Case Study
Scope: Brand language and tone of voice system for a European premium manufacturer
Europe (HQ), Global outreach
Brand Language & TOV
Clearer communication, consistent identity, stronger stakeholder engagement
The Challenge
A globally recognized premium brand—renowned for its precision engineering and long product lifecycles—faced a common challenge: while its machines consistently delivered excellence, its communication did not. Different departments, product lines, and regions spoke in fragmented voices. The brand risked sounding overly technical in some channels and too generic in others, missing opportunities to convey the inspiration and delight that its products bring into everyday life.
Complex, engineering-heavy texts overshadowed emotional resonance.
Each department had its own way of writing, leading to inconsistency.
Premium positioning was diluted by everyday, unremarkable language.
Global teams lacked a shared framework for storytelling and tone.
The Solution
Working with the lead agency’s team, I helped design a holistic brand language system to unify communication across all channels. Discovery workshops, stakeholder input, and practical exercises were used to identify pain points and build consensus around what premium communication means.
Four core principles for brand language were defined (storytelling, expressions, tonality, clarity).
Word landscapes were developed for different product areas, ensuring unique but consistent vocabulary.
A tone-of-voice modulator was introduced to tailor communication for different audiences and contexts.
Best practices were consolidated into a guideline that integrated existing style rules with new principles.
The Outcome
The result was a brand language system that mirrored the company’s product promise: precise, inspiring, and enduring. Every department gained a clear framework for writing—whether for marketing campaigns, customer care, or technical documentation.
Premium positioning reinforced through ownable, sophisticated wording.
Global teams empowered to adapt tone while staying true to brand principles.
Simplified communication improved customer understanding and engagement.
Stronger alignment between product excellence and brand storytelling.

