Don't fall for the agency trap.

Rebrands make money because uncertainty sells well.

When founders lose direction, agencies swoop in with mood boards, mockups, and a promise of reinvention.

But a new logo can’t fix confusion.

Most rebrands waste money because no one asked the right questions first.

What’s actually broken? What are we trying to say? What problem does a new identity solve?

A good agency won’t start with design. It starts with diagnosis. Without that, you’re funding decoration instead of direction.

The truth is, if you can’t explain your brand in one sentence, a visual overhaul won’t save it.

Sit with:

Are we trying to design our way out of a leadership problem?

Has our agency challenged our strategy, or just our visuals?

Do we know what success looks like after the rebrand?

What would my brand look like without a single design file?

Want to fix what’s broken before you redesign it? Let’s talk

Ian Adams, Founder the little red sofa

Before founding the little red sofa, I led strategy and creative for brands like Jeep, HSBC, and Unilever at top global agencies and in-house teams across 8 countries. Now I work with founders to turn brand clarity into sustainable growth.