The Real Truth About Targeting Gen Z

By Elen Gasparyan, Creative Director in Los Angeles | Davel Creative Agency

If you think targeting Gen Z is as simple as posting a trending TikTok sound, think again.
At Davel Creative Agency, we’ve seen brands chase trends instead of connection—and it shows.

You can’t just toss a TikTok trend on your feed and expect Gen Z to line up. If your brand identity feels outdated, your website looks like 2012, or your visual language still screams “waiting room energy,” no filter or hashtag will save it.

Because Gen Z doesn’t just buy—they join.
They don’t want to be marketed to; they want to be part of something that feels alive, modern, and real.

💡 What Gen Z Actually Connects With

As a Creative Director based in Los Angeles, I’ve seen how Gen Z gravitates toward brands that show culture, not just campaigns.
They pay attention to:

• Design that reflects identity, not just aesthetics.
• Messaging with authenticity, not slogans.
• Websites that feel current and human, not templated or transactional.

An outdated brand gets ignored on social.
A real rebrand, built on story, design, and purpose—creates connection.

🧠 The Creative Director’s Take

When we rebrand companies at our Los Angeles marketing agency, we always start with one question:

“Would Gen Z actually want to hang out with your brand?”

Because if your brand doesn’t feel like a space they’d proudly align with, it won’t matter how much you post, boost, or trend-hop.

The next generation values experience over exposure. They want to feel the voice, culture, and values of your company long before they ever click Follow.

🚀 From Trendy to Timeless

If your goal is to grow in this decade, your creative direction must evolve.
Rebranding isn’t just design—it’s your digital handshake. It’s how your audience decides if you’re part of their world or not.

As a Los Angeles Creative Director, my job is to help brands build that bridge—to turn marketing into meaning, and trends into trust.

So before you say, “We need to target Gen Z,” ask yourself:
✨ Would Gen Z actually want to hang out with your brand?