Can They Brand That?

About Can They Brand That?

BRANDING FANS….it's time for the brainstorming game the professional sports world isn't ready for. Witness history in the making as two elite, creative athletes play their hearts and brains out against their worthy opponent: a notable brand & a blank whiteboard. The clock is ticking, the pressure is on, and only one question remains: Can They Brand That? So get on your feet as they think on theirs, and let's hear it for the home team: Semiserious founders, Allie LeFevere and Lyndsay Rush

Publisher

Allie LeFevere & Lyndsay Sanders

Category

business · comedy

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

20 Apr 2021

Latest episode

5 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

63 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Aug 2026

   Chip Dust & Lefty Lucy: Two Fake Brands Get Very Real Labels | Packaging Design Reveal | Semiserious Agency

   In today's episode of 'Can They Brand That?' we're tagging in our designer! He visually brought to life 2 fake brands we whipped up on our show and is revealing them to us for the first time! Join us in the comments as we see the design reveals for Chip Dust (snack innovation) and Lefty Lucy (a new, sexy WD-40 competitor) for the first time! A follow-up to the original live-streamed ideation session, this episode features Semiserious Agency's lead designer revealing the brand identity—including hand-drawn package labels, colors, typography, patterns, iconography, and staged mockups—to the Semiserious founders. You can expect to see a ton of laughter and a genius design strategy that brings to life the ridiculous original concept. Join us every Wednesday @ 12p CT for a new one, btw!!!! Hosted by: Allie LeFevere and Lyndsay Rush Sanders — Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Can They Brand That? and today's brand design reveals: Chip Dust & Lefty Lucy 07:02 Industry Critique: The Chicago airport billboard ad campaigns using AI-generated slogan copy 15:25 Design Reveal for Chip Dust (brand identity, logo, mascot, label, illustration, brand lore, storytelling, patterns, typographic lockups, and other hilarious branding details) 44:02 Design Reveal for Lefty Lucy (brand identity, logo, mascot, label, illustration, brand lore, storytelling, patterns, typographic lockups, and other hilarious branding details) 01:07:48 Branding Game: Fund, Marry, Kill Key Branding Ideas from This Episode: The power of visual storytelling emerges when brands embrace exaggerated, playful aesthetics. Bold, unconventional visuals can transform mundane or seemingly absurd ideas into memorable, impactful brands that stand out on the shelf. Adopting a fearless approach to design and branding unlocks deeper consumer engagement and shifts perception from utilitarian to desirable. Rhyme and jingle are subconscious tools that reveal a brand's personality and influence consumer recall. When brands lean into rhymes or musical elements, they tap into cognitive shortcuts that make products more sticky and seem more approachable. The most successful brands reframe waste or throwaway materials into premium, playful products through a shift in narrative. Creative constraints fuel innovation by forcing brands to find new relationships between ideas and visuals. Limiting parameters, like time, scope, or product categories, push brands into more inventive solutions that often lead to more compelling, refined identities. Constraints are not limitations but catalysts for ingenuity, enabling brands to surprise and delight within boundaries that foster clarity and focus. Nostalgia combined with irreverence unlocks emotional connection and cultural relevance. Nostalgia acts as a shortcut for familiarity, but when paired with humor and subversion, it enhances longevity and social currency. The act of creating and sharing visual identities is a collective ritual that enhances brand ownership and enthusiasm. Participatory design and viral-like sharing, like revealing concepts live or engaging audiences with brand ideas, build a sense of community and co-creation. Keeping a flexible, iterative mindset allows brands to evolve organically without losing core identity. Building in space for iteration and multiple visual directions prevents premature closure on ideas and nurtures innovation. — Semiserious is a female-founded humor branding agency for CPG brands. Their sweet spot is working with founder-led or venture-backed DTC startups to build brands using comedy as a core strategy to help brands stand out in a crowded market. Their roster includes industry darlings like Clif Bar, Native, Blue Bunny, Waterboy, Pie, Argent, JOI, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Yogi Tea, Choice Organics, GEN Z, The University of Chicago, Alleyoop, Better Than Booze, Backwoods, Bad Rabbit, U Suck at Golf, Hobbyist, and the Dallas Cowboys, but they would never brag about it in their bio. This funny branding agency has offices in Chicago and Nashville, but works with clients globally. Say hi or snoop around: 🔔 Subscribe for weekly branding brainstorms → https://www.youtube.com/@semiseriousagency 📺 Watch the full Can They Brand That? show series → https://bit.ly/can-they-brand-that-playlist 🌐 Work with Semiserious: https://semiseriousagency.com ICYMI, this show exists 1) to champion originality and creativity in a sea of AI slop, 2) to show potential clients the power and value of fun as a consumer-converting strategy, and 3) to bring some much-needed levity into the world where we can. #HumorBranding #HardwareBrandStrategy #BrandReveal #PackageDesign #CPGBranding #FunnyBrands #BrandIdentity #SnackBrand #FoodBrandMarketing #SemiseriousAgency

