Inclusive Beauty: Building Brands For All

We had the pleasure of speaking with one of our talented creatives, Allen Gaoiran, to get his perspective on diversity and inclusion in the beauty industry and its implications on branding and packaging.

january 2022

NEWSMITHS: What we’re reading, making and thinking about this month.

SMITH SPOTLIGHT #6

It probably goes without saying, but Smith Design is full of creatives. In our new Smith Spotlight blog series, we’re highlighting the talent of our team and their endeavors outside of our studio. Our sixth Smith Spotlight features our adventurous Dave Bolton, showing off his incredible wine knowledge!

Giving Back and Looking Forward

Giving back is an important part of our culture at Smith Design and we’re excited to share some of the initiatives that we’ve participated in over the last year.

In the spirit of gratitude, our creative team also created a series of graphics to promote positivity and express what gratitude and generosity looks like to them.

Last Minute Gift Guide: Brands That Give Back

Need a last minute gift for someone on your list? We’ve got you covered with a round up of 12 brands that give back.

december 2021

NEWSMITHS: What we’re reading, making and thinking about this month.

GDUSA GRAPHIC DESIGN AWARDS 2021

The results are in! We’re proud to announce that Smith Design has been awarded 4  GDUSA Awards in the graphic design category.

Smith Design Celebrates Giving Back

Giving Tuesday is a global day of action that gives people around the world the opportunity to come together through generosity. In honor of Giving Tuesday, we are excited to share two initiatives that we kicked off last month!

Using Video to Boost E-Comm Performance

The holiday season is upon us and major retailers are betting big on omnichannel retail. Investing in your brand’s digital content and e-comm experience may seem like only a small piece of the marketing equation, but it can be a critical one.

november 2021

NEWSMITHS: What we’re reading, making and thinking about this month.

Press Play! Smith Design Employees Share Songs that Motivate them

Music can be huge part of staying focused, motivated, and inspired at work. We asked our Smith Design team what some of their favorite songs are to listen to while working.

Smith Spotlight #5

It probably goes without saying, but Smith Design is full of creatives. In our new Smith Spotlight blog series, we’re highlighting the talent of our team and their endeavors outside of our studio. Our fifth Smith Spotlight features our fabulous Jessica Murray, showing off her incredible hand lettering skills!

october 2021

NEWSMITHS: Beauty Brands Reimagining the Nutrition Label for Consumers

The DL on QR: And Why They are Here to Stay

QR codes have made a major comeback. When QR codes first came on the scene, they seemed destined to be a flash in the pan. They were unreliable and often confusing to navigate, requiring a 3rd party app and too many steps to get from scan to screen. Enter the global pandemic, when QR codes emerged as […]

The Upside of the Internet: Mental Health Day Guest Post

To celebrate World Mental Health Day, we’re excited to share a guest post from Gabrielle Ferrara, MSW, LSW, a licensed therapist who shares how, despite its dark potential, the internet can actually be a positive and unifying resource for mental health.

Smith Awarded GSA Schedule Contract

We are pleased to announce that Smith Design is now a Professional Services Schedule Contract holder, awarded by the General Services Administration. Smith Design has been fortunate to work on a diverse and rewarding range of projects in the private and non-profit sectors. Now, we are thrilled to offer our brand identity, graphic design, brand strategy, digital, social, and web-based marketing services to the public sector.

The Logo Queen of TikTok

TikTok’s Logo Queen, gaining more than 12 million views in less than two weeks with her “tasteful” redesigns of famous logos.  Zugay’s designs are intentionally and hilariously bad – and people are absolutely loving it.    

The Importance of Handwriting

While some have said that handwriting will become obsolete or a far second to typing, there are plenty of reasons to teach handwriting, and to instill the value of writing by hand as a practice that goes far beyond the simple transfer of information.

Recipe Development for Brands

Custom recipes are a great way to build brand engagement and connect with customers beyond the shelf. On-pack or off, recipes boost appetite appeal and spark creativity with shoppers and home cooks alike.

Smith Spotlight #4

It probably goes without saying, but Smith Design is full of creatives. In our New Smith Spotlight blog series, we’re highlighting the talents of our team and their endeavors outside of our studio. Our fourth Smith Spotlight features the amazing talent of cake decorating done by Grace Peluso!

Raising Standards in the Meat Aisle

Across demographics, a growing majority of consumers are seeking out meat and dairy that is better for the planet, the animals, and their own health.  In this new landscape, it’s essential for brands to connect authentically and transparently with their audiences.

Design for the Club Channel

Designing CPG brands for the club channel requires a distinct visual strategy that considers not only the brand and product objectives, but also environmental, consumer, and product factors unique to the landscape

Smith Spotlight #3

It probably goes without saying, but Smith Design is full of creatives. In our new Smith Spotlight blog series, we’re highlighting the talents of our team and their endeavors outside of our studio. We’re excited to highlight the incredible art of Brian Greenhalgh in our third Spotlight!

Sustainability in Package Design

Conversations around sustainability, environmental impact, and eco-friendliness have become more central to brands and their products. Not only is it ethical for companies to consider their environmental impact, but it is also necessary in order to be trusted by their consumers. We partner with brands to execute their sustainable efforts on and off pack.

The Booming Pet Industry

Already a booming category, the sharp rise in pet ownership during the pandemic pushed demand for pet care, products and services to new highs. The American Pet Product association estimates that Americans spent an astounding $100 billion on their pets in 2020 alone.

