Gathers essential business context to inform all brand development work. Creates foundational understanding of business stage, goals, constraints, and existing assets. Activates Morgan the Strategic Brand Architect persona to guide the brand development process. Produces reusable context block for subsequent recipes.

Requirements
How To Start
- This recipe establishes the BRAND_PERSONA object that all Brand ID recipes reference. The default persona is Morgan (Strategic Brand Architect, Beginner Tier). Studio users may select an alternative persona tier or provide a custom persona. The persona object is stored in PROJECT_VARIABLES for persistence across recipes. After configuration, the persona activates and guides the user through comprehensive brand discovery using structured frameworks and priority matrices.
- Scan prompt for sensitive categories including platform capabilities, competitive intelligence gathering, and proprietary business information. If potential conflict detected, note that brand context may involve sensitive business information and keep it confidential.
- Collect the core required parameters: business name, business age, and industry sector. If current stage is not provided, infer it from business age: – pre-launch suggests concept or MVP – 0-3 months suggests beta or launched – 3-12 months suggests launched – 1+ years suggests growth Confirm the inference with the user. Review team size and existing brand assets if provided. Ask clarifying questions for any missing required information.
- Gather immediate goals for the next 1-3 months. Parse goals for urgency indicators, identify timeline pressure, and assess complexity. Categorize the priority as: – foundation-building – market-entry – growth-scaling Collect known constraints including time, budget, and resource limitations. For each constraint, identify strategic adaptations and workarounds.
- Based on business age and current stage, ask 2-3 targeted questions: – For concept/MVP: ask about value proposition validation and target launch date – For beta: ask about user targets and primary beta goals – For launched: ask about current brand performance and refresh needs – For growth: ask about growth metrics and brand evolution needs
- Review all gathered information for: – Logical consistency (stage matches age/goals) – Completeness (all critical info captured) – Clarity (no ambiguous statements) – Strategic alignment (goals match constraints) If inconsistencies detected, challenge constructively and ask for clarification. Provide a confidence assessment with percentage for context completeness.
- Generate structured context block containing: – Business identity (name, industry, age, stage) – Team and resources (team size, existing assets) – Goals and constraints (immediate goals, known constraints) – Strategic context (primary focus, key priorities, timeline pressure, confidence level) – Active persona ({PERSONA_NAME}, {PERSONA_TIER}) This block will be used as the starting point for all subsequent brand recipes.
- Create prioritized recipe roadmap based on the gathered context. Standard sequence is: 1. Target Audience Analyzer 2. Pain Point Identifier 3. Value Prop Crafter 4. Competitive Edge Definer 5. Elevator Pitch Builder 6. Brand Profile Synthesizer Adjust sequence based on context (pre-launch focuses on foundation, fundraising focuses on pitch, substantial assets start with competitive edge). Present priority matrix with rationale.
- Generate concise one-page reference card with stage, goal, team, focus area, active persona, and next steps. Provide readiness diagnostic with three categories: – Ready to address now (with confidence percentage) – Needs more information (with specific gaps) – Can be deferred (with rationale) List 2-3 priority actions for the next 48 hours.
- Provide summary of deliverables: – Session Context Block – Brand Development Roadmap – Quick Reference Card – Readiness Assessment – {PERSONA_NAME} activated as guide Confirm what has been established including context, strategy, framework, and confidence level. Provide final strategic guidance and ask if user is ready to proceed with the next recipe or wants to refine any aspects of the foundation first.
When to Use This Recipe
Recipe FAQ
It will ask clarifying questions for missing required
fields and can proceed with reasonable defaults or
inferences for optional fields. The context validation
step will flag any critical gaps. Q: Can I skip this recipe and go directly to other brand
recipes? A: While possible, it is not recommended. This recipe
creates the context block that all subsequent recipes
reference. Without it, other recipes will ask many of
the same questions, reducing efficiency. Consider this
recipe as creating your brand configuration file. Q: How long does this recipe typically take? A: For a straightforward business with clear goals, expect
15-25 minutes of interactive conversation. Complex
situations with multiple stakeholders or unclear
direction may take longer. The recipe adapts to your
pace and complexity. Q: Can I use a different persona than the default? A: Yes. Studio users are offered a choice of persona tiers
(Beginner, Advanced, Expert) or can attach a custom
persona file. Express and Foundations users receive
the default Morgan (Beginner Tier) persona, which
provides educational guidance appropriate for those
new to brand development. Example 1: Fine Dining Restaurant (Pre-Launch) Parameters:
– business_name: Terra and Olive
– business_age: pre-launch
– industry_sector: Fine Dining / Hospitality
– current_stage: concept
– team_size: 2-5
– existing_brand_assets: Restaurant name, Location
secured, Menu concept
– immediate_goals: Open in 3 months, build local
reputation before launch
– known_constraints: Limited marketing budget,
Competitive fine dining market Output: Context block emphasizing foundation-building,
roadmap prioritizing Target Audience, Pain Point
Identifier (understanding diner frustrations), and
Value Prop Crafter. Assessment flags need to define
unique positioning in competitive restaurant market.
{PERSONA_NAME} activated at Beginner tier for
educational guidance. Strategic Analysis: Pre-launch with moderate timeline.
Foundation and positioning critical for restaurant
success. Confidence 85% this approach will establish
strong brand identity before opening. Example 2: Environmental Consulting (Beta Stage) Parameters:
– business_name: GreenPath Solutions
– business_age: 0-3 months
– industry_sector: Environmental Consulting
– current_stage: beta
– team_size: solo
– existing_brand_assets: Logo draft, Website
wireframes, Service descriptions
– immediate_goals: Launch beta Q1, build initial
client base of 25 businesses
– known_constraints: Part-time availability, Solo
founder, Pre-revenue Output: Context block showing solid initial foundation
but needs strategic brand positioning. Roadmap
prioritizes Target Audience, Pain Point Identifier,
and Competitive Edge recipes (understanding audience
pain points and differentiation critical for B2B
consulting). Assessment shows ready for full brand
development with client acquisition focus.
{PERSONA_NAME} guides with structured frameworks. Strategic Analysis: Solid technical foundation, needs
strategic brand layer. B2B consulting requires clear
audience understanding. Confidence 90% given existing
assets and clear goals. Example 3: Growth-Stage Analytics Company Parameters:
– business_name: DataFlow Analytics
– business_age: 1+ years
– industry_sector: Data Analytics B2B
– current_stage: growth
– team_size: 11-25
– existing_brand_assets: Full brand guidelines,
Logo family, Website, Marketing collateral
– immediate_goals: Expand into enterprise market,
reposition brand upmarket
– known_constraints: Must maintain existing
customer perception, Limited rebrand budget Output: Context block showing evolution need rather
than creation. Roadmap suggests Competitive Edge
Definer first (redefine competitive edge for
enterprise), then Value Prop Crafter (refine value
prop), then Brand Profile Synthesizer (update brand
profile). Assessment flags need to audit existing
assets against new positioning. Strategic Analysis: Brand evolution, not revolution.
Existing customers are assets to protect. Strategic
repositioning upmarket requires careful competitive
analysis first. Confidence 80% as complexity is higher
but foundation strength compensates.
