeting.

Seasoned brand designers

You know your stuff, but workshop prep still eats into your time. These cards get you straight to the insights you need. Perfect for when you want to focus on solving creative challenges, not organising workshops.

In-house teams

Struggling with design consistency across departments? 
Get marketing, product teams and leadership speaking the same brand language. Finally harmonise your company's visual identity without the endless back-and-forth meetings

Design agencies

Want to set your discovery process apart and justify higher rates? Replace generic questionnaires with engaging workshops that uncover real client insights. 
Perfect for agencies looking to position themselves as strategic partners.

Brand Sparks is simple: get in a room together and figure out what makes your client’s brand work. No buzzwords, no hierarchy – just honest conversations about their visual identity and where it needs to go.

Your clients live their brand daily. By putting their experience at the heart of the workshop, you get to the real challenges quickly. Good branding isn’t just about looking great, it’s about solving real business problems. You’ll walk away with clear direction, while they feel heard and understood.

Already as convinced as we are?

The deck includes statement cards in 3 categories

Foundations

Explore core elements like logos, typography, colours and brand personality.

Touchpoints

Audit key interactions, from websites and social media to packaging and campaigns.

Usability

Evaluate how effectively the brand’s assets and guidelines support consistent, efficient execution.

How it works

Getting started

Get your client and team (2-8 people) together for a 60 to 90 minute session. Invite anyone who deals with the brand daily - they all bring useful perspectives.

The flow

The cards flow naturally and cover Brand Foundations, Touchpoints, and Usability. Each card has a simple statement about their brand.

Spot the issues

For each card, everyone gives feedback (👍), needs work (👎), or not sure (🤷). This gets people talking honestly about their brand - often things they've never discussed before.

Clear direction

There's no right or wrong answers here - it's about getting your clients to open up about their brand while you collect the insights you need for your design work.

The Deep Dive Guide

But wait, there’s more than just the deck! Along with your Brand Sparks cards, you’ll get lifetime access to this comprehensive digital guide. We’ve packed everything we’ve learned from years of brand workshops into this digital guide – stripped down to what actually works, with real examples and practical techniques you can use right away.

Getting Started

Your companion for making the most of Brand Sparks. Learn how to set up workshops, manage group dynamics, and create an environment where clients feel comfortable opening up about their brand. From room setup to handling challenging personalities, we’ve got you covered with practical tips that help you lead with confidence.

A step-by-step framework that keeps conversations natural while ensuring you get the insights you need. Understand how to move through the cards effectively, capture key insights, and maintain momentum without feeling rigid or formulaic. Including documentation techniques that turn workshop insights into actionable design direction.

The heart of the guide. Each card is broken down with detailed explanations, strategic follow-up questions, and real-world examples. Here’s a taste of what you’ll find:

Statement
Why it matters

This question tests emotional connection and pride in the brand. It’s not really about merchandise—it’s about whether people feel personally aligned with the brand’s visual representation. A logo someone would proudly wear shows successful translation of brand values into visual form.

Follow-up questions
  • What’s holding you back from feeling proud of wearing the logo?
  • When was the last time you felt genuinely excited about showing off your brand?
  • Which brands’ merchandise do you admire? What makes them different?
  • Do your team members ever wear company gear outside work? Why/why not?
  • What would need to change for you to feel differently?

Real life example: NASA is a fascinating example here – they’re a government space agency, not a lifestyle brand, but people absolutely love wearing their merch. Their simple but iconic “meatball” logo and typography have become cultural symbols that represent human curiosity and achievement. What’s remarkable is that this isn’t just about space enthusiasts – everyone from fashion-conscious teens to tech workers proudly wear NASA gear. The logo carries such positive associations that streetwear brands like Alpha Industries and high-end designers regularly collaborate with them. It’s a perfect example of a logo transcending its original institutional purpose to become something people genuinely want to identify with.

Master the art of reading the room and guiding productive discussions. Learn proven techniques for managing group dynamics, handling dominant voices, and drawing out quieter participants. Including practical tips for timing, documentation, and turning tricky situations into opportunities for deeper insight.

Turn potential workshop pitfalls into opportunities. From handling “I don’t know” responses to managing conflict between departments, we provide tested solutions that keep the workshop productive while gathering valuable insights about internal brand challenges.

Transform workshop insights into actionable next steps. Learn how to document findings, structure recommendations, and maintain momentum after the session ends. Including templates for summary reports and guidance on presenting findings to different stakeholders.

A practical reference guide to branding terminology, written in plain language. Perfect for explaining complex concepts to clients or getting everyone on the same page about branding fundamentals. Each term includes real-world examples that make abstract concepts concrete.

Key benefits

Lead with confidence

Guide strategy discussions naturally. The cards do the heavy lifting for you.

Ready to use

Just open the box and start. No prep needed, no homework to review.

Works at any scale

Proven with everyone from two-person startups to global companies.

Uncover pain points

Get to the real issues holding their brand back - no guessing, just honest insights from the people who know.

Actionable results

After two hours, you have a solid view of where the brand needs to go.

Better relationships

When clients help shape the strategy, they become true partners in your design process.

What are you waiting for?

Meet the Creators

Philip Tregunna

As Art and Creative Director at Ogilvy, Wunderman and FTI Consulting, Philip spent two decades transforming how global brands connect with their audiences. His passion lies in taking complex brand challenges and turning them into simple, practical solutions. He’s crafted innovative campaigns for tech giants like Sony and Amazon, while helping smaller brands find their unique voice.

Nicky Lauwerijssen

With over two decades in brand and digital design, Nicky has crafted identities at leading agencies like Wunderman and TBWA, while maintaining his own studio. His portfolio spans major brands like Brussels Airlines and BNP Paribas, alongside startups and growing businesses. He loves typography and colour. His greatest joy lies in understanding clients’ stories and translating them into visual identities that drive growth and success.

We designed Brand Sparks to take the guesswork out of branding conversations. It’s about giving designers the tools and confidence they need to deliver real value to their clients.

Don't just take our word for it

After a year of testing with designers and brands, we know Brand Sparks works.
Ready to transform your branding workshops? Get your deck and start having conversations that matter.

Brand Sparks

Original price was: €95.00.Current price is: €79.00.

EARLY BIRD PRICE