2. 

   27 Jul 2026

   Branding Savory Popsicles: Can Comedy Disrupt the Frozen Food Aisle? | Humor Marketing for CPG Brands | Semiserious Agency

   Savory popsicles: the product no one asked for, the brand nobody has built yet…until now. In this episode of Can They Brand That?, Semiserious Agency founders Allie LeFevere and Lyndsay Rush Sanders take on a fake dessert brand (yes, savory) and build the whole thing live: name, tagline, brand positioning, voice, visual identity direction, packaging concepts, and ad campaign ideas with just 20 minutes on the clock. No prep. No script. No rules, just right. Play along in the comments—we want to see your ideas! Tune in every Wednesday at 12p CT for a new episode. — Timestamps: 00:00 Intro, Show Rundown, Founder Banter, and Discussing Today's Branding Challenge: Can They Brand Savory Popsicles? 11:42 Industry Critique: Brainstorming better branding ideas for "The Great Food Truck Tour" by Graza X The Food Network 16:45 The Brainstorm Begins! 17:35 Building a Savory Popsicle Brand From Scratch: Discussing Target Audience and Brand Positioning, Ideating a Brand Identity, Brand Names, Taglines, Brand Voice, Logo, Messaging, Product Design, Visual Identity, Funny Campaigns, Stunts, Activations, and Marketing Strategies for a Weird Food Innovation 44:19 Mascot O'Clock [Funny Mascot Ideas] 49:48 Funded or Done-ded [Would this idea get funded? Should someone hire us to actually brand it?] Key Branding Ideas from This Episode: Innovations in branding often come from embracing the absurd; by owning something unappealing, you can reframe it as unique and marketable. This approach allows for bold branding that stands out and creates viral potential. The power of a phrase lies in its cultural and emotional resonance. Using familiar language embeds a product into social rituals, making it memorable and appealing. Creating a visual or conceptual mythology, like a mascot or origin story, amplifies a product's personality and engages consumers on a deeper level. Mental barriers often prevent the launch of bizarre ideas. Reframing taboos as brand assets unlocks innovative strategies and differentiators. Fully owning an unconventional concept integrates it into a cultural proposition, creating trust and authenticity. Surprising tactics can turn a joke product into an immersive experience, elevating it beyond novelty. Using cultural trends or regional identities can create exclusivity and loyalty, turning absurd products into local legends. — Semiserious is a female-founded humor branding agency for CPG brands. Their sweet spot is working with founder-led or venture-backed DTC startups to build brands using comedy as a core strategy to help brands stand out in a crowded market. Their roster includes industry darlings like Clif Bar, Native, Blue Bunny, Waterboy, Pie, Argent, JOI, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Yogi Tea, Choice Organics, GEN Z, The University of Chicago, Alleyoop, Better Than Booze, Backwoods, Bad Rabbit, U Suck at Golf, Hobbyist, and the Dallas Cowboys, but they would never brag about it in their bio. This funny branding agency has offices in Chicago and Nashville, but works with clients globally. Say hi or snoop around: 🔔 Subscribe for weekly branding brainstorms → https://www.youtube.com/@semiseriousagency 📺 Watch the full Can They Brand That? show series → https://bit.ly/can-they-brand-that-playlist 🌐 Work with Semiserious: https://semiseriousagency.com ICYMI, this show exists 1) to champion originality and creativity in a sea of AI slop, 2) to show potential clients the power and value of fun as a consumer-converting strategy, and 3) to bring some much-needed levity into the world where we can. #HumorBranding #FoodBranding #BrandNaming #BrandSprint #CPGMarketing #FunnyBrands #BrandIdentity #WeirdFood #BrandStrategy #SemiseriousAgency #PopsicleBrand

3. 

