Creative

    8D Audio Experiment

    Crafting Immersive Storytelling for Relaxation

     1024 574 Michael Kraabel

    Binaural and 8D audio aren’t new. They’ve been floating around in the ASMR and lo-fi music worlds for years, usually with labels like “brain-tingling” or “mind-melting.” But I’m not here for gimmicks. I’m here to see if immersive audio can take storytelling beyond words—beyond just listening—to something that surrounds you. Why Mess With This? Because…

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    The Birth of Catiki Originals

     1024 574 Michael Kraabel

    It all started with an idea that combined two of my passions: creative experimentation and Tiki art. I’ve always believed that you don’t wait for the right opportunity—you create it. That’s how Catiki Originals was born. I wanted to build a fun, playful creative platform where I could test the latest AI tools and see…

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    The Manifesto Poster Series

     1024 751 Michael Kraabel

    At Brand Voyagers, I’m diving headfirst into a unique blend of science, creativity, and, well, a few passion projects that I probably shouldn’t be spending too much time on—but they’re just too fun to resist. This work has become a fascinating journey, one that’s pushing the boundaries of traditional branding and marketing in ways I…

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    Exploring Visual AI Platforms

     1024 576 Michael Kraabel

    Visual AI platforms have revolutionized the way we create and interpret art. To showcase their capabilities, we’re comparing some of the leading platforms by using a universally recognized painting as our base: Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” This experiment was run on June 6, 2024. Background on The Last Supper Leonardo da Vinci’s “The…

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    Voyager Brand Value Model Exploration

     1024 683 Michael Kraabel

    It’s time for us to move beyond the purpose-driven “why” framework and other brand models that focus exclusively on the customer in a static state. A new approach, focusing on “who” the customer becomes through engaging with the brand, emphasizing their aspirational identity and transformational journey, should be explored. This model shifts the focus from…

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    Creative Collaboration With Generative AI – Part One

     1024 574 Michael Kraabel

    Even though I’ve spent most of my professional career developing some pretty advanced digital marketing campaigns, I admit that I am somewhat of a Luddite.  This goes back quite a while, I’m afraid to admit.  I remember when USB 1.0 came out and threatened to replace the precious serial ports on my computer.  I thought…

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    Artificial Intelligence (AI) vs. Human Intelligence (HI) in Creative

     1024 574 Michael Kraabel

    My initial stance was to be highly skeptical of using artificial intelligence (AI) in branding and marketing. The very idea of AI weaving its way into a space so profoundly reliant on human insight, emotion, and connection seemed, for lack of a better word, apocalyptic.  After all, the creative industry typically thrives on nuances I…

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    The Future of Fractional Creative Leadership

     1024 574 Michael Kraabel

    Over the past couple of years, I have witnessed the rise of a trend: the emergence of fractional marketing executives as the norm rather than the exception. These seasoned professionals offer their expertise to companies on a part-time or project basis, providing strategic leadership without the full-time commitment. This model has gained traction across various…

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    The Strategic Advantage of an In-House Production Studio

     1024 576 Michael Kraabel

    In a marketing world that demands real-time responses to customer demands and sometimes urgent crisis responses, having an in-house production studio is a luxury and a strategic asset. Having some form of -in-house production space offers a blend of efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and creative flexibility that is invaluable for businesses seeking to produce high-quality photo and…

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    Visual Storytelling: Four Dimensions of Brand Engagement

     1024 576 Michael Kraabel

    I love visualizing process. I know this is an odd affinity, but I’ve come to accept that not everyone has a visual brain.  Or rather, not everyone can visualize the chaotic maze of ideas that stream through the mind of creative person. For thousands of years the world was believed to be flat and to…

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