Bland identity? You need archetypes
Beanz means Heinz, right? No alternative will cut it. Our Macbooks rule all – in fact the thought of another branded laptop is practically laughable. And why do we instantly feel warm and fuzzy when the Coca Cola advert swings round every December? You know it – that feeling when you connect to a company that you just can’t put your finger on.
Characters in movies and stories are immediately familiar to us because they’re part of our ‘collective unconscious’, according to psychologist Carl Jung. These are known as archetypes. Meaning ‘original pattern’ in Ancient Greece, archetypes are the characters you can hear the story patterns of again and again, in whatever format, in whatever country, in whatever century… and never tire of.
The brands you feel a bond with are built within this unconscious, using archetypes that root back to ancient systems and stories. It’s that feeling that tells us “oooh yes, this one’s for me” or “this brand just feels right”.
They tap into four human desires deep within us. Each archetype seeks to realise the following:
- EGO (leaving our thumbprint on the world)
- ORDER (giving structure to the world)
- SOCIAL (connecting to others)
- FREEDOM (the desire for paradise)
In The Outlaw and the Hero, authors Margaret Mark and Carol S. Pearson state that archetypes “defy the “pick some characteristics from column A and some from column B” practice of creating brand identity; rather, these ancient psychic imprints are whole and complete concepts, demanding to be fully realised and deployed”.
Let’s start by naming them all. There may be some that relate to your brand more than others. You can choose if you want to express it and manage it in your brand identity, your marketing strategies, your work and even your life. Learn the facts and you’ll have less chance of implementing a confused, mixed-up brand identity.
The 12 archetypes you need to know
The Hero
They’re courageous, determined and competent. Nike was the Greek goddess of speed, strength and victory.
Brand examples: Nike, Ariel, Snickers
The Creator
They craft new things of enduring value and give form to visions.
Brand examples: LEGO, Apple, Crayola
The Caregiver
They care for others and protect them from harm – a “love thy neighbour’ way of living.
Brand examples: Persil, Huggies, Heinz
The Ruler
They exert control and are natural leaders.
Brand examples: American Express, Microsoft, Rolex
The Jester
They live in the moment, lighten up a room and play a lot. Enjoyment in the everything is their philosophy.
Brand examples: M&Ms, Skittles, Budweiser
The Regular Guy/Gal
They’re okay just as they are, believe everyone is created equal and connect well with others. Empathetic, not pretentious and have ordinary yet solid virtues.
Brand examples: PG Tips, John Smiths, IKEA
The Lover
They find and give love, keep intimacy and experience sensual pleasure. Passion, gratitude, relationships and commitment are their strong points.
Brand examples: Chanel, Hallmark, Haagen-Daz
The Rebel
In the eyes of the Rebel, rules are made to be broken. They’re radical in their freedom and fear powerlessness, wanting to disrupt, destroy or shock systems that aren’t working.
Brand examples: Harley Davidson, Virgin
The Magician
With their knowledge of how the world works, they can affect transformations. Their goal is to make dreams come true – so they develop visions and make them happen.
Brand examples: Disney, iPod, Red Bull
The Innocent
They desire to retain or renew faith in order to be happy. Nostalgic and optimistic.
Brand examples: Coca Cola, Dove, Innocent Drinks
The Explorer
A true independent constantly seeking to experience a more authentic, fulfilling life.They’re all about seeking out and experiencing new things, are highly ambitious and true to themselves. Non-conformist.
Brand example: Levis, Starbucks, Jeep
The Sage
The understanding Sage is always on the pursuit of the truth. With intelligence and analysis, they have a strong grasp on the world and never feel the need to act upon their studies. Instead, they become self reflective, wise and experts at analysing the thinking process.
Brand examples: Google, BBC, Audi
How exciting! A complete collection of heritage, buried deep in the psyche of us all, that can defy space, time and culture and help brands thrive – even today. But archetypes should be thoroughly researched and properly managed before diving in. And they should not be used to manipulate, as Mark and Pearson explain here:
“When you tap into the archetypal dimension – deliberately or by accident – these energies become activated in and around you. Whether or not they are expressed in a moral and healthy way depends on the consciousness of the person (or the company) evoking them. The more knowledgeable you are about archetypes, however, the more they can serve, metaphorically speaking, as your allies.”
Of course, this is a ridiculously brief look at archetypes – Jung’s greatest work and the keys to opening many doors with our brand identities. Archetypes and the human psyche is an impossibly rich area to delve into in one blog post, so I’ll be sharing more of the 12 types in detail in future pieces.
But what I can tell you for certain is this: Archetypes give value. Archetypes unlock your unique personality and make you stand out in a cookie-cutter world. And archetypes keep your brand comprehensible – in turn attracting a loyal client base.
If you want to chat about your own archetype and map out a brand voice that doesn’t feel like Ryvita for the ears (soz, Ryvita), let’s do it.
