About Us
Meet Our Founder.
I started Woo Punch back in 2019 after working as the Media Director for a Catholic nonprofit.
Since launching Woo Punch, I've become obsessed with design’s impact on brand growth. Inspired by the groundbreaking work of Byron Sharp and the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute, Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman, and advertising psychologist Robert Heath, I now wholeheartedly embrace science to elevate my role as a brand designer. From these pioneers in their respective fields, I've received my marching orders. Design distinctive brands that will stand out and stand the test of time.
I also enjoy debunking branding and marketing gurus over at brandingbullshit.com and spending time with my wife and two little girls in Milwaukee, WI.
Years ago, we collaborated with Austin to create the Anchor Group’s logo when he was still honing his craft in brand design. We were among his first branding clients. Fast forward six years, and our journey led us back to Austin. This time, we were embarking on an exciting venture: investing in an AI-powered tool to streamline data organization for NetSuite users. Despite the increased stakes as a larger company, our choice was clear. Austin’s expertise remains unparalleled. We have full confidence that the Zookeeper name and brand Austin crafted will propel us into the AI-driven future of our industry.
After years of honing my skills in remodeling and custom woodwork, I found myself relying solely on word-of-mouth referrals. But as my business grew, I needed a brand that could transcend those familiar circles—a brand that would showcase my distinctiveness and attract a new clientele. Unlike previous designers I worked with, Austin didn’t settle for mere aesthetics. Austin's expertise delved deep, meticulously crafting and researching a brand and name that would thrive in my competitive market. As we developed a new brand name together, Austin’s passion ignited my own. Branding ceased to be a mundane task; it became fun and exciting.
Having a background in analytics & commercial banking I have supported and advised a lot of companies. I have always had a skeptical eye when it came to branding. Austin helped us go a lot deeper into how building a brand can multiply whatever marketing or sales efforts we were already putting resources towards. Despite already having millions in revenue, we have a cohesive brand for the first time in 13+ years! And sure...we got a great logo and name out of it too!
When I finally decided to launch my long-held dream of supporting Catholic parents in finding the resources they need for their growing families, I knew the brand had to achieve multiple goals: appeal to both men and women, resonate with practicing and fallen-away Catholics, connect with people of diverse faith backgrounds, inspire parents on their parenting journeys, and offer practical advice for navigating the beautiful chaos of family life. Austin not only met these criteria but exceeded them. His expertise was unmatched. Beyond creating a stunning brand that hit every mark, Austin became more than a hired designer; he became a trusted friend.
When we launched a new online resource to help Catholics pray and evangelize others, Austin put flesh on the bones of a basic idea and "Nextstep" name and defined it as a brand to appeal to our constituency. His strategies were thoroughly developed and expertly reasoned. Our Executive Team was equally impressed with his ability to receive feedback on the concept from our team and tweak it to even better reflect the fullness of our hopes for the brand.
Founder of Woo Punch, Austin Franke, has appeared on several industry-leading podcasts. Check out his thoughts on everything from differentiation to how his Catholic faith influences his approach to running Woo Punch.
Stef and Austin discuss their shared journey in discovering everything they thought they knew about branding was wrong.
Austin also occasionally collaborates with Stef on a video series/podcast called The BS Show where they rant about branding, marketing, and advertising!
Austin has some healthy disagreements with the hosts of this industry-leading podcast, rooted in branding guru Marty Neumeier's approach to brand design.
Austin gives a 15-minute masterclass on why brand love is a myth, followed by an interview with the host of the Brand Tuned Podcast, Shireen Smith.
Austin speaks with Jodi Krangle, a voiceover artist, about the importance of distinctive audio in branding.
Austin speaks with Steve Coombes about what branding gurus and small business owners tend to get wrong about consumer behavior.
