News & Opinion

All the latest news and opinion from Formulate

Why Now Is the Right Time for Dubai Businesses to Consider Sustainability Report Design

Sustainability reporting has moved from the back pages of corporate websites into the spotlight. Once seen as a tick-box exercise, these reports are now powerful tools for transparency, accountability, and brand building. What used to be a dry compilation of emissions data and recycling figures is now a strategic opportunity to tell your brand’s story in a meaningful way.

5 Reasons to Consider a Brand Evolution 

Sustainability reporting has moved from the back pages of corporate websites into the spotlight. Once seen as a tick-box exercise, these reports are now powerful tools for transparency, accountability, and brand building. What used to be a dry compilation of emissions data and recycling figures is now a strategic opportunity to tell your brand’s story in a meaningful way.

From Print to Digital: Creating Your Online Annual Report

The days of bulky printed annual reports or flat PDFs are fading fast. As businesses evolve and stakeholder expectations shift, there’s a growing demand for accessible, interactive, and engaging online annual reports. Moving your report online is a chance to enhance how your story is experienced, understood, and shared. Here’s how (and why) to make the move – and how to get it right.

How to Get the Most Out of Your 2025 Annual Report

Annual reports are often seen as dry, obligatory documents – something to tick off the compliance list. But with the right approach, they can be so much more. An annual report can become a powerful brand tool that tells your story, showcases your achievements, and builds trust with your stakeholders. From a branding and design perspective, your annual report is one of the most valuable pieces of communication you produce all year. Here’s how to get the most out of it.

Essential Branding Elements That Drive Success for Developers and Real Estate Projects

In real estate, branding often gets overlooked in favour of physical assets and sales targets. However, a strong brand is critical for developers and real estate companies who want to differentiate themselves in a competitive market. It’s the foundation that communicates your values, builds trust, and connects with buyers on a deeper level. Here are the essential branding elements every real estate developer and agency should have in place.

Your Internal Comms Deserve Better Branding

When companies talk about brand, they’re usually thinking externally – how they show up in the market, how customers perceive them, how they stand out from the crowd. But there’s another side to branding that often gets overlooked: the way your company communicates with its own people. Internal communications are part of your overall brand image and impact culture, clarity and engagement.

Why Summer Is the Perfect Time to Rethink Your Branding

When the UAE summer arrives, life slows down. Offices quieten, inboxes become more manageable, and many of your clients, colleagues, or competitors escape the heat for cooler climates. But while the rest of the region winds down, this quieter season presents the perfect opportunity to dial up your brand. If you’ve been putting off a refresh of your brand, design elements, or customer experience – now’s the time to take action.

The Role of Environmental Graphics in Shaping Spaces

We often think of branding as something that lives on a screen or a printed page – logos, colour palettes, websites, packaging. But the spaces people walk through every day? They’re just as important. At Formulate Creative, we believe a brand should live and breathe in the real world, and environmental graphics are one of the most effective (and often overlooked) ways to bring that to life.

Why Event Branding Should Never Be an Afterthought

Event branding is one of those things that’s often left until the last minute – but it’s one of the most powerful tools you have to shape how people experience your event. Done well, it brings everything together. It makes your event feel organised, professional, and on-brand, and it helps guests know where they are and what’s going on. Here’s a quick look at what we think matters most when it comes to branding your event.

Why Packaging Matters More Than You Think

Have you ever picked up a product just because the packaging caught your eye? Maybe it was the colour, the shape, or the texture that grabbed your attention. That’s no accident – that’s good packaging design doing its job. Packaging is often the first point of contact between a brand and its customer. It has the unique job of not only protecting the product but also capturing attention, conveying value, and creating an emotional connection – all before the product is even opened.

Why Now Is the Best Time to Start Your Annual Report

Annual reports tend to sneak up on businesses. One minute it’s mid-year, and the next thing you know, you’re juggling final figures, brand guidelines, leadership quotes, and compliance checks – all while staring down a fast-approaching deadline. But here’s the thing: your annual report doesn’t have to be a last-minute scramble. In fact, the best reports – the ones that stand out, feel considered, and tell a compelling story – usually start months in advance.

Beyond the Brief: Why You Need to See the Bigger Picture

It’s not unusual for someone to come to a branding agency with a straightforward request. A website. Some packaging. A pitch deck. A set of templates. And on paper, it might seem like a simple, standalone job. But the truth is, no brand touchpoint ever really exists in isolation. That’s why good agencies tend to zoom out before they zoom in. They’ll take a moment to understand the context, ask a few extra questions, and get a feel for the bigger picture – even when the brief is small.

Creating Experiences, Not Just Stays: Branding for Hospitality

When it comes to hospitality, it’s about more than just offering a bed for the night or a meal for lunch. It’s about creating experiences that people remember. Whether it’s a chic boutique hotel or a family-friendly resort, great hospitality branding is what makes people choose your brand again and again. The question is: how do you make sure your brand is unforgettable?

How to Change the Story as Your Company Evolves

As companies grow and evolve, their story must change to reflect new goals, values, and market demands. Whether you’re expanding into new territories, launching new products, or undergoing a complete rebrand, the way you tell your story can either propel you forward or leave you stuck in the past. A compelling narrative is key to connecting with your audience, inspiring your team, and positioning your company for success in an ever-changing business landscape.

First Impressions Count: The Power of Branding in Education

In an increasingly competitive education landscape, institutions must do more than simply offer quality education. Schools and universities need to stand out with a clear, compelling brand that connects with students, parents, and staff alike. Strategic branding has become essential – not just for increasing enrolment, but for building trust, boosting engagement, and shaping long-term reputation. So, why has branding become such a vital asset for education institutions?

