Jean‑Pierre Lacroix, President of SLD, speaks at The Financial Brand Forum, revealing how the $124 trillion Great Wealth Transfer is fundamentally reshaping the physical branch. Drawing on insights from his latest Future of Wealth Study, Lacroix explores the reality that while banking is increasingly digital, a deep-seated emotional connection remains the ultimate driver of next-gen loyalty. By […]
Financial Brand Forum 2026 Read More »
Jean‑Pierre Lacroix, President of SLD, takes the stage at RestaurantSpaces to reveal insights from a new national study on emotional brand connection and Net Promoter Score (NPS). He argues that the future of foodservice will be shaped by experiences that resonate on a personal, emotional level. He explains how restaurants can move beyond efficiency and
Are You Putting Emotional Lightning on the Menu? -RestaurantSpaces 2025 Read More »
/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/COBS_hero_banner.mp4 Fresh Baked Design It takes the right ingredients to deliver a high-touch service experience in a small footprint. CLIENT COBS BREAD PROJECT Next Generation Bakery Design RELATED SERVICES Retail DesignGraphic DesignStrategy THINK COBS has a winning recipe for success: every day, each location bakes their own goods from scratch on site. You just can’t
We’re happy to start the new year with some exciting news! SLD has been recognized at the Design MasterPrize (DMP) for our design work for Krema Yogourt, Live Teas, and Renée’s Dips. We have also received an honorable mention for our work for Clover Leaf Premium Line, Rockstar, and SVNS Hard Seven Up. The Design
SLD Wins Three Awards at The 2024 Design Master Prize Read More »
The QR code is a valuable commodity in Asian countries, yet its presence in North American retail continues to be slow and inconvenient. The good news is that North America has recognized the platform’s power and is catching up to its international competitors. As a globally accepted medium, QR codes have enabled retailers to increase
Why The QR Code Is Making A Comeback Read More »
What does the future of the supermarket look like? In our latest design exploration, we examine what the grocery sector can do to bring excitement back to the customer for a more engaging and holistic experience. The Supermarket of the Future will look at how grocers have been disrupted by COVID-19, e-commerce, and subscription-based services. It
The Supermarket of the Future Read More »
Even in a world turned upside down by the accelerated growth in e-commerce, traditional aisle-based systems still dominate the grocery store experience. Yet, the physical store is still enormously relevant – 60% of consumers still prefer the store. How do grocery brands overhaul their customer experience and keep customers engaged in their stores? What will
Supermarket of the Future Webinar Read More »
https://www.sld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/KDSPLOTCH2.mp4 KD FOREVER Kraft Classic and innovation products to tease the tastebuds of Millennials and Gen Z. CLIENT Kraft Heinz Canada PROJECT Kraft Dinner Various PackageDesign Formats RELATED SERVICE Package design THINK KD is a Canadian classic, but issues primarily due to taste caused the brand to lose relevance among its’ core audience. Still, testing
https://www.sld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Tim_hortons_cs_banner.mp4 DOUBLE-DOUBLE THE EXPERIENCE Tim Horton’s wanted to revitalize their urban locations, improving the customer experience while fitting into a modernized urban landscape. CLIENT Tim Horton’s PROJECT Urban Store Format Design RELATED SERVICE Retail DesignEnvironmentalGraphic Design THINK Tim Horton’s is one of the most iconic coffee shops across Canada, idolized by millions as a premier
Welcome to SLD’s second annual trends report! Last year, we were in the midst of a global pandemic that called into question what the future of design and business as a whole could look like. Though a lot of those questions still linger, 2021 has at least provided some clarity on the trends that will
SLD’s 2022 Trends Report Read More »
The future is unfolding in real-time, all the time, but most retail brands are in a state of constant catch-up – just being at par before another innovation appears. This is partly a result of fast-moving times, but it’s also the result of an industry that’s been somewhat lackadaisical about innovation. To really become a
Business Leaders, Bold Thinkers, and the Brand of the Future Read More »
As we hit the halfway point of 2021, one trend that we have been particularly interested in at SLD is the continued rise of fake news and misinformation. While our recent DeepReal research elevated the conversation around real versus fake, the publishing of Facebook’s State of Influence Operations 2017-2020 Threat Report has helped validate our own findings and further
What Facebook’s Threat Report Means for Brands Read More »
The rising concern about misinformation and fake news is a top concern of people around the world, whether we’re talking about Russian interference with foreign elections or an organic seal on a carton of milk. Skepticism is high and consumers expect it to become even harder to figure out what’s true in the future. Today,
Discussing SLD’s DeepReal Study With Jean-Pierre Lacroix Read More »
The inability to tell fact from fiction is being driven by a number of factors and is challenging the way that consumers perceive and engage with brands. To help gain a better understanding of how consumers discern information and make their purchase decisions, SLD conducted a study among 2000 respondents in January, 2021. As part
DeepReal Part 1: Gaining Trust in a Post-Truth World Read More »
There are many lessons to be taken from COVID-19 and how consumers have changed their shopping habits. From online versus in-store to big box versus mom and pops, some shifts may have longer-term ramifications than others. One interesting (if not surprising) result of the current pandemic is that brand loyalty is often replaced in favor
The Four Characteristics that Define Indie Brands Read More »
The Association of Professional Futurists (APF) is a global community of futurists whose main focus is to promote the value of Strategic Foresight and Future Studies to businesses, governments, and the general population. Each month, they host a session in which a member of the association leads a discussion on a specific topic. To kick
Embracing Future Transformation Read More »
Digital experiences and communications, including websites, social media and digital content, play an essential role in influencing shopper decisions, but first it has to reach the right audience. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, online interactions have increased, as has competition for your consumer’s attention. Inclusive communication and marketing design is now more important than
How to Ensure Your Digital Experience is Inclusive Read More »
It has been a long time since we have experienced such a disruptive year. Many of us are wondering if 2021 will bring with it the same level of uncertainty or if the dust will settle, and what a new normal will look like. To that point, at the end of each year, we provide
Six Things That Will Define 2021 Read More »
At the end of every year, it’s tradition to reflect on the things we’ve loved, hated, and what we’re looking forward to for the coming year. 2020 was obviously pretty unusual, and although 2021 promises to be an improvement, it will also certainly be a year to remember. In this episode, some designers and thinkers
Looking Ahead to 2021 With the SLD Team Read More »
The Self-Service Innovation Summit took place between December 8-9, and examined the many technological advances that are changing the retail landscape. With a focus on self-service, kiosk and vending solutions that can be applied everywhere from airports to hospitals, the virtual event covered topics such as ATMs, endless aisles, micro markets and way finding. SLD’s Jean-Pierre
Self-Service Innovation Virtual Summit Read More »
