I build brands from zero. I work with early-stage founders to define positioning, craft cohesive brand worlds, and establish the foundational marketing structure that allows a company to grow with clarity. Over the past 8+ years I’ve worked across sectors (beauty, lifestyle, tech) working close with founders and built and scaled two consumer brands from scratch. As a founder of consumer brands myself, I’ve built everything from naming and narrative to visual identity, packaging, tone of voice and launch strategy. I think holistically, ensuring every touchpoint feels intentional, aligned and emotionally resonant. My strength lies in translating abstract ideas into tangible brands. I help founders move from “concept” to a clear launch-ready identity that people immediately understand and connect with. What I help you with: · Brand positioning & differentiation · Naming & narrative development · Brand architecture & messaging frameworks · Visual direction & brand world building · Website building, social media direction & content · Early marketing foundations & execution (GTM)

Pauline Norden

I build brands from zero. I work with early-stage founders to define positioning, craft cohesive brand worlds, and establish the foundational marketing structure that allows a company to grow with clarity. Over the past 8+ years I’ve worked across sectors (beauty, lifestyle, tech) working close with founders and built and scaled two consumer brands from scratch. As a founder of consumer brands myself, I’ve built everything from naming and narrative to visual identity, packaging, tone of voice and launch strategy. I think holistically, ensuring every touchpoint feels intentional, aligned and emotionally resonant. My strength lies in translating abstract ideas into tangible brands. I help founders move from “concept” to a clear launch-ready identity that people immediately understand and connect with. What I help you with: · Brand positioning & differentiation · Naming & narrative development · Brand architecture & messaging frameworks · Visual direction & brand world building · Website building, social media direction & content · Early marketing foundations & execution (GTM)

Available to hire

I build brands from zero.

I work with early-stage founders to define positioning, craft cohesive brand worlds, and establish the foundational marketing structure that allows a company to grow with clarity. Over the past 8+ years I’ve worked across sectors (beauty, lifestyle, tech) working close with founders and built and scaled two consumer brands from scratch.

As a founder of consumer brands myself, I’ve built everything from naming and narrative to visual identity, packaging, tone of voice and launch strategy. I think holistically, ensuring every touchpoint feels intentional, aligned and emotionally resonant.

My strength lies in translating abstract ideas into tangible brands. I help founders move from “concept” to a clear launch-ready identity that people immediately understand and connect with.

What I help you with:
· Brand positioning & differentiation
· Naming & narrative development
· Brand architecture & messaging frameworks
· Visual direction & brand world building
· Website building, social media direction & content
· Early marketing foundations & execution (GTM)

See more

Language

English
Fluent
Swedish
Fluent
German
Advanced
Dutch
Intermediate
Italian
Intermediate

Work Experience

Founder & CEO at Abstract
January 1, 2024 - Present
Founded and led Abstract, a design-led consumer brand addressing a gap in the at-home nail care category. Built brand identity, positioning, messaging and go-to-market strategy from zero. Oversaw product development, packaging and lifecycle communication end-to-end. Drove demand via digital channels, influencer campaigns and strategic partnerships, including a collaboration with makeup brand Kess.
Co-Founder & Creative Director at Aárd
January 1, 2021 - January 1, 2025
Founded a minimalist skin- and haircare brand rooted in Scandinavian aesthetics and traditional Aleppian craftsmanship. Scaled to 1M SEK in annual revenue through a brand-led B2C/B2B model. Secured distribution in 100+ hotels and stores across Europe, the U.S. and Asia. Achieved press features in ELLE, Residence, Femina, through founder-led storytelling, driving a notable uplift in sales.
Brand & Marketing Lead at Decade Energy
January 1, 2024 - Present
Led brand and marketing for Decade Energy, a climate-tech company building software and infrastructure that enables large-scale depot electrification. Built the full marketing foundation, including brand, positioning, messaging and editorial system. Designed content strategy and partner-led storytelling frameworks, increasing content output 5× within three months and driving +62% YoY inbound traffic. Managed hybrid internal/external creative teams to deliver a coherent communication system.
Brand & Communications Lead DE at Volta Trucks
January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2023
Led the launch and positioning of Volta Trucks in Germany, translating its Scandinavian, design-led identity into one of Europe’s most traditional logistics markets. Secured top-tier media coverage (e.g., Der Spiegel, WELT, Handelsblatt), driving a significant increase in website traffic. Produced The Electrification Handbook, a strategic communications and thought leadership asset distributed to hundreds of industry leaders and policymakers. Directed Volta Truck’s brand presence at major EV and logistics events, driving visibility and stakeholder engagement.
Communications & Growth Manager at Peltarion AI (acq. by King)
January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2021
Drove communications and growth for one of Europe’s pioneering AI platforms. Positioned Peltarion as a leading voice in applied AI through content, partnerships and thought leadership. Built partnerships across accelerators, universities, research institutions and no-code tools (Hyper Island, Zapier, AI Sweden) to support AI adoption and education. Drove 18× user growth in six months while reducing acquisition costs.