   23 Jul 2026

   Hot Dog Water Vodka Brand Reveal: Boozehound Gets a Real & Funny Label Design | Semiserious Agency

   Flavored vodka is nothing new, but what if a brand stole market share by innovating in a way that no one asked for (but perhaps cannot resist)? Meet Boozehound: hot dog water vodka. In this episode of Can They Brand That?, three branding pros reveal the real brand identity (complete with full design) for one of the most absurd alcohol products imaginable. A follow-up to the original live-streamed ideation session, this episode features Semiserious Agency's lead designer revealing the brand identity—including a hand-drawn bottle label, colors, typography, patterns, iconography, and staged mockups—to the Semiserious founders. You can expect to see a ton of laughter and a genius design strategy that brings to life the ridiculous original concept to the point that you may find yourself craving a Weenie Tini or Bloodhound Mary made with hot dog water vodka. Join us every Wednesday @ 12p CT for a new one, btw!!!! Hosted by: Allie LeFevere and Lyndsay Rush Sanders — Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Can They Brand That? and today's brand design reveal: Boozehound 08:55 Reviewing 3 current Semiserious client projects: FU Sun suncare, Bad Rabbit snacks, and Hobbyist (Fad Ass) skincare 24:39 Design Reveal for Boozehound (brand identity, logo, mascot, label, illustration, brand lore, storytelling, patterns, typographic lockups, and other hilarious branding details) + a new game for fake brands: Fund, Marry, Kill 45:50 Funny future branding ideas and product/flavor extensions for Boozehound Key Branding Ideas from This Episode: Trust is a fragile but powerful principle in branding and collaboration that allows for open access and experimentation, leading to innovation and deeper connections, thus fostering environments where creativity and risk-taking are safe. Imposing constraints unlocks creative potential and rapid innovation since tight boundaries force clarity and spark inventive solutions, preventing overthinking and focusing on core brand identity. Embracing absurdity and humor is a strategic asset because humor and wild thinking differentiate brands, create memorable experiences, and transform advertising into engaging experiences. Critical boundary-setting with clients enhances creative clarity; that's why you should define explicit rules to keep creative efforts focused, preserving energy for promising ideas and fostering a disciplined environment. The power of playful mastery in visual storytelling combines technical skill with playful thinking results in surprising and cohesive visuals that elevate brand personality. Humor simplifies complex ideas, positioning brands as approachable and daring, reducing perceived risks. Visual consistency can be a storytelling tool for absurd brands. E.g., Repeating motifs establish visual consistency, grounding wild concepts and creating coherent brand universes. — Semiserious is a female-founded humor branding agency for CPG brands. Their sweet spot is working with founder-led or venture-backed DTC startups to build brands using comedy as a core strategy to help brands stand out in a crowded market. Their roster includes industry darlings like Clif Bar, Native, Blue Bunny, Waterboy, Pie, Argent, JOI, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Yogi Tea, Choice Organics, GEN Z, The University of Chicago, Alleyoop, Better Than Booze, Backwoods, Bad Rabbit, U Suck at Golf, Hobbyist, and the Dallas Cowboys, but they would never brag about it in their bio. This funny branding agency has offices in Chicago and Nashville, but works with clients globally. Say hi or snoop around: 🔔 Subscribe for weekly branding brainstorms → https://www.youtube.com/@semiseriousagency 📺 Watch the full Can They Brand That? show series → https://bit.ly/can-they-brand-that-playlist 🌐 Work with Semiserious: https://semiseriousagency.com ICYMI, this show exists 1) to champion originality and creativity in a sea of AI slop, 2) to show potential clients the power and value of fun as a consumer-converting strategy, and 3) to bring some much-needed levity into the world where we can. #HumorBranding #AlcoholBranding #BrandReveal #PackageDesign #CPGBranding #FunnyBrands #BrandIdentity #VodkaBrand #AlcoholMarketing #SemiseriousAgency

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