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Whose mask is it?

by Lora Starling | Mar 11, 2025 | ARTICLE, Future Magnets, Logo truths

We wear masks often to identify a part of ourselves. Masks form a visible interface between us and the rest of the world so we are seen with our chosen tribe, those aligned with the same future aspirations.

We go to war on a flag, display our loyalty to a sports team that rarely wins, wear our religious symbol in the belief that we are aligned with the chosen one and stroke our egos with logos publicised by our celebrity heroes. We even embellish our nails, face, skin or hair to mask our natural appearance that we find unacceptable (says who?)

After time we begin to believe that we are the mask, but whose mask is it? Each version of the above has been carefully designed and delivered by someone else to create their own success. They can’t do this without followers.

Nowhere has this mask been exploited more than by brands. Logos are bait that tempt us with desires including quality, longevity, happiness, nutrition, beauty, health and success and they do it so effectively, we are hooked.

Soft drinks and fast foods are known to have a detrimental effect on our health, but the logos and ads are such fun, why would we not want to be seen participating in that team?

High end fashion brands make sure we see their logos on their clothing such as sweatshirts, scarves, bags, shoes, hats and so on but the clothes themselves usually don’t last whether due to poor quality or strategic fashion change, and inevitably end up in landfill or building further the giant fabric mountains in Africa.

When we look behind the mask we are often confronted with a version of the Emperor’s new clothes, and see how we have fallen for the temptation to identify with a vision created by someone else. Learn to look behind the masks of the brands you love and design your own using the same effective strategies.

Don’t make your own identifying logo a mask. Build it from the core of your heart and the longing of your soul; express your love, not greed, for the future you want, your better place in a better world. That is how we create the change we need, by changing, identifying and sharing our intention. This is what logos do best.

‘You wear a mask for so long, you forget who you were beneath it.’ Alan Moore, V for Vendetta

Learn to create your own intentional logo at https://bit.ly/4enPTPQ

Priming a logo can influence consumer’s behaviour

Priming a logo can influence consumer’s behaviour

by Lora Starling | Nov 15, 2015 | ARTICLE, Logo effects

blog post icon Simply gazing at a logo can affect our subsequent behaviour. There is substantial evidence that brands have automatic associations with specific goals. Consumer behaviour can be influenced …

Starbucks ******mas cup

Starbucks ******mas cup

by Lora Starling | Nov 12, 2015 | ARTICLE, Logo effects

blog post icon I am intrigued by the fuss about Starbucks’ Christmas cups. I find that the fascination with the design goes towards proving how powerful a tool it is! Starbucks has been accused of using GMO milk, unfair labour …

Brands know they have a spirit

Brands know they have a spirit

by Lora Starling | Oct 1, 2015 | ARTICLE, Logo truths

blog post icon Refresh the world in spirit (Coke) Inspire and nurture the man spirit (Starbucks) Embrace the human spirit and let it fly (Virgin) The world of spirit seems to be recognised by brands. Many straplines of …

Taking control of logos in fashion

Taking control of logos in fashion

by Lora Starling | Nov 28, 2013 | ARTICLE, Logo effects

blog post icon Is the logo ‘stripped of its corporate purpose’ if it used as a piece of art? Juxtaposed with random logos on a garment? This does not look too different to the football shirts which appear to change logos with …

Protecting the mermaid

Protecting the mermaid

by Lora Starling | Oct 29, 2013 | ARTICLE, Protecting brands

blog post icon This is a cup from a coffee shop I found in Peru. I don’t think Starbucks have found this one but they are suing a Bangkok based coffee stall over the misuse of the Starbucks logo. Maybe because it …

The first artists were women

The first artists were women

by Lora Starling | Oct 11, 2013 | ARTICLE, Logo effects

blog post icon Logos are a combination of a word and picture (symbol). The former is linear, we read from left to right, logically from the masculine attributed part of the brain. The latter is more intuitively recognised and …

Fighting over a couple of kisses

Fighting over a couple of kisses

by Lora Starling | Oct 7, 2013 | ARTICLE, Protecting brands

blog post icon Protective brands know the value of their logos and go to immense lengths to protect them. An X is a kiss, it marks the spot and a cross stands for relationships. Two Xs is double the value and Exxon is going …

No logos in Sao Paolo

No logos in Sao Paolo

by Lora Starling | Oct 4, 2013 | ARTICLE, Cities & brands

blog post icon In 2006 the mayor of Sao Paolo banned all outdoor advertising, after the initial flurry of objections, now over 70% of residents approve. I imagine the first sign above is now no longer there but …

Does London need a logo?

Does London need a logo?

by Lora Starling | Oct 4, 2013 | ARTICLE, Cities & brands

blog post icon A logo for London? The YouGov poll, which was commissioned by Landor, says 51 per cent of those surveyed think London should have its own logo “like other global cities New York, Berlin …

The colour purple

The colour purple

by Lora Starling | Jun 13, 2013 | ARTICLE, Colour

blog post icon Getting a colour just right is imperative for brands that want to succeed. Purple has traditionally been reserved for royalty but Cadbury’s want to reserve it for themselves. They tried to fight off Darrell Lea …

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Related posts:

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The Flower of Life

Inspired by the stars

Whose mask is it?

by Lora Starling | Mar 11, 2025 | ARTICLE, Future Magnets, Logo truths

We wear masks often to identify a part of ourselves. Masks form a visible interface between us and the rest of the world so we are seen with our chosen tribe, those aligned with the same future aspirations.