Smith Design Joins the Sustainable Packaging Coalition

We are excited to announce that Smith Design is now a member of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition! We are honored to join the ranks of brands, agencies and manufacturers across the supply chain that are committed to finding and implementing more sustainable packaging solutions. Sustainability has long been a core value at Smith Design.

Designing for the COVID Generation

Designing meaningful products and experiences for kids carries unique challenges, and this has never been more true than for “Generation C”, the millions whose early formative years have been defined by living through the pandemic.

Smith Spotlight #2

It probably goes without saying, but Smith Design is full of creatives. In our new Smith Spotlight blog series, we’re highlighting the talents of our team and their endeavors outside of our studio. Our second Smith Spotlight features our fabulous jewelry designer, Becki Murray!

Remote Photoshoots with Smith Design

Even as we welcome our clients and collaborators back into the studio, we’re excited to continue to offer the flexibility of remote photoshoots! Over the past year, we’ve honed our process to offer an engaging and attentive experience with our in-house photo team and studio.

Design for the Omnichannel Experience

The post-covid retail landscape will become increasingly integrated, with brands leveraging both the widespread adoption of online shopping as well as a renewed interest in experiential brick & mortar offerings. Design is a key tool in bridging the digital, in-store and at-home experiences that are crucial to brand experience.

GDUSA AWARDS 2021

The results are in! We’re proud to announce that Smith Design has been awarded 8 GDUSA Awards, including 4 recent wins in the Health & Wellness category and 4 for American Package Design.

Smith Spotlight #1

It probably goes without saying, but Smith Design is full of creatives. In our new Smith Spotlight blog series, we’re highlighting the talents of our team and their endeavors outside of our studio. Our first Smith Spotlight goes to our LEGO Master, Mike Doyle!

january 2021

2021 beauty industry predictions, a sustainable alternative to cardboard, bacteria-destroying sound, and more in our January newsletter.

2020: Giving Back & Looking Forward

At Smith Design, giving back is at the heart of our actions. In 2020, it was an honor to be a part of incredible causes and campaigns that provide support to those in need and advocate for progress on important issues.

Women In Design – Ray Eames

In this blog series, we shine a light on women trailblazers in the design industry. Ray Eames had a prolific career that left a lasting legacy, with innovations in furniture design and architecture to filmmaking, textiles, toys, graphics, exhibition design and much more.

december 2020

Protein blends create new beverage opportunities, Pantone’s 2021 Colors of the Year, holiday ads from the heart, and more in our December newsletter.

Women In Design – Mary Blair

In this blog series, we shine a light on women trailblazers in the design industry. Mary Blair was an impactful artist and animator who brought fairytales to life through dreamy concept art and color styling. She introduced Modernism to Disney’s animation studio, helping to create the artistic style for many beloved films.

november 2020

Sustainability in a world impacted by COVID-19, a surge in produce snacking, lessons learned from DTC brands, and more in our November newsletter.

Branding in the Nonprofit Sector

Nonprofit organizations face a unique challenge when it comes to branding. Nonprofits are inherently rooted in emotions, and capturing that essence in a brand can be difficult. Through insight-driven strategy, a unique and ownable positioning can inspire meaningful communications across all touchpoints.

Women In Design – Susan Kare

In this blog series, we shine a light on women trailblazers in the design industry. This month, we’re celebrating Susan Kare, a founding mother of modern design and the creative genius behind some of the most recognizable icons, typefaces, and graphic elements in the world.

october 2020

The impact of inclusivity in advertising, an exploration of clean beauty, tech in the food and beverage industry, and more in our October newsletter.

Women in Design – Indi Maverick

In this blog series, we shine a light on women trailblazers in the design industry. This month, we’re highlighting Mexican graphic design and illustrator, Indi Maverick, an emerging talent whose creative journey is one to pay attention to.

COVID Resources

How you can support organizations that are working to help those affected by COVID-19

Back to School, Reimagined

Back-to-school shopping is one of the biggest retail holidays of the year. In 2019, consumers spent more than $26 billion in their shopping to stock up for the school year. Like so many traditions impacted in 2020, the usual back-to-school scramble felt different this year.

september 2020

How DTC companies succeed, redesigning the chocolate chip, the growth of the pet industry, and more in our September newsletter.

Women In Design – Jessica Walsh

In this blog series, we shine a light on women trailblazers in the design industry. This month, we’re highlighting Jessica Walsh, a bright star in the design field and an all-around creative who unapologetically commits to the big idea.

august 2020

2020 consumer types, the fate of Halloween candy, the growing impact of plant-based proteins, and more in our August newsletter.

The Growing Impact of Plant-Based Proteins

The demand for plant-based protein sources has already had a powerful impact on product innovation, and its growth won’t be slowing down anytime soon. The plant-based market is predicted to grow to $85 billion over the next 10 years.

Women In Design – Zaha Hadid

In this blog series, we shine a light on women trailblazers in the design industry. This month, we’re celebrating architect Zaha Hadid. “A planet in her own orbit”, she stayed true to her unique vision throughout her career and continuously moved architectural design forward, becoming the first woman to receive the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize.

july 2020

Disruption in the seafood supply chain, the future of influencer marketing, large manufacturers embracing paper bottles, and more in our July newsletter.