A brand is a collection of experiences and associations attached to a company, organization, product or service; more specifically, brand refers to the concrete symbols such as a name, logo, slogan, and design scheme. A brand is a symbolic embodiment of all the information connected to a company, organization, product or service.

Brand recognition and other reactions are created by the accumulation of experiences and associations with the specific company, organization, product or service, both directly relating to its function, and through the influence of advertising, design, media commentary and word to mouth. A brand in turn serves to create associations and expectations. Ultimately "the brand" is any element which, in the minds of consumers or audience, differentiates a company, organisation, product or service from competitors.

A brand often includes explicit logos, fonts, color schemes, symbols, sound which may be developed to represent implicit values, ideas, and even personality.

The brand, and "branding" and brand equity have become increasingly important components of culture and the economy, now being described as "cultural accessories and personal philosophies".

Some marketers distinguish the psychological aspect of a brand from the experiential aspect. The experiential aspect consists of the sum of all points of contact with the brand and is known as the brand experience. The psychological aspect, sometimes referred to as the brand image, is a symbolic construct created within the minds of people and consists of all the information and expectations associated with a product or service (wikipedia.com).