I make the complex clear, and the clear powerful.

Helping ambitious brands sharpen their story, voice, and position.

Brand strategy can feel like guesswork.
Slow. Abstract. Full of words that never get used again.

I do the opposite.

I simplify the complex and build a strategy that gets used — in the boardroom, at the pitch, and in the real world.

Here’s what that means in practice:

  • CEOs get a sharper story the whole business can rally around. 
  • Founders get focus, without losing what has made them different in the first place.
  • PE firms get positioning that builds real-world value (and stronger multiples).
  • Agencies get firepower that fuels better creative.
  • Marketing leads get language that lands and lasts.

The work is tight. The thinking is fast.
The outcomes? Clear. Actionable. Aligned.

No guesswork. No bloated decks.
Just the clarity your brand’s been missing.

Every client’s a partner.
Every brief is fresh.
Every challenge is an opportunity to build something better.

colin_downing

Colin Downing 

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Services

Brand Strategy

Brand Clarity

Brand Purpose

Brand Identity Design

Brand Audits

Brand & Product Naming

Brand Stories

Contact

Based in Auckland New Zealand, I work with brands throughout Australasia, The Pacific and Asia.

It all starts with a conversation. © Friction 2025