
We are a Visual Brand Strategy Agency;
we are passionate about creativity, diligent
about business, and invested in uncovering at every touch point


We employ a scientific approach
to every business challenge
We dig deep to learn what you know & uncover opportunities
Every brand and every business model, even those within the same industry vertical has its’ unique culture, vision, approach and business driving factors. This is why Brand Labs begins every new client relationship with an immersive discovery process. Our focus is to understand your unique business model, your company culture, your brand vision and most importantly – your passionate believes. The end goal is gathering enough insight on your operation and business vision to effectively guide and inform our research and strategy stage. We begin by working closely with your team to satisfy our strategic brief documentation, collecting data points and proprietary information pertaining to your business goals. Our research, brand strategy, digital and engagement strategy team leaders work closely with your business leaders to
gather all available information to uncover potential channels and opportunities to generate business results.This process takes anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks depending on complexity of your ask, depth of historic activity and a number of other defining factors.Once we complete our discovery with your team, we regroup internally with our business analysts, brand strategy and digital engagement teams for an in-depth brainstorm and recap of the information gathered through our rigid discovery process. If any final clarifications are required, those are conveyed to the client and cleared up before the project moves forward. As a result, we establish a set of guiding principles that influence the direction of all our brand strategy, visual branding, digital and engagement strategy efforts.
We inform strategic paths through in depth analysis and hard data
Branding research is conducted with one goal – to uncover insights and opportunities to strengthen competitive position. We begin by gauging the competitive landscape, assessing our existing proprietary branding studies, as well as information gathered during the discovery process. We work with the client to conduct in-depth interviews with management, product and market facing teams to assess their pain points and their observation of consumer sentiment. At this point we are informed enough to speak to the intended audience; before moving to focus groups, we conduct small “think tank workshops” where representatives of the target audience are engaged in open discussion about their brand experience with brand at focus and well as competing brands. We gauge their emotional and qualitative response to the brand message, visual brand substance, brand support and of course the product to learn the decision making journey and key driving factors behind the selection process.
Armed with this information we work closely with the brand strategy and visual branding teams to develop potential engagement scenarios. These include visual branding and brand communications strategies as well as target audience segmentation, diversified branding approach, cultural and linguistic segmentation, behavior based emotional appeal and much more. We then move forward to apply these in series of focus groups spanning the entire spectrum of the intended target audience and any identified sub-groups known as segment within a segment. The results are then packaged in a comprehensive report, providing hard data points around the overall branding program, including brand equity, brand positioning, visual branding and communications, consumer sentiment and product recommendations as well as a detailed analysis of the target audience and best performing communications strategies within each group.
We create consumer driven strategies that grow and evolve with the market
Your customer wants to identify with a brand they can grow with, a brand that will work hard to earn their trust and will value their opinions and aspirations. Working closely with our brand research team we identify the “low hanging fruit” – the group or groups of consumers with a potential to become the pioneers of your brand and drive early adoption. We begin the strategy development stage with the people; this usually involves an in-depth industry vertical expert, a creative, a social and a media strategist, supported a story teller (copy) and at least 1 or 2 representatives of the target audience.
Rooted in facts uncovered in the research stage, this team works as one to establish a number of concepts supported by visual and communication systems to see how we can best tell the brand story and test what set of messages will best resonate with the audience. Upon selecting one or two beta strategies we take these outside of our think tank and test them in the real world. At the end of the strategy development process we have a comprehensive brand communication vocabulary supported by strategic insight and successfully tested across all media touch points and brand communication channels.
We know what will resonate with the intended audience before you enter the race
The fact that we think an idea is good, or the fact that a client is ready to buy is does not guarantee its’ success in the live marketplace. As humans we tend to be emotional about concept, ideas and products that we incubate and as such – even the best experts can be bias when selecting a go to market strategy.
The one and only way to ensure that our strategy works is what we like to call the “touch test” – bringing your message and your product directly to your target audience. Through our TouchTest process we gather intel on the messages that resonate, receive real feedback on product and get to battle test our total positioning approach.
We create visual communications systems rooted in data and designed for business result
When you think of creative, the go to gauge is usually revolves around “like” or “dislike”. This is a personal opinion, and while we respect it fully – it has zero substance when it comes to business outcomes. Unlike most agencies we treat design and graphic arts as a communication tool to support the business strategy, rather than a visual experience that can be “sold”. The goal of our creative team on any project is to clearly understand the findings of our extensive process and “package”
them into a communications system that will clearly express the brand’s essence and more importantly will undeniably resonate with the target audience. As a result, ideas that resonate are adopted by the people that share the sentiment, and those people champion these ideas to the mass market, creating undeniable impact on the brand and tangible business result.
