Metaphor Beyond Branding: From the Perspective of Cultural Semiotic

Metaphors can help brands tell compelling stories about their products and values, but they also can create false associations between a product and unrelated concepts. Thus, the study explores the role of cultural values and beliefs in shaping the use of metaphors in Malaysian food product brandin...

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Main Authors: Mohd Fauzi Harun, Khairol Ezedy Abd Rahman, Ida Puteri Mahsan, Muliyati Mat Alim, Nik Narimah Nik Abdullah, Fareez Vincent Amos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: UiTM Press 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of International Business, Economics and Entrepreneurship
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journal.uitm.edu.my/ojs/index.php/JIBE/article/view/3529
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author Mohd Fauzi Harun
Khairol Ezedy Abd Rahman
Ida Puteri Mahsan
Muliyati Mat Alim
Nik Narimah Nik Abdullah
Fareez Vincent Amos
author_facet Mohd Fauzi Harun
Khairol Ezedy Abd Rahman
Ida Puteri Mahsan
Muliyati Mat Alim
Nik Narimah Nik Abdullah
Fareez Vincent Amos
author_sort Mohd Fauzi Harun
collection DOAJ
description Metaphors can help brands tell compelling stories about their products and values, but they also can create false associations between a product and unrelated concepts. Thus, the study explores the role of cultural values and beliefs in shaping the use of metaphors in Malaysian food product branding. A semiotic analysis is run on five food packaging designs to understand the symbolic meanings encoded to uncover the hidden meanings and associations that influence consumer perceptions and behaviors. Data analysis involves a systematic process of identifying, analyzing, and interpreting signs, and symbols to uncover their underlying meanings and significance. Findings showed that brand elements closely related to a specific cultural attribute can be a complicated topic because they can also be manipulative for branding or marketing purposes. The existence of metaphor in multiple brand elements enhances the brand's image and appeal by evoking positive emotions, aspirations, or associations. This study contributes to the conceptualization of the relationship between visual metaphor and brand relationship in the field of visual communication. Thus, it helps marketers create effective brand positioning that resonates with consumers' relevant cultural symbols and meanings and avoids costly marketing blunders.
format Article
id doaj-art-8332f718aaee4ff1bb432b53bcb3fe2a
institution DOAJ
issn 2550-1429
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher UiTM Press
record_format Article
series Journal of International Business, Economics and Entrepreneurship
spelling doaj-art-8332f718aaee4ff1bb432b53bcb3fe2a2025-08-20T02:39:40ZengUiTM PressJournal of International Business, Economics and Entrepreneurship2550-14292025-05-0110110.24191/jibe.v10i1.3259Metaphor Beyond Branding: From the Perspective of Cultural Semiotic Mohd Fauzi Harun0Khairol Ezedy Abd Rahman1Ida Puteri Mahsan2Muliyati Mat Alim3Nik Narimah Nik Abdullah4Fareez Vincent Amos5Department of Creative Multimedia, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Tanjung Malim, Perak, MalaysiaDepartment of Creative Multimedia, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Tanjung Malim, Perak, MalaysiaDepartment of Art & Design, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Tanjung Malim, Perak, MalaysiaFaculty of Language & Communication, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Tanjung Malim, Perak, MalaysiaDepartment of Graphic & Multimedia, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Creative Multimedia, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Tanjung Malim, Perak, Malaysia Metaphors can help brands tell compelling stories about their products and values, but they also can create false associations between a product and unrelated concepts. Thus, the study explores the role of cultural values and beliefs in shaping the use of metaphors in Malaysian food product branding. A semiotic analysis is run on five food packaging designs to understand the symbolic meanings encoded to uncover the hidden meanings and associations that influence consumer perceptions and behaviors. Data analysis involves a systematic process of identifying, analyzing, and interpreting signs, and symbols to uncover their underlying meanings and significance. Findings showed that brand elements closely related to a specific cultural attribute can be a complicated topic because they can also be manipulative for branding or marketing purposes. The existence of metaphor in multiple brand elements enhances the brand's image and appeal by evoking positive emotions, aspirations, or associations. This study contributes to the conceptualization of the relationship between visual metaphor and brand relationship in the field of visual communication. Thus, it helps marketers create effective brand positioning that resonates with consumers' relevant cultural symbols and meanings and avoids costly marketing blunders. https://journal.uitm.edu.my/ojs/index.php/JIBE/article/view/3529BrandingCultureMetaphorPackagingSemiotic
spellingShingle Mohd Fauzi Harun
Khairol Ezedy Abd Rahman
Ida Puteri Mahsan
Muliyati Mat Alim
Nik Narimah Nik Abdullah
Fareez Vincent Amos
Metaphor Beyond Branding: From the Perspective of Cultural Semiotic
Journal of International Business, Economics and Entrepreneurship
Branding
Culture
Metaphor
Packaging
Semiotic
title Metaphor Beyond Branding: From the Perspective of Cultural Semiotic
title_full Metaphor Beyond Branding: From the Perspective of Cultural Semiotic
title_fullStr Metaphor Beyond Branding: From the Perspective of Cultural Semiotic
title_full_unstemmed Metaphor Beyond Branding: From the Perspective of Cultural Semiotic
title_short Metaphor Beyond Branding: From the Perspective of Cultural Semiotic
title_sort metaphor beyond branding from the perspective of cultural semiotic
topic Branding
Culture
Metaphor
Packaging
Semiotic
url https://journal.uitm.edu.my/ojs/index.php/JIBE/article/view/3529
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AT idaputerimahsan metaphorbeyondbrandingfromtheperspectiveofculturalsemiotic
AT muliyatimatalim metaphorbeyondbrandingfromtheperspectiveofculturalsemiotic
AT niknarimahnikabdullah metaphorbeyondbrandingfromtheperspectiveofculturalsemiotic
AT fareezvincentamos metaphorbeyondbrandingfromtheperspectiveofculturalsemiotic