What to Expect When You Work With a Branding Agency

If you’ve never worked with a branding agency before, you might not know what to expect – or maybe you’ve had a bad experience in the past and are hoping for something better. At Formulate Creative, we try to keep things simple and straightforward. We’re here to help you get clear on your brand, bring it to life in a way that feels right for your business, and make sure it actually works in the real world.

The Ultimate Guide to Brand Guidelines and Why You Need Them

You’ve launched your brand – the logo, colours, and messaging all feel spot on. But over time, small inconsistencies start to creep in. A different font here, a slightly off-brand colour there, and messaging that doesn’t quite sound like you. Without a clear structure to guide your brand’s use, it’s easy for things to drift. That’s where brand guidelines make all the difference.

A Look at Some Recent Projects

At Formulate Creative, we’re all about using design and storytelling to make a real impact. Recently, we’ve been working on some exciting projects across different industries – from sports to real estate to hospitality. Each one shows how powerful the right design and message can be in connecting brands with the people that matter most.

The Secret Sauce: Why Branding is Crucial for the F&B Industry in 2025

When you think about food and beverage, what comes to mind? Is it the taste of your favourite dish, the ambiance of a cosy café, or the unforgettable experience of a meal shared with friends? Whatever it is, it’s likely tied to branding. In the competitive and ever-evolving world of F&B, branding is more than just a logo or catchy slogan – it’s the heartbeat of your business. Let’s explore why branding is so critical in this industry and how it’s shaping the future of food.

What Makes a Great Brand Name? A Guide to Naming Your Business

Choosing the right name for your business is one of the most important branding decisions you’ll ever make. Your brand name is more than just a label – it’s your first impression, your identity, and a key factor in how customers perceive you. It should be distinctive, memorable, and aligned with your values, helping you stand out in a competitive market. But what actually makes a great brand name? Let’s break it down.

The Role of Branding in the Wellness Industry Boom

The wellness industry is booming, with more brands entering the space every day. From yoga studios to organic skincare to mental health apps, consumers are increasingly prioritising their physical and mental well-being. But with so many options out there, how do you ensure your brand stands out? The answer lies in effective, thoughtful branding and design.

How to Design Social Media Content That Stops the Scroll

Let’s face it – in a world full of endless content, getting someone to stop scrolling and actually pay attention to your post is no easy task. But with the right design approach, you can make your social media content stand out from the crowd and grab that precious attention. So, how do you create eye-catching, scroll-stopping content that makes people pause, engage, and share? Let’s dive in!

AI-Generated Design vs. Human Creativity: Who Wins?

We’ve all seen the headlines – AI is taking over everything! From self-driving cars to chatbots that answer all your questions, it seems like there’s no stopping the rise of artificial intelligence. But what about design? Can AI really compete with the boundless creativity of the human mind? Well, let’s dive into this digital showdown and see who takes the crown: AI-generated design or human creativity?

SEO for Brands: Why Your Visual Identity Affects Search Rankings

When people think about SEO, they often focus on keywords, backlinks, and technical optimisations. But your brand’s visual identity – everything from your logo and colour palette to your website’s layout – plays a crucial role in search rankings. A strong, consistent brand identity doesn’t just make your business look good; it also improves user experience, engagement, and credibility, all of which contribute to better SEO performance.

Branding for Startups: Building a Strong Foundation for Growth and Recognition

Starting a business is exciting, but it comes with plenty of challenges – one of the biggest being how to stand out in a crowded market. That’s where branding comes in. Your brand is the way people perceive your business, how they feel about it, and why they choose you over others. For startups, getting your branding right from the beginning can set the tone for growth and long-term success.

Building Brand Narratives: The Art of Visual Storytelling

We’ve all been drawn to a good story – whether it’s a book, a film, or just a personal experience. The same goes for your brand. When it comes to connecting with your audience, the best way to do it is through a compelling narrative. And while words can tell a story, visuals help make it memorable. Visual storytelling is about using images, colours, design, and videos to communicate your brand’s message in a way that feels real and engaging.

How to Incorporate Storytelling into Your Brand Strategy

Welcome to the world of brand strategy, where storytelling takes centre stage. In a crowded marketplace, capturing the attention and hearts of consumers is no easy task. That’s why incorporating storytelling into your brand strategy is a game-changer. It goes beyond selling products or services; it creates a profound emotional connection, leaving a lasting impact on your audience.

5 Reasons Why It’s Time For A Rebrand

It can be tough to know whether to hire a freelancer or an agency in Dubai, for your branding and/or graphic design needs.

With the likes of Fiverr and Upwork around, it’s never been easier to find a freelancer who can do the job for a fraction of the price.

But, your decision should certainly not be based on price alone. In fact, there’s a handful of considerations you need to take into account before making your final decision…

5 Reasons to choose a branding agency over a freelancer

It can be tough to know whether to hire a freelancer or an agency in Dubai for your branding and/or graphic design needs.
With the likes of Fiverr and Upwork around, it’s never been easier to find a freelancer who can do the job for a fraction of the price.
But your decision should certainly not be based on price alone. In fact, there’s a handful of considerations you need to take into account before making your final decision…

Social Media Manager Required

Things aren’t just hotting up in Dubai; our studio is on fire right now! We’re looking to bring in some additional graphic design support on some exciting new branding and design projects coming up over the coming months. The ideal candidate will have strong creative skills and a portfolio of work which demonstrates their passion for Graphic and Digital Design.

Contact us

Address: 262 European Business Centre, DIP, Dubai, UAE - Map

T: +971 58 598 9365 / +971 4 223 3714
E: [email protected]

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