Education

B.Sc. in Retail Management at Stockholm School of Economics
January 11, 2014 - January 20, 2018

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Consumer Goods, Software & Internet, Energy & Utilities, Retail, Transportation & Logistics
    paper Aárd — Building a Modern Heritage Skincare Brand from Zero

    www.aardaleppo.com
    www.instagram.com/aard.aleppo

    Founded a minimalist skin- and haircare brand rooted in Scandinavian aesthetics and traditional Aleppian craftsmanship.

    Aárd was created to challenge the beauty industry’s standard of more equals better. The vision was to build a radically simple, design-led skincare brand rooted in transparency, ritual and material integrity.

    Inspired by the minimal product philosophy of the Hammam and built around authentic Aleppo soap craftsmanship dating back over 4,000 years, Aárd reinterpreted heritage through a Scandinavian aesthetic lens.

    I co-founded and built the brand from scratch — shaping its positioning, narrative architecture, visual identity, packaging system, tone of voice and commercial model.

    Strategic Direction

    The opportunity was to elevate a traditionally utilitarian product into a refined, design-conscious object suited for modern interiors and hospitality spaces.

    The brand was built on three pillars:

    • Radical simplicity over overconsumption
    • Cultural authenticity without exoticisation
    • Minimalist aesthetics meeting ancient craft

    Every touchpoint — from typography and packaging materials to product naming and digital storytelling — was designed to feel calm, intentional and cohesive.

    My Role

    Founder & Brand Builder

    • Defined brand positioning and long-term narrative
    • Developed visual identity and packaging direction
    • Built messaging system and tone of voice
    • Led product development and pricing strategy
    • Established B2C and B2B commercial model
    • Directed all creative and digital communications

    Outcome

    • Scaled to 1M SEK annual revenue
    • Secured distribution in 100+ boutique hotels and retail stores globally
    • Featured in ELLE, Residence, Femina and leading design publications
    paper Abstract — Reframing At-Home Nail Care Through Minimalist Brand Design

    www.abstractnaildrops.com
    www.instagram.com/abstractnaildrops
    www.tiktok.com/@abstractnaildrops

    Abstract was built around a clear market gap: at-home nail care is a €10B+ category, yet most products are either low-quality, overly technical, or visually outdated.

    The opportunity was to create a premium, minimalist alternative — high-quality gel nail stickers designed for a digitally native audience seeking ease, aesthetic coherence and salon-level results without the salon.

    I built the brand from zero — defining its positioning, identity, product architecture and go-to-market strategy.

    Strategic Direction

    Abstract reframed nail care as:

    • Effortless, not complicated
    • Design-forward, not trend-driven
    • Premium yet accessible
    • Digital-native at its core

    The brand world was intentionally minimal — clean typography, restrained color palettes and product-led visual storytelling — to stand apart from the cluttered beauty landscape.

    Rather than competing on complexity, Abstract positioned itself as clarity.

    My Role

    Founder & Brand Builder

    • Identified whitespace and defined category positioning
    • Developed full brand identity and visual system
    • Built messaging framework and tone of voice
    • Led product development and packaging direction
    • Designed digital-first launch strategy
    • Established e-commerce, fulfilment and operational systems
    • Directed influencer campaigns and strategic partnerships (incl. collaboration with www.kessberlin.de)

    Outcome

    • Successfully launched DTC brand with strong early traction
    • Built a scalable digital-first foundation
    • Established partnerships and influencer ecosystem aligned with brand positioning
    paper Decade Energy — From Technical Complexity to Clear Brand Architecture

    https://www.twine.net/signin

    Brand Architecture, Visual Identity & Foundational Marketing System

    Decade Energy operates in climate infrastructure — electrifying logistics depots and enabling grid access through integrated hardware and software solutions.

    I was responsible for shaping the company’s brand from the ground up — translating a technically complex offering into a clear, cohesive and future-facing brand identity.

    Strategic Direction

    The challenge was to move beyond technical jargon and position Decade as a category-defining player in “the Depot of the Future.”

    The work focused on:

    • Defining brand positioning and narrative structure
    • Building a messaging framework across product, sales and investor communication
    • Developing a consistent visual system and brand assets
    • Creating foundational marketing infrastructure aligned with long-term growth

    The goal was clarity, authority and cohesion in a rapidly evolving industry.

    My Role

    Brand Lead

    • Developed brand positioning and core narrative
    • Built messaging architecture across touchpoints
    • Created visual identity system and brand guidelines
    • Created design assets across digital, sales and communication
    • Structured foundational marketing systems for early growth

    Outcome

    • Stronger category articulation in a technical market
    • Clear differentiation from competitors
    • Cohesive brand expression across investor, sales and digital channels

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