TechBehemoths Branding Expert Insights 2026

Building a memorable brand takes more than a great logo or eye-catching visuals. It requires a clear identity, consistent messaging, and a compelling story that resonates with customers.

To explore what truly sets successful brands apart, we asked two branding experts to share the most common mistakes businesses make, the myths they wish would disappear, and the principles that help brands stand out in competitive markets.

Meet the Experts

Mark Banjo Daya is the Chief Creative Officer and Lead Graphic Designer at Graphica Studios - CDO, a Philippines-based creative design agency specializing in branding, graphic design, and digital marketing assets. Since co-founding the studio in 2021, he has helped businesses strengthen their brand identity through strategic visual design, delivering more than 500 creative projects for 200+ clients across local and international markets.

Andre Oentoro is the Founder of Breadnbeyond, an Indonesia-based creative studio specializing in animated explainer videos for startups, enterprises, and global brands. With more than 3,800 completed projects for 1,800+ companies across 26 countries, he helps businesses simplify complex ideas through engaging visual storytelling that drives conversions, improves onboarding, supports training, and strengthens brand communication.

Let's begin with our first question.

What is the biggest branding mistake companies make?

Andre Oentoro, Breadnbeyond

The biggest mistake we see over and over again is treating branding like a checkbox. You hire an agency, get a logo, pick some colors, write a tagline, and then consider it done.

We've worked with hundreds of companies over the past 17 years, and the ones who struggle with brand recognition almost always made this mistake. They built a brand identity once and then never really lived it consistently.

I believe is that branding itself is a discipline. The companies that get it right are the ones that ask "does this feel like us?" every single time they create something, whether it's a video, a proposal, or even an email signature.

Mark Banjo Daya, Graphica Studios - CDO

Many companies frequently change their logo or brand name, which can confuse repeat customers. When customers encounter the brand again, they may not recognize it due to the lack of consistency.

Many companies think branding means a logo. What are they missing?

Mark Banjo Daya, Graphica Studios - CDO

Branding goes beyond just a logo. It includes visual elements such as colors, messaging, and overall identity, as well as the value and experience a company delivers. These elements combined create a coherent brand.

Andre Oentoro, Breadnbeyond

We actually had a client come to us once (a B2B SaaS company) with a beautiful logo, a slick website, gorgeous color palette. But when we started working on their explainer video, we quickly realized they had no idea how to talk about what they actually did.

No consistent voice, no clear message, no emotional hook.

The logo was the least of their problems. What they were missing was a story.

My team and I treat branding like the consistent telling of your story, the way you sound, the way you make people feel, the way you explain why you exist. So the logo is just the bookmark on that story.

What makes a brand memorable in a crowded market?

Andre Oentoro, Breadnbeyond

Clarity, always. But more specifically, the courage to be specific. We work a lot in the explainer video space, and the brief we dread most is when a client says "we want to appeal to everyone."

Because when you speak to everyone, you resonate with no one. The brands that stick are the ones willing to say: this is exactly who we are, this is exactly who we're for, and this is exactly why it matters.

I remember working with a healthcare startup that kept trying to sound "professional and credible" – which really just meant generic. Once they leaned into their actual story- why the founder built it, who they were really trying to help- everything clicked. That's when a brand becomes memorable.

Mark Banjo Daya, Graphica Studios - CDO

A brand becomes memorable by staying relevant and engaging. Leveraging current trends, relatable content (such as memes), and timely events can capture attention and spark curiosity among potential customers

What’s one branding myth you wish more business owners stopped believing?

Andre Oentoro, Breadnbeyond

That branding is a luxury for companies that have already made it. I've heard this so many times: "we'll invest in branding once we grow." But that's backwards.

We've been making explainer videos since 2009, and the pattern is quite consistent. The companies that nail their story early grow faster, close deals more easily, and retain customers longer. Because narratives are what actually win people and make them buy.

A startup with a clear, compelling brand will always outperform a bigger competitor with a muddled one. Branding is often the reason for it.

Mark Banjo Daya, Graphica Studios - CDO

A common myth is that branding is only for large or successful businesses.

In reality, branding is even more important for startups, as it shapes the first impression and how customers recognize you from the beginning.

When should a company invest in branding?

Mark Banjo Daya, Graphica Studios - CDO

Companies should invest in branding as early as possible, ideally from the very beginning. Establishing strong branding early helps create recognition and trust among customers. Over time, consistent and effective branding builds a loyal customer base and positions the business as a benchmark within its industry.

Andre Oentoro, Breadnbeyond

The honest answer? Before you think you need to. We've seen companies come to us in full panic mode; they're scaling, they've got sales pressure, investors are asking questions, and suddenly nobody can agree on what the company actually stands for. At that point, fixing the brand becomes urgent and expensive and slow.

The clients I've seen get the most out of their branding investment are the ones who treated it as a foundation, not a renovation. They got their story straight early (what they do, who they serve, why it matters) and everything else they built just stacked on top of that cleanly. So my answer is, now. Invest in branding now, whatever stage you're at.

Both Experts Agreed That

Branding is much more than a logo.

It combines visual identity, messaging, values, and customer experience to create a recognizable and trustworthy brand.

Consistency is what builds recognition.

Every interaction, from marketing materials to customer communication, should reinforce the same identity and message.

Strong branding should start early.

Investing in branding from the beginning helps businesses establish credibility, attract the right audience, and support long-term growth.

A clear story makes a brand memorable.

Companies that communicate who they are, who they serve, and why they exist are more likely to stand out in competitive markets.

Authenticity creates lasting connections.

Brands that stay true to their values and consistently deliver on their promise build stronger relationships with customers.

Thank you to Mark Banjo Daya (Graphica Studios - CDO) and Andre Oentoro (Breadnbeyond) for sharing your expertise and contributing to TechBehemoths Branding Expert Insights Edition 2026.