We volunteered our own brand for a public roast — and walked away with a positive score and a sharper to-do list.
There’s a difference between what a company thinks its brand says and what people actually perceive. That gap is where opportunities quietly slip away. So we decided to close it the direct way: we put amshot’s website in front of a room of near-strangers at Brand By Fire and asked them to roast it.
The premise was simple but pointed — can a room of people who’ve never met you understand your brand in under a minute?
This was never about design preferences. As our team framed it going in: “This isn’t about critiquing your logo or debating personal preferences. It’s about understanding how your brand is actually perceived and uncovering the blind spots that may be costing you opportunities.”
Janell Carpenter and Becca Wendt represented amshot in the hot seat, taking the feedback in real time. The overall score came back positive — and, as with most things worth doing, the exercise surfaced a handful of areas we can improve.
Why we did it. We ask our clients to look honestly at their technology, their risk, and their operations all the time. It’s only fair that we apply the same standard to ourselves. Feedback only helps if you’re willing to listen and act on it.
What’s next. We’re taking the input, sharpening where it counts, and — because we found the exercise so useful — sharing what we learned so other business leaders can run a version of it themselves.
Thanks to The Verge and Naoma From for the platform and the honest mirror.
