Few arenas showcase the complexities of branding quite like a political campaign, where every detail — from visual choices to policy priorities — feeds into public perception and resonates differently with each voter demographic. As a designer and brand strategist, I’m fascinated by the ways brand, identity, and social issues intersect in the world of politics. In our new Identity Politics column, Susan Milligan explored the contrasting approaches of Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris in navigating gender and identity in their campaigns. With Clinton and Harris offering such distinct political brands, we’re witnessing a shift in how female candidates (perhaps candidates, in general) present themselves in the political spotlight.
For deeper insight into this evolution, I turned to some of the branding industry’s most prominent voices to explore how gender and identity are shaping political branding today. These design leaders shared their take on everything from the challenges of timing to the balance between visual consistency and policy focus to the future of branding for women in politics.
