In this episode of The Vignette Effect, brand coach Raquel Furman shares her 2026 brand and marketing predictions, focusing on clarity, intention, and human-centered brand building. She explores why thoughtful brand experiences will outperform flashy tactics, how AI is best used as a support tool rather than a creative voice, and why brands are becoming more selective about platforms. Raquel also explains how brand clarity and visual storytelling will become major competitive advantages, why trend authority is losing power, and how smaller, more intentional brands rooted in community will thrive in the coming year.
I’m sharing my 2026 brand and marketing predictions, not from a place of hype or trend-forecasting for the sake of it, but from what I’m seeing actually working with real brands right now.
What’s emerging is quieter, more intentional, and honestly, more hopeful.
In this conversation, I walk through why the brands that will thrive in 2026 won’t necessarily be the loudest, the biggest, or the most visible everywhere. They’ll be the ones with clarity. A point of view. And a brand experience that feels human and considered over time.
Here’s what I cover:
Why authentic, thoughtfully designed brand experiences matter more than flashy campaigns
How AI can support your work without replacing your voice, taste, or perspective
Why being selective about platforms is a smart, strategic move, not a limitation
How brand clarity becomes a serious competitive advantage when things shift
Why visual storytelling does so much of the heavy lifting before a single word is read
How trends are losing their authority, and why trusting your instincts matters more
What the shift away from hustle culture means for building real communities, not just audiences
When you step back, all of these predictions point to the same thing:
Less noise. More intention. More humanity.
If this episode resonated, it’s probably because you’re already sensing this shift and craving it in your own brand. If your messaging, visuals, or direction feel scattered or heavier than they need to be, I’d love to have a conversation.
You can book a no-pressure discovery call through the link in the show notes. We’ll talk through where you are, what you’re building, and whether working together makes sense.
And truly, thank you for being here and for being part of this community. These conversations mean more to me than you know.
Book your Discovery call here: https://calendly.com/raquel-vignettebrandstudio/discovery