Alina Wheeler is the author of Designing Brand Identity: an essential guide for the whole branding team, from the CEO to the creative director, to the design and marketing team.  It is the first book to deconstruct the branding process into a universal, disciplined five-phase methodology. The second edition is published in seven languages, and is used as a resource by universities, design and branding firms, entrepreneurs, and corporate design and marketing departments. Wheeler reinvents the idea of a marketing textbook, seeks to demystify branding, and illuminates the range of tools used by experienced practitioners.  Her book demonstrates the relationship between strategy and design, and showcases best practices in the public and private sector around the world. The third edition will be published by John Wiley & Sons in August, 2009. Wheeler is presently working on Brand Atlas, a compendium of the smartest diagrams to chart businesses and brands.

Alina Wheeler works as an independent consultant. Wheeler advises her clients on revitalizing their brands and institutionalizing best practices and systems. She creates and leads virtual multidisciplinary teams, and brings a disciplined process to her consulting engagements. She speaks around the world about the fundamental concepts in her books. Her signature mantra is "Who are you? Who needs to know? Why should they care? How will they find out?" She works with very big companies as well as entrepreneurs with big ideas.
http://alinawheeler.com