Alan Gilbody

As of today, Waitrose have launched a new gluten free pasta range.

It’s almost that time of year…A-level results day. Duh-duh-duuuuuh!!! School leavers across the country will face the most important decision of their lives. What to do next. We are going to take you through our thoughts on degree vs apprenticeships.

The natural academic path is to bag yourself a degree – 412,000 higher education places were awarded last year. Still the hottest contender as far as higher education goes, but how valuable is a design degree vs a design apprenticeship? Slightly less appealing now that the government has announced that tuition fees are set to rise to £9,250 per year. Yes, that’s right kids. Not only will you gain yourself a snazzy certificate but also a debt short of £30k (and the rest).

I’m not knocking degrees – I am a ‘certified’ design graduate myself. However I would certainly back a design apprenticeship for anyone curious about this pathway. Taking a diplomatic view on it, I guess it depends on what you are after and whether you respond better from ‘education’ or from a more ‘hands-on’ approach. I believe that 1 year in the industry can be just as valuable, if not more than a 3 year degree.

Our thoughts

It has been several years but I remember the student scenario well. Briefed on a project and told that we had 4 weeks to research. 4 weeks to create concepts and another 4 weeks to build a design. A whole term to basically rustle up a design worthy of a Student Starpack. It took less time for Leicester City to climb the league. Unless courses start mirroring design briefs in the industry and preparing students for graduation, then design apprenticeships could lead the future in higher education. As more students shun University in favour of gaining a real, and valuable insight in to our creative industry.

About Slice

At Slice, we offer graduate placements and also believe in the value of apprenticeships. We’re always on the lookout for inspirational design students and straight-out-of-school individuals with a unstoppable talent in packaging & branding who are willing to get stuck in and learn the ropes fast. CV’s welcome!

Blimey! Is it that time again? Haven’t we only just had the Olympics?

That was a quick 4 years. One thing we always look forward to debating at all of the sports events is the logo. The Rio Olympics logo has caused much less controversy than the London 2012 one. In fact, you could say it has kept its head down a little.

So what is it, what does it represent? –  It’s intention is not immediately evident, in fact it is quite obscure. The footprint is meant to represent Sugarloaf Mountain and the surrounding landscape – No, me neither.

In fact let’s be honest, I saw a childs dummy. But then in the London 2012 Olympics one I always see  ‘dad dancing at a wedding disco’. I can’t unsee that now!

Happy weekend everyone and bring on the games!!

From our studio in Hammersmith, London, we work for clients around the world: global and local, big household names and small startups, challengers and leaders. Whether a big brand re-design, NPD launch or simple packaging updates. We’re proud to remain flexible, refreshingly honest and wholly independent.

You can see some of our recent packaging design work here

Now we all know it’s hard enough to get human beings on board with your brand. Let alone our four legged friends and pets!

Pet care as a category has grown by 10% per year since 2010.  As the market becomes increasingly lucrative – it’s getting more crowded. Pets are increasingly seen as individuals. Each with their own dietary and grooming needs. So, how do you claw your way to the top and stand out amongst the pack? You need the facts on the trends that matter to those with furry companions. Here’s our round up of the trends for pet care in 2016 and beyond.

Paleo-Pups, Grain-Free Kitties and Raw Pets 

Consumers are becoming more educated on nutrition by the day and their nutritional concerns aren’t limited to themselves. This awareness of ingredients is extending into the pet food category. Notably niche dietary requirements taking centre stage as USP’s.  Now it might seem bonkers, but hear us out. Pets really do manifest allergies in the same way humans do. We’re talking hair loss, gas, bad breath – the works. Pets suffering from allergies has been a key driver behind the launch of successful organic pet food brands like Lily’s Kitchen.

Research is showing that moving away from processed ingredients can dramatically improve life expectancy, energy levels and quality of life.

We all love our pets and want them to be healthy, which it’s where the need is born for brands that cater to the sensitive stomachs of our furry friends. Already the industry has seen a marked increase in GMO free, gluten free and whole food based pet ingredients. How can you position your brand amongst the early adopters?

