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 »
https://www.sld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Header_v01-1.mp4 Sharp design at full speed A limited-edition series celebrating Team Canada’s passion, energy, and legacy. CLIENT PepsiCo PROJECT Gatorade Hockey LTO RELATED SERVICE Package Design THINK As a proud supporter of athletes for decades, Gatorade set out to honor its partnership with Hockey Canada with a bold limited-edition packaging series. The goal was to
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 »
https://www.sld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CaseStudy-Chopped-Leaf-Header-1.mp4 FOR THE LOVE OF GREENS A bold and tasteful redesign. CLIENT Innovative Food Brands PROJECT Chopped Leaf Brand & Store Redesign RELATED SERVICE Retail DesignVisual IdentityService DesignBrand Positioning THINK Chopped Leaf, the home of delicious greens and salads, celebrates its 15th anniversary with a fresh new look. With more than 115 locations across Canada
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 »
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 »
https://www.sld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/LOGO_SWIRL_WHITE.mp4 Giving Summer Energy A blend of smooth visual cues that you can taste. CLIENT PepsiCo Canada PROJECT Rockstar RELATED SERVICE Package Design THINK This summer, Rockstar Energy brings two limited-time offered (LTO) products that promise a new and refreshing experience with every sip. Made to capture the bright and flavorful notes of summer’s favorite
Sometimes it’s hard to know when to make a change, and when it comes to packaging design, there is no set rule. However, like any aspects of a brand, packaging can become outdated or ineffective over time. But knowing when to refresh your design can make a huge impact on how your products perform in
Five Signs it’s Time to Update Your Packaging Design Read More »
We are excited to announce that SLD has been recognized at the GRANDS DU PRIX DESIGN Awards for our design works on the Chongquing Rural Commercial Bank (CQRC), the Child Development Institute (CDI), Clover Leaf Seafoods, and Merryberrybublé. “Awards are a testament to the strength of our partnerships and the hard work and innovation SLD brings
https://www.sld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Precomp_HEADER-1.movhttps://www.sld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/HEADER_LOGO.webm Decadent Design Tantalizing the senses with rich, luxurious visual cues. CLIENT Lactalis PROJECT Krema Yogourt RELATED SERVICE Package DesignStrategy THINK The indulgent yogourt category is growing as consumers seek healthier snacks and desserts that feed the body and the senses. As part of the Olympic brand, consumers recognize Krema as a high-quality 100% natural
In an uncertain economy, grocery stores have a unique opportunity to win over customers through pricing as food costs continue to rise. With the rapid expansion of private label brands across North America, grocers have been able to introduce excellent private label offerings that deliver both selection and value. With this rise, how can grocery
How Private Labels Can Capitalize on Value-Based Grocery Shopping Read More »
In Canada, the new front-of-pack labels for foods high in sugar, salt, and saturated fats are the latest in a wave of packaging regulations attempting to help consumers make healthy food choices. In today’s blog, we’ll ask some of the SLD team to weigh in on how they’re working to address the new FOP regulations,
How to Deal with FOP Warning Labels and What to Expect Read More »
https://www.sld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Doritos_Logo.webmhttps://www.sld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DORITOS_LOGO-1.mov Boldly Guacamole Utilizing the BLINK FACTOR to modernize a fan-favorite flavor. CLIENT PepsiCo PROJECT Doritos Limited Time Offers RELATED SERVICE Package Design THINK Creating Limited Time Offerings (LTOs) can be challenging because the packaging design must communicate various elements to stand out on the shelf during the product’s limited shelf life. Â Doritos aimed
Doritos Guacamole Read More »
https://www.sld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SVNS_Header_Alpha-master.webmhttps://www.sld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SVNS_Header_Alpha-master.mov 7UP Enters The Mix Tapping into a surging market using an iconic brand to deepen customer appeal. CLIENT PepsiCo PROJECT SVNS Hard Seven Up RELATED SERVICE Package DesignStrategy https://www.sld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Precomp_ThinkAnimation-1-1.movhttps://www.sld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Precomp_ThinkAnimation-1.webm THINK As Ready-To-Drink alcoholic beverages gained popularity in Canada, PepsiCo partnered with Labatt to capitalize on the already popular mix of 7UP and Vodka in
SVNS Hard Seven Up Read More »
https://www.sld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SLD_CaseStudy_CloverLeaf_Video_TOP-1-1.movhttps://www.sld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SLD_CaseStudy_CloverLeaf_Video_TOP-1.webm MAKING WAVES Curating a refined culinary experience with an elevated design. CLIENT Clover Leaf Seafoods PROJECT Premium line for Clover Leaf Seafoods RELATED SERVICE Package Design https://www.sld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SLD_CaseStudy_CloverLeaf_Video_BOTTOM.webmhttps://www.sld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SLD_CaseStudy_CloverLeaf_Video_BOTTOM-1.mov THINK To captivate food enthusiasts, Clover Leaf Seafoods introduced a premium product line. The packaging design should look modern, appealing, and inspiring, all while setting the brand
Clover Leaf: Premium Line Read More »
https://www.sld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CaseStudy_GTMarche_Video_v4.mp4 ELEVATED ESSENTIALS A thoughtful visual system created to work across a wide range of product categories. CLIENT Giant Tiger PROJECT Giant Tiger Marché RELATED SERVICE Visual Identity Design Private Label Design & Optimization Package Design THINK Positioned as a national brand equivalent (NBE), Giant Tiger Marché is a new private label brand by Giant
Giant Tiger Marché Read More »
Grocery shopping is a habitual task of navigating aisles, filling carts, and checking out products. Amid this routine, brands have a unique opportunity to engage consumers through their package design. The magic lies in the details—small touches that can make shoppers pause and appreciate the products they choose, creating the opportunity to turn an ordinary
The Importance of Details in Packaging: 3 Examples of Thoughtful Packaging Design 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 »
