Jurnal The Messenger
Vol. 18 No. 2 (2026): May-August

Consumer Participation in Co-Creation: Exploring Its Role in Shaping Brand Image

Jessica Ariella Senjaya (Pelita Harapan University)
Sigit Pamungkas (Pelita Harapan University)
Stephanie Bella Saputri (Pelita Harapan University)



Article Info

Publish Date
12 Sep 2026

Abstract

Purpose: This study examines how consumer participation in co-creation influences the brand image of Teh Botol Sosro within a participatory marketing context. Recent research has increasingly shifted from firm-centered branding toward consumer involvement in co-creating brand value and meaning through digital and social media interactions. However, prior studies have often focused on consumers with established brand relationships, leaving limited understanding of how non-loyal consumers experience open co-creation initiatives. This study addresses this gap by examining how both loyal and non-loyal consumers construct brand meaning through participation in the 2025 Teh Botol Sosro Packaging Design Competition.   Methods: A descriptive qualitative approach with a phenomenological method was employed. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with six purposively selected participants, comprising loyal and non-loyal consumers as well as winners and non-winners. Data were analyzed through data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing.   Findings: Consumer participation functioned as an experiential mechanism that strengthened brand image through cognitive, emotional, and creative engagement. Access and risk-benefit considerations were more prominent than dialogue and transparency. Participation generated stronger, more favorable, and distinctive brand associations, while non-loyal consumers also contributed to brand meaning through creative participation.   Originality: This study extends co-creation research by positioning loyal and non-loyal consumers as active meaning-makers in participatory brand image formation, offering empirical insight into how open creative participation can reshape brand perceptions beyond pre-existing brand loyalty.

Copyrights © 2026