We go to war on a flag, display our loyalty to a sports team that rarely wins, wear our religious symbol in the belief that we are aligned with the chosen one and stroke our egos with logos publicised by our celebrity heroes. We even embellish our nails, face, skin or hair to mask our natural appearance that we find unacceptable (says who?)

After time we begin to believe that we are the mask, but whose mask is it? Each version of the above has been carefully designed and delivered by someone else to create their own success. They can’t do this without followers.

Nowhere has this mask been exploited more than by brands. Logos are bait that tempts us with desires including quality, longevity, happiness, nutrition, beauty, health and success and they do it so effectively, we are hooked.

Soft drinks and fast foods are known to have detrimental on our health, but the logos and ads are such fun, why would we not want to be seen participating in that team?

High end fashion brands make sure we see their logos on their clothing such as sweatshirts, scarves, bags, shoes, hats and so on but the clothes themselves usually don’t last whether due to poor quality or strategic fashion change, and inevitably end up in landfill or building further the giant fabric mountains in Africa.

When we look behind the mask we are often confronted with a version of the Emperor’s new clothes, and see how we have fallen for the temptation to identify with a vision created by someone else. Learn to look behind the masks of the brands you love and design your own using the same effective strategies.

Don’t make your own identifying logo a mask. Build it from the core of your heart and the longing of your soul; express your love, not greed, for the future you want, your better place in a better world. That is how we create the change we need, by changing, identifying and sharing our intention. This is what logos do best.

‘You wear a mask for so long, you forget who you were beneath it.’ Alan Moore, V for Vendetta

Learn to create your own intentional logo at  https://bit.ly/4ayC3rv

Priming a logo can influence consumer’s behaviour

Priming a logo can influence consumer’s behaviour

by Lora Starling | Nov 15, 2015 | ARTICLE, Logo effects

blog post icon Simply gazing at a logo can affect our subsequent behaviour. There is substantial evidence that brands have automatic associations with specific goals. Consumer behaviour can be influenced …

Starbucks ******mas cup

Starbucks ******mas cup

by Lora Starling | Nov 12, 2015 | ARTICLE, Logo effects

blog post icon I am intrigued by the fuss about Starbucks’ Christmas cups. I find that the fascination with the design goes towards proving how powerful a tool it is! Starbucks has been accused of using GMO milk, unfair labour …

Brands know they have a spirit

Brands know they have a spirit

by Lora Starling | Oct 1, 2015 | ARTICLE, Logo truths

blog post icon Refresh the world in spirit (Coke) Inspire and nurture the man spirit (Starbucks) Embrace the human spirit and let it fly (Virgin) The world of spirit seems to be recognised by brands. Many straplines of …

Taking control of logos in fashion

Taking control of logos in fashion

by Lora Starling | Nov 28, 2013 | ARTICLE, Logo effects

blog post icon Is the logo ‘stripped of its corporate purpose’ if it used as a piece of art? Juxtaposed with random logos on a garment? This does not look too different to the football shirts which appear to change logos with …

Protecting the mermaid

Protecting the mermaid

by Lora Starling | Oct 29, 2013 | ARTICLE, Protecting brands

blog post icon This is a cup from a coffee shop I found in Peru. I don’t think Starbucks have found this one but they are suing a Bangkok based coffee stall over the misuse of the Starbucks logo. Maybe because it …

The first artists were women

The first artists were women

by Lora Starling | Oct 11, 2013 | ARTICLE, Logo effects

blog post icon Logos are a combination of a word and picture (symbol). The former is linear, we read from left to right, logically from the masculine attributed part of the brain. The latter is more intuitively recognised and …

Fighting over a couple of kisses

Fighting over a couple of kisses

by Lora Starling | Oct 7, 2013 | ARTICLE, Protecting brands

blog post icon Protective brands know the value of their logos and go to immense lengths to protect them. An X is a kiss, it marks the spot and a cross stands for relationships. Two Xs is double the value and Exxon is going …

No logos in Sao Paolo

No logos in Sao Paolo

by Lora Starling | Oct 4, 2013 | ARTICLE, Cities & brands

blog post icon In 2006 the mayor of Sao Paolo banned all outdoor advertising, after the initial flurry of objections, now over 70% of residents approve. I imagine the first sign above is now no longer there but …

Does London need a logo?

Does London need a logo?

by Lora Starling | Oct 4, 2013 | ARTICLE, Cities & brands

blog post icon A logo for London? The YouGov poll, which was commissioned by Landor, says 51 per cent of those surveyed think London should have its own logo “like other global cities New York, Berlin …

The colour purple

The colour purple

by Lora Starling | Jun 13, 2013 | ARTICLE, Colour

blog post icon Getting a colour just right is imperative for brands that want to succeed. Purple has traditionally been reserved for royalty but Cadbury’s want to reserve it for themselves. They tried to fight off Darrell Lea …

« Older Entries
Next Entries »
Facebook shareTwitter shareLinkedin sharePinterest share

Related posts:

Starbucks ******mas cup

A logo for Liz

Identifying your mountain

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