The healthcare industry is undergoing massive changes, from the introduction of robotics capable of intricate procedures to AI bringing deeper insights into diagnostic tools. However, with all of these new technologies comes a heightened risk of patient and staff anxieties silently impacting their health and wellness. The facts speak for themselves, with nearly 4 in […]
How to meet patients’ emotional needs in healthcare Read More »
While digital banking continues to reshape the industry, physical branches remain a vital part of the customer journey, especially when it comes to life’s bigger financial decisions. Their enduring relevance highlights the value of human connection in a world of automated transactions. Today’s most forward-thinking banks are transforming their branches into relationship-driven spaces, blending intuitive
Why Customers are Still Using Bank Branches Read More »
The Better-for-You (BFY) movement isn’t just a trend, it’s a complete shift in how people eat, shop, and think. Today’s consumers want it all: health, transparency, and convenience, without sacrificing taste. As the demand for feel-good, do-good snacks grows, BFY has become a driving force in reshaping the global food landscape. In response, brands are
In recent years, branding has been all about polished storytelling, aspirational lifestyles, and curated perfection. But somewhere between the perfectly aligned flat lays and hyper-curated copy, something got lost: realness (a.k.a “authenticity”). Some brands are trading polish for personality, control for chaos, and perfection for raw, messy humanity. We see the anti-brand strategy commonly adopted
Perfect Is Boring: What Big Brands Can Learn from the Rise of the Anti-Brand Read More »
Healthcare systems around the world are struggling to meet the needs of patients. Governments hope pharmacies can fill the gap by allowing them to offer a wider range of services. In many countries, patients are accustomed to seeking out a pharmacist’s advice, often in place of going to a doctor. North American consumers, however, see
How to Successfully Offer Health Services at Retail Pharmacies Read More »
Color and shape not only catch the eye, but they also guide our perception and emotions. Together, these elements transform a logo into an icon, a package into a feeling, and a brand into a relationship. Studies show we process images 60,000 times faster than text, as the majority of information we absorb is visual,
A Quick Guide on How to Use Shape and Color Choices to Influence Buying Decisions Read More »
A new aisle for CPG brands has fragmented the path to purchase. As the line between social media and e-commerce gradually blurs, platforms like TikTok and Instagram aren’t just influencing buying decisions they’re becoming the shelf. With 34% of consumers shopping online at least once a week and 70% of online purchases influenced by social
The Role of Social Commerce in CPG: Designing for the Scroll, Click, and Buy Journey Read More »
Unexpected collaborations break conventions often combining seemingly unrelated brands or industries. The purpose is to create hype, expand audiences, and enhance brand value by delivering something fresh and surprising. Packaging is where these partnerships come to life, where design sensibilities merge with compelling stories to emotionally engage consumers. In this blog, we introduce three examples
Unexpected Collaborations Read More »
Rebranding a non-profit organization or charity offers a strategic opportunity to realign the visual identity with its core vision and mission. Through a thoughtful system with design elements such as wordmarks, icons, and color palettes, the brand can effectively communicate its values to stakeholders in a visual manner. In this blog, we’ll use five successful
The Benefits of Rebranding Your Non-profit Organization or Charity Read More »
Widely popular brands can become yesterday’s news for a variety of reasons. Trends change, and new brands disrupt old ones. Established perceptions that once drove growth can become detrimental. Some companies throw in the towel and decide to start from the bottom up. But, creating a new brand from nothing is even more difficult than
How Legacy Brands Can Become Relevant Again Read More »
It’s always fun to wrap up a year with a retrospective on the most interesting brand stories. However, 2023 was not exactly a fun year. With the overwhelming number of gravely serious events unfolding around us, good news has been hard to come by. In our look back on 2023, we won’t avoid some of
The Best and Worst Brand Stories of 2023 Read More »
2023 has witnessed many changes in brand transformation, from the controversial rebranding of Twitter to X, Nokia’s futuristic wordmark, and PepsiCo’s new logo and identity. Many of these changes were driven by the need to remain relevant to existing consumers while appealing to younger segments who look for brands to reflect their self-image. With the
Think Ahead for 2024: What Brands Need to Know Read More »
In a world where inflation and the rising cost of living have become increasingly apparent, private labels are emerging as go-to brands for affordability and quality. These private labels, not limited to grocery chains but also found in discount retailers and cosmetics brands, offer a compelling alternative to national brands. What makes these private labels
5 Great Examples of Private Label Design in Grocery Retail Read More »
Concept stores are an innovative departure from conventional brick-and-mortar stores, offering carefully curated, immersive encounters with a brand. Investing in a store that features minimal or no products on-site seems bold and costly. Why should brands consider such an investment? While profitability might not be the immediate outcome, concept stores possess great marketing potential. Their
The Power of Concept Stores with Little or No Inventory Read More »
In 2021 we launched a consumer study series to understand how misinformation impacted consumers. We discovered that despite an emerging skepticism, there was a high level of optimism as the pandemic appeared to be subsiding and life was finally “returning to normal.” Today, inflation, the war in Ukraine, climate-related extreme weather, and political division unfolding
Building Brand Trust in an Age of Deep Fakes, Bot Factories & Angry AI Read More »
In the world of brand strategy, there are norms in each category that are considered to be the wisdom of the day. These rules are in flux, responding to changing market dynamics and consumer expectations, but it is uncommon for brands to deviate from norms. Occasionally, however, someone decides to go against the flow. In
Breaking Category Norms: 6 Brands That Went Against The Flow Read More »
https://www.sld.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SLD_WebsiteTestimonials_Teaser_v1.mp4 Lynn Ryan MacKenzie PhD, CHE, CMQ/QECDIChief Executive Officer,Child Development Institute OUR EXPERIENCE IN WORKING WITH SLD WAS REALLY POSITIVE“The process itself was quite thorough and thoughtful, so I felt there was a lot of expertise that SLD brought to the table. Not only in the art and creative part but in the people part
Successful brands understand their true value is not a product or service, but the consistent delivery of an idea that resonates with their consumer. Nike sells empowerment, not shoes. Apple sells innovation, not computers. Sephora sells self-expression, not cosmetics, and so on. But simply identifying a powerful position is not enough. How consistently and authentically
Brand Implementation: What it is, Why it’s Important, and How to Succeed Read More »
