Design Talks is a Faculty of Arts and Architecture lecture series organized by the Design Research Institute.
BJ Cunningham the serial entrepreneur and council member of Business Superbrands shows how authentic branding is vital to build and retain customer loyalty. BJ's presentations focus on his belief that companies are like people. Each one of us is made up of three separate perspectives: how we perceive ourselves, how others perceive us and how we want to be perceived. To put it another way, any business must know what it stands for, say it with clarity and do what it says.
Whilst a teenager BJ Cunningham started his first enterprise, importing classic cars and Harley Davidsons from LA to London. This stopped abruptly when the market collapsed! Taking his considerable debt with him, BJ's next move was to launch DEATH Cigarettes - positioned as 'the honest smoke'. He gained such a foothold that the company found itself taking on the combined might of the industry. With a growing reputation for challenging norms, BJ set up a brand marketing agency with clients including Volkswagen, B&Q and Nokia. Having sold the agency, he is currently developing the luxury shoe designer Georgina Goodman.
Design Research Institute, Director Professor Maxine Naylor.
