The Meaning of Branded Objects: Why Some Things Matter More Than Others (SVA Masters in Branding)

Price: $24.23
(as of Dec 12, 2025 04:24:02 UTC – Details)

Explore the psychological principles behind why people form emotional attachments to branded products.

In The Meaning of Branded Objects, psychologist, professor, and branding expert Dr. Tom Guarriello reveals the powerful ways that brands shape the meaning of everyday objects, influencing consumer behavior and contributing to personal identity. Through a mix of academic insights and real-world examples, discover how brands create emotional resonance by leveraging symbolism, storytelling, and design. Dr. Guarriello examines both luxury items and everyday essentials, analyzing how branding impacts our relationships with objects and the cultural significance these items hold. 

Inside, you will find:

Explorations of brand attachment psychology: Insights into how consumers develop emotional connections to branded objects.Accessible breakdown of complex ideas: Written in a way that’s engaging and understandable for professionals and curious readers alike.Discussions on personal and cultural identity: How brands influence our individual sense of self and broader social trends.
Wide-ranging yet succinct, this book is essential for branding professionals, marketers, and anyone curious about the psychology of consumerism, offering the tools to understand and harness the power of branded objects in today’s marketplace.

With The Meaning of Branded Objects, gain a deeper understanding of the objects that shape our lives and the powerful role branding plays in modern culture.

The School of Visual Arts (SVA) Masters in Branding book series offers an insightful and accessible exploration of branding as both an art and a science, highlighting the multidisciplinary approach that defines the program. This series brings together the insights and expertise of leading practitioners, scholars, and students in the field of branding, providing a comprehensive overview of the latest theories, strategies, and practices. 

Each book in the series focuses on a unique aspect of branding, from cultural and social influences to technological advancements and market trends, reflecting the innovative spirit of the SVA’s Masters in Branding program. By showcasing a diverse range of perspectives and case studies, the series aims to inspire readers to think critically and creatively about the role of branding in shaping consumer perceptions and experiences.

Also available from the series: A History of Brands and Brands in the Age of AI.

From the Publisher

Meaning: Purposefully Being “Me in the World”

Where does “meaning” come from? We’ve seen that meaning is an interpretation of something that is not directly expressed. What accounts for the similarities and variances in interpretation? To answer this, we need to understand how meaning is produced and interpreted, the architecture of meaning creation.

Meaning: A Complex System

Meaning is the product of an intertwined, modular, hierarchical neuro-socio- psycho-logical system, which I call the “meaning stack.” As a meaning-generating system, we will never find the meaning of any lived experience generated exclusively in any single component. As with any system, changes in any of the levels can affect the operations of all other levels.

A Brief History of Our Relationships with Objects and Brands

Here, let us trace the history of the importance of brands in culture and their growing impact/influence on individuals. 20th century psychological insights provided a foundation for brands to use to make connections between objects and the customer’s personal and social identity. As technology became more sophisticated, brands used new tools to become increasingly able to persuade customers of the importance of acquiring branded objects. These connections are the foundation of the explosive growth of brands into the 21st century.

Brands and the Escalating Battle for Your Attention

Ads are now part of the ongoing stream of stimulation we accept as normal life. And, if 85 percent of the ads in your environment don’t reach your “attention threshold,” that means that 15 percent do. What can we learn about the things that reach our personal attention threshold and become part of our memory? How can we use what we learn to become more purposeful in shaping our relationships with brands and their objects?

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Origins of Consumer Markets Revolutionize your brand with the transformative power of AI. Why Some Things Matter More Than Others

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rockport Publishers
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 14, 2025
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 160 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0760395195
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0760395196
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.08 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.12 x 0.7 x 9.29 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #585,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #88 in Branding & Logo Design #148 in Market Research Business (Books) #282 in Marketing & Consumer Behavior