The Analog Revival: Why Smart Brands Are Adding Friction On Purpose (with Ed Hayes)

Ed Hayes has spent 20+ years designing brands, and he's watching something flip. While the rest of the world races toward frictionless, AI-streamlined everything, the smartest brands are doing the opposite. They're adding friction on purpose.Chelsey and Ed get into the analog revival happening across categories: Birkenstocks, Le Labo, A24, and a taco shop in NYC that refuses to translate its menu. They cover why brand architecture is being designed to slow people down, how friction is becoming a premium signal, and whether "brand" even survives once AI takes over the shopping experience.If you're a growth or brand leader trying to figure out where the puck is going, this one is full of examples you'll keep thinking about.Follow Ed on LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-hayes-8846a5232/Check out Bloom's projects here:  https://www.bloom-london.com/Follow the show and subscribe so you never miss an episode!Growth Department slows the conversation down so founders and business leaders can go further, faster.If this episode helped you think differently, follow the show and share it with someone building alongside you.