How Brands Colonize Public Space—And What Happens When We Stop Noticing

In today’s world, public space is rarely neutral. Where once parks, schools, and city centers belonged to everyone, they are increasingly shaped—and often owned—by brands. A city mayor announces a new arts festival, only to find Coca-Cola’s name dominates the banners. School districts, strapped for funds, make deals with snack brands, transforming lockers and lunchrooms into mini-billboards. Even university research is often shaped by the interests of whoever sponsors the lab.

We’re so surrounded by marketing that we stop noticing its reach. Ads on trash cans, branded benches at the bus stop, vending machines in the gym—it’s easy to believe this is just how things are. But this quiet takeover narrows our choices and voices, subtly shaping what activities, art, or even conversations are possible. The classic example is a local coffee shop replaced by a chain, or a protest removed from a mall for not matching the mall’s values. Public spaces shrink, and often, so does public debate.

Social scientists have documented how commercial intrusion can crowd out alternative ideas, community-driven decision-making, and cultural diversity. The more invisible these shifts become, the easier it is to accept a branded life as the only option.

Tomorrow, keep track of every brand you see or interact with, from the cereal box on your counter to the signs along your commute and the banners in your classroom or workspace. Make a quick list—names or even just a checkmark to count them. Then, pick a shared spot you use with others, whether it’s a bus stop, the school gym, or a public park. Whose voice dominates there? Compare notes with someone you trust and see if they share your perspective or notice something different. Let that spark a conversation about what kind of messages you’d rather see in those spaces, or what’s missing when branding becomes the main narrative. Try making a game of it for a full week.