We guide and support you through and beyond the initial business success
We treat every client relationship as an invested business partnership. Our accounts and client services team works closely with our clients to integrate, understand their needs and guide the collaboration process to business success. Our account and project managers essentially become a part of your team and advocate for your business goals within our agency, providing leadership in every process and working hands on with every department involved in delivering your project. We believe that a branding agency is only as strong as the people who work in it. The stronger our team is, the more effective we are – and the more results we help our clients generate. We only hire team members who aren’t afraid of challenges, and look forward to them. Almost every single member of our branding firm, has run his/her own business at some point and time.
Most have consulted for major Fortune 500 brands. We believe in motivating our team, and growing with our clients. As our client grows in profitability, so do we – as a result of the increase in products, services, and market share – we help them expand into. The key to our agency’s success, is our culture of collaboration – and demand that our team members support each other and exchange expertise by working hand in hand. So whether the challenge is a corporate identity, web development, Mobile Apps, product Packaging, print media or retail engagement systems – the entire team is involved in the development cycle to ensure optimal result.
We employ a scientific approach
to every business challenge

What makes us different?
We are a strategic pratner, not a vendor.
Partner Approach
We strongly believe in and follow our motto: Fewer Clients. Better Results. Most of our clients view BrandLabs as partner rather than a vendor. We take on fewer clients, and invest ourselves into the success of each and every business we choose to work with. Our focus is to turn your business vision, culture, and purpose, into an actionable brand that can be represented into messages and designs that inspire, engage, and activate your target audience.
They key to our success, and our reputation, is the fact we only work with clients and brands we believe in. If your brand is untrustworthy, or if we don’t believe in it’s mission and purpose – we simply won’t accept your business. We look at ourselves as a consumer would. It’s how we can constantly innovative, and create business value for our clients. It’s how we ensure each client is successful, and becomes a case study we are proud of.
We create a positive reinforcing brand experience, which is reflected in your brands convictions – both online, and offline. We integrate your brands culture, holistically, across all of the various touch points associated with your marketing campaign. We work closely with your team from the point of strategy ideation to the first tangible business result. Many companies chose to stay with BrandLabs long term, as a long-term branding partner, to guide the engagement and conversion as well as provide vision for future brand decisions.
Business Focus
The top reason most branding efforts fail is the lack of strategy that unifies creative efforts with a solid business strategy framework. At BrandLabs, we align all of the actions, designs, and communications of a brand through a unified strategy. We refine your brands purpose, its core values, its strategy and positioning, its archetype, and its name – and connect it all back to a business strategy. As your branding agency, we focus on helping you answer the three most important questions:
-Why does your brand exist? This is the most fundamental question, the core operating principle. Why do you do what you do, why should the audience follow, why will they believe and why will they engage?
-Who will be rewarded by your product? Who are the people in your club, who shares your passion, and who is most likely to believe in your product and passionately carry your message forward.
-How will you communicate with your brand champions? How will they be informed, how will you reach them and most importantly, how easily can those inspired by your brand champions find you? We call it – “findability.”
At BrandLabs, we will evaluate your business on a 360 swivel and look at all the aspects that may impact your branding goals, and strategy. Our team will inspire you, our team will prototype and test often, and our team will help you connect to your target audience while differentiating your brand from competition. Most importantly, we will align your branding objectives with a strategy geared towards growing your market share and increasing bottom line. Brand loyalty will follow.
Our People
A branding agency can only be as strong as its people. As such, we hire individuals who thirst for new challenges and embrace the unknown. We have combined our personal and professional experiences, our interests, and our curiosity to inform brand values and agency offerings. At BrandLabs, we like to consider every member of our team as irreplaceable due to these five core qualities of our team:
Dependability – We trust that each member of this team can, and will, get things done. From managers and directors to individual contributors and freelancers, dependability is the foundation for the great work that BrandLabs achieves for its clients – because trust and accountability are basic building blocks for team success.
Culture Fit – A team member who has tons of knowledge and experience but lacks the passion, quirkiness, or personality to work well with the existing team will struggle to achieve and innovate – a difficulty that will resonate through out the entire team. At BrandLabs, team members compliment each other’s skills and fit like hand-in-glove with the organizational culture.
Driven By Purpose – At BrandLabs, great things happen because each team member understands their role in the big picture. We never think twice about reminding a team member what the objectives and drivers are – and how each individual brings a unique set of skills to the task at hand.
