How to make your brand more visually attractive to the youth sector

As Nelson Mandela said “the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow”, but is your brand ready for them? While most of us know that making brands more appealing to the youth sector is essential, keeping up with the latest trends and crafting content which resonates with young people can sometimes feel like an impossible task. 

As a design agency that loves working with the youth sector, we’ve got a unique insight into what makes today’s youngsters tick. And it’s not just about visuals. To Gen Z, honesty and positivity are just as important as your branding. 

So let’s explore the top three nooh ways to craft your brand into one which the youth sector can’t get enough of. 

1 - Attract Attention

Modern life is busy for everyone and that includes today’s youth. Thanks to smartphones, teens are now balancing work and studying with their 24/7 social lives. It’s no surprise then that you have less time than ever before to catch their attention - according to recent research, just 3 seconds. Couple dwindling attention spans with constant notifications and countless brands, and it can be a challenge to create branding that catches young people’s eyes.

With constant phone notifications and mounting life pressures, attracting attention fast is key.

So, how do you attract attention quickly? 

To draw Gen Z in, we recommend using a wide range of marketing tools with clear and clean branding. From Facebook Live videos to bold Instagram posts and even Twitch streams, make sure you’re leveraging platforms where the youth of today are frequently found. Ensuring that your brand is showing up on them in a high quality way which oozes both creativity and clarity. 

Break through “doom scrolling” with to the point messaging done in a self aware way. Colours that reflect your company, wording in the right tone for your market and relevant imagery will all help your brand to reach (and crucially, connect with) the youth sector.

Not sure where to begin? We’ve got your back. Our nooh way of thinking supports brands to tell their story and build community across the youth sector. Get in touch with us today to begin your storytelling journey.

2 - Show Positivity

Positivity, hope and trust. Three things that are incredibly important for the next generation, who are sick of being shown their own failure, fear and future despair. Today’s youth are often overwhelmed with negativity - blamed for the failings of a working world they’re just entering and presented with fear-mongering articles like this one. All the while being labelled snowflakes. 

Here at nooh Studio, we don’t just believe it, we know that Gen Z is far from doom and gloom. Which is why, like you, we want to work with more young people!

One of the easiest ways to make your brand more appealing to young adults is by treating them like, well… young adults. You don’t need to over-simplify, patronise or hop on the latest TikTok dances to attract today’s youth. 

Many brands forget that young people are also humans. Humans who want to be treated with respect and autonomy. So make sure your branding and language reflects that. Be inclusive, respectful and positive and you’ll be sure to appeal to the youth sector.  

3 - Be Consistent

Today’s youth have grown up in the technological age, with Gen Z being the first generation to be fully IT literate. That means they’ve seen it all before, all across the world. So in order to connect with them, your brand must be consistent and easily identifiable.

Being bold, standing out from the crowd and staying true to your brand values will go a long way.

Not only will being consistent with your social media content boost your brand's visibility, but it will support your reputation, recognition and identity. Remember, the key is to create a brand which stands out while scrolling through the sea of content on social media (see point 1 on attracting attention!). 

Doing this will help your brand to build a community through instant recognition of your offering and values. An excellent example of this is McDonald’s. Did the very word conjure images of golden arches? Then the McDonald's marketing team has already worked its magic!

It’s about more than being consistent with your posting schedule. You must be consistent with your message and values.

As conscious consumers who care about where they spend their money, the youth of today see straight through poor marketing practices. And they’re unafraid to change to a new supplier who is more aligned with their values. So to build true loyalty with them, you must use your branding to show that you’re trustworthy.

The changes that we want to see in the world all come down to encouraging and empowering the next generation; they’re the ones who will change it, so make sure your brand is ready for them. If you’re interested in seeing how Gen Z are already shaping how brands tell stories, check out our previous blog post.

Ready to put what you’ve just read into practice? We support brands just like yours to create designs with the youth sector in mind. Helping you to reach more young people through our nooh approach to brand storytelling based on co-design. Get in touch today to discover a nooh way of thinking and receive tailored advice.