Place Branding Examples

Mia Kemppaala, founder of Polar Bear Pitching in the city of Oulu in Finland's north, tells us how the event came all about, why Polar Bear Pitching has become so important for the city and why it is important to sometimes take a jump into the cold water, embracing the unknown.

Peter Kentie on how the Dutch city of Eindhoven is using city branding strategies for its economic development as hotspot for high tech and design, and how it is contributing to stronger community self-esteem.

Natasha Grand of INSTID illustrates how her team helped to create a new visual identity for the "tough" city of Irkutsk in Siberia, Russia.

Natasha Grand, INSTID, tells the story how Lipetsk, a region in southern Russia, (re)discovered its identity and turned it into a place branding strategy.

Peter Kentie tells us how he came up with the Just ESTonishing nation branding concept for the country of Estonia in Eastern Europe, why he dedicated his time and energy to this pro bono initiative and how it has paid off for him nevertheless.

Rinske Brand and Rozemarijn Stam reflect on the current state of city image and city branding in Sofia, Bulgaria, and discuss how placemaking initiatives could help Sofia live up to its full potential as city.