Constructive Conflict – At BrandLabs, we encourage healthy conflict and challenges, because the innovation born from debate refines our work and services. We are not fans of false harmony and encourage everyone to speak their minds and to question the status quo – which is why we never stagnate.
Appreciation – Call it a human emotion, but our team members thoroughly appreciate one another. We truly feel a sense of gratitude to be working with people who feel do awesome work. As our team has strengthened, appreciation grew with it, and our bottom line and innovative approach to branding improved dramatically. Just ask our clients.
20 Years Experience
With 20+ years of experience, BrandLabs has a proven track record of helping brands generate results both abroad and in the US. Our Founder, Sasha Aksenov, brings substantial expertise in fields as diverse as brand strategy and design, research and insight, digital solutions, marketing programs, retain merchandising, and much more. Almost every member of team BrandLabs has one point operated his or her own business – contributing an incredible amount of know-how and experience to every client project and immersing fully in the work we do for clients.
Equipped with years of experience and an open mind, our team always starts with developing the most value-driven business case and strategy for our clients before embarking on any campaign. Over the years we’ve worked for some of the most exciting companies in the world – from medical marijuana startups to Fortune 500 companies. Our clients come from diverse industries that include technology, education, retail, finance, beverages, vaping, luxury, travel, and more. Some are large and well-known brands, while others are smaller companies at the beginning of their growth. What they have in common is a desire to push boundaries, challenge conventional thinking, explore new models and develop new products and services, as well as unwavering trust in the experience and know-how of the BrandLabs team.
Our work has been recognized for excellence in some of the most prestigious competitions in the world. It’s great to receive recognition, but what we really care about is making a business difference for our clients, which is why many keep coming back to us.
Have a business challenge?
Work with us
The Idea Filter
We test every brand, every task and vet every concept through our idea filter in order to identify the weak links and work smart with our clients to build a well rounded and fully tested conversion strategy before the race begins.
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Why?
WHY does your brand exist? This is the most fundamental question; the core operating principle. WHY do you dowhat you do, WHY should the audience follow, WHY will they believe and WHY will they engage?
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Who?
WHO are the people in your club, WHO shares your passion, your belief? WHO will be rewarded by your product, and WHO is most likely to believe in your product and passionately carry your message forward. WHO is most likely to become your brand champion?
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How?
HOW will you communicate with your brand champions? HOW will they be informed, how will you reach them and most importantly – HOW easily can those inspired by your brand champions – find you? We call it Findability.

We are your full stack brand development
and engagement strategy partner
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Research & Modeling
A branding project at BrandLabs begins with an assessment of how well your current brand is aligned with your mission and organizational strategy. We learn about your situation, challenges, opportunities, desired outcomes, technology requirements, and competitive landscape in order to inform every subsequent part of the process to make sure your brand is everything you and your customers want it to be.
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Strategy & Positioning
Brands are a combination of identity, culture, actions, and perceptions. Through interviews and workshops, we clarify brand beliefs, attributes, roles, and relationships, and help sharpen focus on why your brand matters and how it makes a difference. Based on that, we work with you to provide an actionable messaging platform that accentuates how and where your brand provides the greatest value.
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Visual Branding
Your brand is only as good as the experience you provide to prospective consumers. We transform complex concepts into intelligent, intuitive interfaces, focused on content and built for the target user. We create fluid online and offline experiences that skillfully support your brand and adapt to all devices and brand touch points – from websites and mobile apps to brand packaging and print collateral. BrandLabs is where form meets function.
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Digital Development
We believe in a methodical approach to building great products, and with a decade of digital experience, we’re had time to perfect the formula. Today BrandLabs relies on a process that remains consistent whether we’re developing a website, a viral game, or a mobile application. Upon completion, each product is run through a vigorous cycle of testing to ensure a flawless final product.
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Digital Engagement
The rise of social media adds a new dimension to the online brand experience. Your message is not just distributed; it is tweeted, posted, and shared with thousands of networks. As with any media, they key is putting the user at the center of a brand experience that is engaging, entertaining, and participatory, an experience that they are most likely to share. Everything we create at BrandLabs adherence to audience-centric, conversion-driven communications.
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Management
We specialize in taking forward thinking concepts, and transforming them into actionable strategies and clearly road-mapping the path to commercial success. Through years of industry-spanning experience, we’ve learned how to identify and address clients’ operational challenges, so brand is consistently conveyed, internally and externally. As the architects of your brand strategy, we work tirelessly to implement your brand strategy in the context of your business goals.
Thank you!
Your request has been received & a Brand Labs account executive will respond shortly.
If your matter requires immediate attention, please contact us directly: 1 212 896 4725 or by email at info@brandlabsny.com