Spellbrands, a Dubai-based human-centric branding agency, has been honored with a 2025 Global Recognition Award for its outstanding contribution to the global branding landscape.

The recognition celebrates the agency’s excellence in brand strategy, design innovation, and measurable business impact, marking a significant milestone in its transformation journey from its original identity, ArteRush, to a strategy-first branding powerhouse.

From Design to Strategy: The Evolution of Spellbrands

Founded by Cherian Thomas Tharakan, Spellbrands represents the next chapter of a vision that began over a decade ago under the name ArteRush. What started as a design-focused studio known for bold creativity has evolved into a global-level agency dedicated to clarity, conviction, and human connection in branding.

The Global Recognition Award highlights this evolution — honoring an approach that goes beyond surface aesthetics to uncover the more profound strategic truths that define a brand’s identity.

This shift reflects a broader movement across the UAE’s creative economy, as Dubai continues to position itself as a global hub for innovation and brand excellence.

A Strategic Approach Rooted in Human Connection

Spellbrands distinguishes itself through a strategy-first philosophy that transforms how businesses define and express their purpose.

Rather than chasing trends, the agency begins each engagement by uncovering the human truths that drive authentic connection — aligning creative identity with business strategy to deliver both emotional and commercial impact.

Its proprietary three-pillared methodology — Strategic Positioning, Creative Identity Development, and Comprehensive Brand Experience — has helped clients across fashion, hospitality, F&B, and lifestyle achieve clarity, cohesion, and measurable growth.

According to Denzil Netto, Head of Supply Chain at Al Seer Group,

“Spellbrands consistently delivers innovative ideas that are both strategic and practical. Their ability to connect creativity with clarity makes them an exceptional partner — one that understands both vision and execution.”

This human-centric framework allows Spellbrands to blend artistic innovation with data-driven discipline, creating brand ecosystems that resonate across digital and physical environments alike.

Excellence Recognized by Global Standards

The Global Recognition Awards employ the Rasch model, a rigorous framework designed to measure consistency and excellence across different performance areas.

Spellbrands earned exceptional marks in service delivery, originality, and influence on creative trends, reaffirming its reputation for bridging artistry and business insight.

This recognition places Spellbrands among a select group of agencies whose work demonstrates measurable results and artistic integrity — a combination that defines the next frontier of global brand strategy.

Alex Sterling, spokesperson for Global Recognition Awards, commented,

“Spellbrands represent a rare equilibrium between creativity and strategic precision. Their work demonstrates that true branding excellence is not just about how a company looks — it’s about how deeply it’s understood. The award recognizes Spellbrands as a leader in shaping global standards for authentic, human-centered brand development.”

Creative Intelligence with Strategic Discipline

Spellbrands’ artistic strength lies in its ability to distill complex ideas into timeless identities. From reimagining legacy brands to developing distinctive new concepts, the agency’s work challenges conventions while remaining rooted in commercial purpose.

Its visual and verbal systems are meticulously crafted to ensure every brand communicates with clarity — across campaigns, experiences, and markets.

This disciplined creativity has become a hallmark of Spellbrands’ reputation, earning trust from both established enterprises and emerging startups seeking differentiation in an increasingly noisy marketplace.

A Reflection of Dubai’s Global Creative Vision

The agency’s recognition comes at a time when Dubai is emerging as a global center for strategic branding and creative innovation.

Spellbrands embodies the spirit of this evolution — merging the region’s entrepreneurial energy with world-class creative thinking.

Its work demonstrates that the future of branding lies in empathy, clarity, and strategic storytelling — principles that not only define the agency’s methodology but also resonate deeply with Dubai’s identity as a city of transformation.

Looking Ahead

For founder Cherian Thomas Tharakan, this award is more than recognition — it’s validation of a belief that branding should be both intelligent and deeply human.

“At Spellbrands, we believe clarity is the most powerful form of creativity,” he says. “Our evolution from ArteRush wasn’t just a name change — it was a mindset shift. We’re here to help brands find their conviction, articulate their truth, and connect with people in ways that last.”

As Spellbrands continues to expand its influence across the Middle East and global markets, the agency remains committed to elevating branding from an act of design to a discipline of meaning — where strategy, creativity, and humanity meet.