october 2021

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

2020: Giving Back & Looking Forward

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

Back to School, Reimagined

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

Women In Design – Yesenia Perez-Cruz

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In this blog series, we shine a light on women trailblazers in the design industry. This month, we’re highlighting Yesenia Perez-Cruz, a strong leader and an accomplished designer.

The Future of Influencer Marketing

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As brands impacted by COVID-19 strategize for the future and marketing teams are facing changing consumer preferences, influencer marketing shouldn’t be dismissed. With adaptation in content and strategy, influencer marketing can still be effective in the new digital landscape.

june 2020

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Costco’s rise to a popular beauty destination, opportunities in the food & beverage industry, the future of branding, and more in this month’s newsletter.

Women In Design – Maira Kalman

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In this blog series, we shine a light on women trailblazers in the design industry. Maira Kalman is a renowned artist and writer whose work has deeply impacted design as a whole.

Through a Lens: How Gen-Z Views Food

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“Gen-Z”. The generation under the scrutiny of marketers who want to understand their shopping preferences, their consumer habits, and TikTok. As this group of people gets older, their impact on all industries, including the food and restaurant industry, is becoming increasingly evident.

may 2020

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What retail and CPG companies can expect in a post-coronavirus world, how 5G will change marketing, the psychology of cosmetics, and more in our newsletter.

Looking Back to Move Forward: How Nostalgia Sells Brands

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Brands that focus on creating stronger emotional bonds between consumers and their products, especially in childhood and early adulthood, will find that those bonds are strong and lasting. As we weather our current circumstances, when the future is uncertain, we can all take some comfort in reminiscing in the way things used to be – because sometimes looking back is the best way to move forward.

How Businesses Can Be a #ForceforGood

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This May 5th, organizations around the world are coming together for #GivingTuesdayNow to celebrate generosity and unity in response to COVID-19.

Women In Design – Teresa Sdralevich

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In this blog series, we shine a light on women trailblazers in the design industry – women who have earned a Wikipedia page (or are likely to very soon). You might not know them by name, but definitely by their work and influence on the design world as a whole. This month, we’re featuring acclaimed […]

The Importance of Sustainability

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As the impact we have on the environment becomes increasingly apparent, people are discovering new ways to innovate towards a healthier future.

World Art Day 2020 – #HelpByDesign

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To celebrate World Art Day 2020, the Smith Design team participated in #HelpByDesign.

april 2020

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Permanently changed consumer habits, a new way to recycle, celebrity tequila brands, and more in this month’s newsletter.