Pampered Pets

Pets are undeniably seen as a part of the family. They are a national obsession and pampering them is nothing to be ashamed of. We’re all guilty of letting them hop onto our beds on a Sunday morning, sneaking them that little bit of food at the dinner table and treating them to a hair cut. Research has shown that, people are treating their pets like extended family members. Pet owners with two lots of disposable income, who love to treat their pets to a little bit of luxury, are creating a new demographic for you to target.

Brands like TIGI and Aesop have already ventured into this emerging sector. Their NPD’s in pet care are aimed at pets requiring a little more than a spray with the hose in their grooming regimen. But creating a viable luxury pet grooming product isn’t as simple as slapping a big price tag on a bottle of dog shampoo. Much like human personal care brands, you need to craft a unique position in the market and ensure you’re communicating to the demands of pet owners. How can your brand cater to the demands of this growing sector?

Distrusting the big FMCG Beasts

As owners become increasingly conscious of food ingredients and more mindful of what’s best for their pets there’s a rising tide towards a distrust of FMCG brands. Now we love you guys – seriously, call us. Let’s do lunch sometime. Large brands have the advantage of experience, product expertise, a budget for R&D and brand equity that the disruptors in the market would kill for. However, in this category there’s a preference towards independent brands. They come without a complex ingredients list and perhaps unfavourable product recall history.

Pet owners have new need states with a demand for whole foods, niche dietary requirements and a more luxurious approach to grooming. Currently large FMCG brands aren’t catering to these needs. With the health and happiness of a member of the family at stake, it’s easy to see why there is an advantage shift towards the independent brands in the space.

So how can you capitalise on these trends? How do you ensure standout on shelf, cater to the health-conscious pet owner and ensure your brand identity is trusted? With over 25 years experience, and a shared love for all furry friends, we at Slice have a few ideas up our sleeves. Get in touch.

I’m not a fan of following trends in graphic design. For me I think design should answer the brief rather than the current fashion trend.

Take the new Instagram logo for example. Gone is the reference to the old Polaroid/Instamatic camera. That icon of capturing the 1970s moment and in comes a flat, monolithic, uninspirational piece of iconography that fails to capture the essence of the brand but is following the current ‘trend’.

The beauty of the old logo is it symbolised that perfect moment; from a time when every shot counted. When photos were precious memories and something to be cherished (rather than a complete documentation of your evening!)

Shouldn’t that be at the core of Instagram’s brand message and communication? I think so.

Now it’s been a while since the logo change that causes so much controversy what are your thoughts?

Based in London UK, Slice Design are a top international creative branding and packaging design agency that have helped consumer brands grow and get noticed since 2004. We like to think of ourselves as a challenger to the large agency. As the name suggests we cut through jargon with our flexible, no nonsense approach and down to earth attitude.

No fancy trademarked processes and no hidden extras. The benefit to yourselves is all the experience but with the flexibility that large packaging design agencies cannot deliver.

From our studio in Hammersmith, London, we work for clients around the world: global and local, big household names and small startups, challengers and leaders. Whether a big brand re-design, NPD launch or simple packaging updates. We’re proud to remain flexible, refreshingly honest and wholly independent.

You can see some of our recent packaging design work here

Every so often an epic ad comes along that swamps the brand. The current Moneysupermarket ad is a great example – the culmination of 3 seasons of successful, memorable TV ads mashed up into one #epicdanceoff.

Question is, in 5 years time, will people remember the epic advert, or the brand it was advertising?

Based in London UK, Slice Design are a top international creative branding and packaging design agency that have helped consumer brands grow and get noticed since 2004. We like to think of ourselves as a challenger to the large agency. As the name suggests we cut through jargon with our flexible, no nonsense approach and down to earth attitude.

No fancy trademarked processes and no hidden extras. The benefit to yourselves is all the experience but with the flexibility that large packaging design agencies cannot deliver.

From our studio in Hammersmith, London, we work for clients around the world: global and local, big household names and small startups, challengers and leaders. Whether a big brand re-design, NPD launch or simple packaging updates. We’re proud to remain flexible, refreshingly honest and wholly independent.

