It was over 30 years ago, and I still remember mom taking me to BI-LO for weekly grocery shopping adventures. Okay, they were not really adventures, more like forced you’re-coming-with-me-no-matter-what car rides. Up and down the aisles we went, never really getting the cartoony sweet cereals (who could forget Quisp) or chocolate striped cookies that I wanted. You know, the good stuff.

But there was one thing we always got … Continue reading »

As a life-long writer turned designer, I have a long-standing beef with copy-heavy websites, packaging, and advertisements. I don’t fault anyone for wanting to get the most bang for their buck, but I disagree with how best to achieve impact. For me, writing copy is a lot like making friends at a cocktail party. Not that I am so popular, but if I leave a party knowing that I’ve talked … Continue reading »

A couple of weeks ago, Greg posted a blog about the three keys to packaging, briefly touching on the art of persuasion. There are volumes of books about packaging, so there’s no shortage of room to expand on this topic. But it’s worth noting that packaging plays a key role in influencing consumer buying behavior.

Purchasing is such an intuitive process that it’s safe to say that consumers don’t actively … Continue reading »

A big misconception about our industry is precisely how our industry works. Many people think that we get a phone call, take a few notes and then sit in front of a computer where the magic happens. On the contrary, great design doesn’t start or even end with the computer.

Designers are hired to tell a story quickly, concisely and visually. That takes time and thought, two things that the … Continue reading »