Our attention is pulled in more directions than ever, making breaking through the noise a challenge

Knowledge at Wharton

Episode Description

Wharton's Barbara Kahn and Elizabeth "Zab" Johnson authored "Visual Marketing: A Practical Guide to the Science of Branding & Retailing," to inform marketers of the consumer psychology needed to create strategic visuals that can reach target audiences. This clip is from the Ripple Effect podcast series "Meet the Authors"

EPISODE OVERVIEW Barbara Kahn and Elizabeth (Zab) Johnson explore the growing role of visual marketing and neuroscience in shaping brand identity and consumer behavior. They also discuss how visual elements—such as design, color, packaging, and digital presentation—affect attention, perception, and decision-making in retail and marketing environments. They explain how the shift to an omnichannel world has made consistent visual branding more important than ever, and how insights from neuroscience, including attention, fluency, and eye-tracking data, help marketers better understand what captures and holds consumer interest. The conversation outlines a framework for how visual features influence emotional response, brand recognition, and ultimately product choice across both physical and digital touch points.

PODCAST OVERVIEW Every day, business scholars answer pressing questions in their research - but what do their insights mean for you? In this podcast, Wharton faculty dive into what inspired their studies and how their findings resonate with the world today. Learn how research insights translate into knowledge you can use, with host Dan Loney.

Learn more at http://whr.tn/rippleeffect.

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Brief Summary

Attention spans aren't shrinking; engaging content is key.

Key points

  • The Myth of Shrinking Attention Spans. Despite popular belief, attention spans are not decreasing; we are just consuming content differently.
  • Key Principles of Visual Marketing. To succeed in visual marketing, capturing attention and ensuring fluency are essential.

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