No job, no cash and no future

No job, no cash and no future. It sounds like a Sex Pistols lyric from the seventies, but sadly it was an all too recent headline from one of London’s daily papers. Tens of thousands of young people feel destined never to amount to anything, according to research by charity the Prince’s Trust.

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The Life Laundry

Are you living a lifestyle – or your life? In general, and even in just the past 3-4 years, there has been a massive shift in our aspirations and, ergo, brands are now having to re-think their offer. Lifestyle branding is no longer prescribing (as previously) lifestyle on a mass scale but is rather moving to a new evolution of — and design of — what we are terming ‘living brands’ with a re-focus of aspiration around ‘real life’ lifestyles.

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The chance to design brand patriotism?

Whether or not you’re a sports fan, there is little chance of completely ignoring the two-week event that is the Winter Olympics. But the Olympics is not just about sport.

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Designers Need To Come To Their Senses

By Pete Hollingsworth, Managing Creative Director at FutureBrand

In these days of saturated markets, how can brands increase their market share and create greater brand loyalty? Appealing to multi senses and moving packaging from a 2 dimensional proposition to a 5D multi sensorial one will do just this.

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Nostalgic brands

We talk about inspirational and iconic packaging all the time in this business, but how often can we point to a brand and say, hand on heart, that it has introduced creativity to the masses?

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Feel the love…

With Valentine’s day looming, brands have a great excuse to jump on a new campaign brand-wagon. (albeit a short-lived one). Heineken Italy, for example, has timed the launch of its new ‘Beer Gloss’ lip gloss for women with this romantic occasion. Fine for a quick kiss maybe but what’s the secret to everlasting love?

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Are Strategic Planners a Good Thing or a Bad Thing?

The answer, surely, depends on the planner.

There are designers and creative directors out there who view them with suspicion; who fear being constrained by reams of research and who resent what they see as their meddling. By the same token there are those that appear too frightened to think about a brief unless it has been through the planning department. Neither extreme is healthy.

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Using Metal Can Packaging to Enhance Brand Appeal

Convenience in Canning: The Mediterranean Fish Market

By Steve Thomas, Marketing Manager, CROWN Food Europe

Every year, around 12 billion kg of fish is consumed in the EU. That equals 24 kg for every EU citizen, which is well over the world average of 13 kg per person. What’s more, the demand for fish in Europe is growing. With busier lifestyles, consumers are becoming more conscious of the need to eat a nutritious and balanced diet in order to maintain good health. For them, fish is a great way to consume lean protein and also boost the nutrients and vitamins in their diets.

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A new silver standard for design

Brand owners are, of course, always thinking about the audience demographic. And whilst we recognise the increasing brand influence and economic power of the ‘silver surfer’, we also need to think about what we – the brand designers – are actively designing just for the silver consumer?

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