You can see some of our recent packaging design work here

An interesting short from Zulu Alpha Kilo, on what happens if people outside the creative industry are asked to pitch for free. It is an interesting conundrum that most agencies come up against at some point…

Based in London UK, Slice Design are a top international creative branding and packaging design agency that have helped consumer brands grow and get noticed since 2004. We like to think of ourselves as a challenger to the large agency. As the name suggests we cut through jargon with our flexible, no nonsense approach and down to earth attitude.

No fancy trademarked processes and no hidden extras. The benefit to yourselves is all the experience but with the flexibility that large packaging design agencies cannot deliver.

From our studio in Hammersmith, London, we work for clients around the world: global and local, big household names and small startups, challengers and leaders. Whether a big brand re-design, NPD launch or simple packaging updates. We’re proud to remain flexible, refreshingly honest and wholly independent.

You can see some of our recent packaging design work here

So you’ve still got 262 days until Xmas! Are you ready? Have you thought about the stuffing for the Turkey? What if nan drinks too much sherry again and Uncle Alfred sets his paper hat on fire getting too close to the Christmas pudding?  Try not to punch a hole through your computer screen. Those kind of Xmas anxieties should be put to the back of your mind.

However, for all you brand, marketing and trade managers reading this, Xmas really does come early. With just 281 days (and you’re welcome for that reminder again) until the big day – Xmas editions of your products will be hitting the selves sooner than you think.

So the time is now to think about Xmas! As a marketing whizz, you know the added sales value you can gain from creating gift packs, secondary seasonal packaging and travel retail editions of your best sellers. It’s an understatement to say this is the biggest time of year for FMCG products and it pays to plan in this instance. A lot of brands have dedicated roles for seasonal packaging and have teams allocating resources to these projects all year round. And it’s time your brand did the same!

How you can use the festive season to elevate your brand

One of the key ways that special editions drive sales, is by coercing new consumers to trial your product. We all know the feeling of heading out Xmas shopping and not quite knowing what to get that niece/nephew or the office cleaner as a gift in the festive season. One of the most popular gifts during the festive season often ends up being gift packs from FMCG brands. Whether it’s beauty, personal care, grooming or confectionary – this repackaging opportunity is a chance to reach a whole new customer base and capture consumers who are otherwise unaware of your brand.

So where can it go wrong?

The problem with festive promotions is that you will be competing in an incredibly saturated market. Shelf space will be scarce so, naturally, you will want to make your brand stand out as much as possible to catch the eye of festive or travelling shoppers.

Use eye-catching details with caution. Laminates and extra ‘look at me!’ materials along with conflicting colouring can dilute your brand equity. You still need to retain your brand identity, even with so much up for grabs in the festive season.

How you can do it right

It’s key that, as a brand, you employ consistent brand messaging across all touch points and use special editions, travel retail and seasonal packaging to your advantage. Like we did here, with our Christmas Cadbury work.

Feel free to drop us a line or pop in and meet us in person. We are located in the centre of Hammersmith, London. You can see some of our recent packaging design work here

The Easter period usually signals the start of the gardening season. A chance to put right the ravages of winter, slip on the wellington boots and dig around for the trusty trowel that you can’t quite remember where you put at the end of last season.

Good to see the gardening fixture in Sainsbury’s stocking our work for both Westland Horticulture last season and Bayer Garden this season!

So go on, get on out there. Happy Gardening everyone!

Based in London UK, Slice Design are a top international creative branding and packaging design agency that have helped consumer brands grow and get noticed since 2004. We like to think of ourselves as a challenger to the large agency. As the name suggests we cut through jargon with our flexible, no nonsense approach and down to earth attitude.

No fancy trademarked processes and no hidden extras. The benefit to yourselves is all the experience but with the flexibility that large packaging design agencies cannot deliver.

From our studio in Hammersmith, London, we work for clients around the world: global and local, big household names and small startups, challengers and leaders. Whether a big brand re-design, NPD launch or simple packaging updates. We’re proud to remain flexible, refreshingly honest and wholly independent.

You can see some of our recent packaging design work here