Weekly Intelligence Scan | March 30, 2026 | Issue 004 Consumer trust in 2026 is operating on a new logic: proof, not promise. Research across Salsify, Attest, McKinsey, and Edelman converges on a single structural shift. After years of purpose-driven positioning, values-led campaigns, and AI-accelerated content production, audiences have recalibrated. They are no longer moved by what a brand claims to be. They are moved by what a brand can demonstrate it is. The brands that

The 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer documents a new trust crisis: insularity. Seven in ten people globally distrust those with different values. RDLB's R* Briefing Issue 003 analyzes what this means for brand trust strategy 2026—why broadcast is failing, how community credibility compounds, and why the creator mechanism now matters more than reach.

Autonomous AI agents now research, compare, and shortlist brands before a human ever loads a page. RDLB's R* Briefing Issue 002 covers AI agents brand strategy: why machine legibility is the new brand architecture, the 30-point trust expectation gap, and what brands must do to remain chosen in an agentic commerce environment.

This week's R* Briefing covers three brand architecture moves driven by commercial reality, not creative whim. Burger King retired the King mascot and launched a honesty-first platform backed by its $700M Reclaim the Flame overhaul. Sprite rebuilt its global platform around cultural credibility in hip-hop and youth culture. Unilever scaled its creator network to 300K to support Hellmann's and Knorr. Plus: WPP signals another holding company restructuring. RDLB's take on why b

Master brand identity essentials to elevate your business. This guide covers five brand identity building blocks: logo design, color palette, typography, imagery, and brand voice. Includes RDLB's 7-step brand identity process—audit, define core values, develop visual elements, craft brand voice, create guidelines, implement across channels, and monitor. Plus: how brand identity development services accelerate results and how to leave a lasting brand legacy.

A brand audit is more than a routine checkup. It’s a deep dive into your brand’s soul, revealing strengths, weaknesses, and untapped opportunities. When done right, it transforms your brand from a mere name into a legacy. Let’s explore how leveraging brand audit services can elevate your brand’s performance and secure its place at the pinnacle of your industry.

Brand guidelines essentials provide the framework to achieve this. They define how your brand looks, sounds, and behaves across all platforms and mediums. Think about a multinational company expanding into new markets. Without clear standards, local teams might interpret the brand differently, diluting its impact. With robust guidelines, every piece of communication, from a website banner to a corporate report, aligns perfectly with the brand’s core values and visual identity

A dive on current philosophies passing down generations to understand how companies can adopt them to further their vision.

Open AI's Scramble to Piece Back Together Their Company; X's Advertising Woes; Nike's New CMO

Six out of Ten Americans will be celebrating Friendsgiving in 2023; Big Lots’ Bet on Bargains; & Three Design Trends to be Aware of.

SKIMS partners with the NBA; 3 Strategies for Leaders to Prepare for Recession; & The Future of Social Commerce.

Bud Light Competes with Modelo for the UFC; Analyzing 2023 Holiday Spending; Breakdown on CEO & CMO relationships Misalignments.

2024 Paris Olympics, Amazon's alliance, and Taylor Swift's box office triumph – all in Week In Review! 🔥

Amazon unveils new features as it obscures old ones; Tinder and Peacock partner to help couples get lucky on Halloween; X is on the hunt...

To start off, let’s recap the most noteworthy celebrity of 2023, Taylor Swift. We got duped… Oladupé. ready for the holidays? Target, Disney