Flavored vodka is nothing new, but what if a brand stole market share by innovating in a way that no one asked for (but perhaps cannot resist)? Meet Boozehound: hot dog water vodka. In this episode of Can They Brand That?®, three branding pros reveal the real brand identity (complete with full design) for one of the most absurd alcohol products imaginable.
A follow-up to the original live-streamed ideation session, this episode features Semiserious Agency’s lead designer revealing the brand identity—including a hand-drawn bottle label, colors, typography, patterns, iconography, and staged mockups—to the Semiserious founders.
You can expect to see a ton of laughter and a genius design strategy that brings to life the ridiculous original concept to the point that you may find yourself craving a Weenie Tini or Bloodhound Mary made with hot dog water vodka.
Join us every Wednesday @ 12p CT for a new one, btw!!!! Hosted by: Allie LeFevere and Lyndsay Rush Sanders
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Can They Brand That? and today’s brand design reveal: Boozehound
08:55 Reviewing 3 current Semiserious client projects: FU Sun suncare, Bad Rabbit snacks, and Hobbyist (Fad Ass) skincare
24:39 Design Reveal for Boozehound (brand identity, logo, mascot, label, illustration, brand lore, storytelling, patterns, typographic lockups, and other hilarious branding details) + a new game for fake brands: Fund, Marry, Kill
45:50 Funny future branding ideas and product/flavor extensions for Boozehound
Key Branding Ideas from This Episode:
- Trust is a fragile but powerful principle in branding and collaboration that allows for open access and experimentation, leading to innovation and deeper connections, thus fostering environments where creativity and risk-taking are safe.
- Imposing constraints unlocks creative potential and rapid innovation since tight boundaries force clarity and spark inventive solutions, preventing overthinking and focusing on core brand identity.
- Embracing absurdity and humor is a strategic asset because humor and wild thinking differentiate brands, create memorable experiences, and transform advertising into engaging experiences.
- Critical boundary-setting with clients enhances creative clarity; that’s why you should define explicit rules to keep creative efforts focused, preserving energy for promising ideas and fostering a disciplined environment.
- The power of playful mastery in visual storytelling combines technical skill with playful thinking, resulting in surprising and cohesive visuals that elevate brand personality.
- Humor simplifies complex ideas, positioning brands as approachable and daring, reducing perceived risks.
- Visual consistency can be a storytelling tool for absurd brands. E.g., Repeating motifs establish visual consistency, grounding wild concepts and creating coherent brand universes.
Semiserious is a female-founded humor branding agency for CPG brands. Their sweet spot is working with founder-led or venture-backed DTC startups to build brands using comedy as a core strategy to help brands stand out in a crowded market. Their roster includes industry darlings like Clif Bar, Native, Blue Bunny, Waterboy, Pie, Argent, JOI, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Yogi Tea, Choice Organics, GEN Z, The University of Chicago, Alleyoop, Better Than Booze, Backwoods, Bad Rabbit, U Suck at Golf, Hobbyist, and the Dallas Cowboys, but they would never brag about it in their bio. This funny branding agency has offices in Chicago and Nashville, but works with clients globally.
Say hi or snoop around:
🔔 Subscribe for weekly branding brainstorms → https://www.youtube.com/@semiseriousagency
📺 Watch the full Can They Brand That? show series → https://bit.ly/can-they-brand-that-playlist
🌐 Work with Semiserious: https://semiseriousagency.com/
ICYMI, this show exists 1) to champion originality and creativity in a sea of AI slop, 2) to show potential clients the power and value of fun as a consumer-converting strategy, and 3) to bring some much-needed levity into the world where we can.
#HumorBranding #AlcoholBranding #BrandReveal #PackageDesign #CPGBranding #FunnyBrands #BrandIdentity #VodkaBrand #AlcoholMarketing #SemiseriousAgency
