There’s a psychology behind literally everything that engages people in the intersection of choice and decision. This month, we’re focusing on the psychology of menu design. Placement, formatting and ease of use count for major points – as does color and imagery – in creating a menu that generates maximum profits. A menu done well is a restaurant’s silent salesperson for hungry buyers.

Limited and special edition themed items play a really neat trick on us – FOMO! (Fear of Missing Out) FOMO has an embedded sense of urgency within it. As such, people become obsessed with an item that is “special,” “limited,” and an out-of-the-ordinary design element for a particular product. It’s a product marketing strategy that creates instantaneous brand awareness, a competitive edge, and FREE publicity through the #hashtag “look what I just bought” social media post from a loyal customer.

Colors have a psychology embedded within them. Our brains respond to colors without us noticing. Leveraging this neat little trick is a core element of marketing – especially marketing within the food and beverage industry.

A brand is SO much more than just a logo. Your brand is how your company speaks to the world. It’s effectively your company’s face, voice and personality that needs to grab the attention of your customers, as well as differentiate you from competitors. As we enter the season of resolutions and healthful habits to carry us throughout the year, have you thought about the health and vitality of your company’s brand?

Over the last few decades, branded merchandise has entered the scene as a very real piece of culture. If you’ve never thought of brand merchandising, it may be time to jump on the bandwagon.

The weather is turning brisk, pumpkin-spiced everything is on the shelves and stores are swapping out colorful displays of oranges and yellows for reds and greens. The beauty of the seasons-to-come is emphasized in wonderful ways, especially with hand-lettered designs. Just as each Christmas gift is wrapped with care and presented with flare to that special someone, hand-lettering provides a unique and original presentation of a word or phrase to be enjoyed as a singular blend of art and design.

Symbols so good – they’re scary. Think of a Jack-o-Lantern and quick! What season is it? Is there any other time of the year where this symbol is used to convey something else? Nope. This symbol is so closely tied to one holiday, it has, in effect become part of Halloween’s “brand.” Using symbols to convey a universal message is as old as communication itself.

#trending. Ever feel like you can’t keep up with the trends? You’re not alone. Graphic design and media art is no different. Trends present some very unique challenges and opportunities for the professional graphic designer. What goes viral creates a movement, and our biggest temptation is to jump on the bandwagon too…right?

You all know the saying “actions speak louder than words.” Well today I’d like to discuss how typefaces speak louder than words. Impressively, the visual characteristics of a font or typeface can do a lot of the talking within your brand. It isn’t just the font you choose, but also the way you use and arrange it within a design that helps create an impactful visual and provide a lasting impression. Typography plays a critical role in marketing and design, but first let’s begin with a quick definition.

What is nostalgia? Simply put, nostalgia is the feeling of sentimental longing for a time or place in the past. This sensation is different for everyone and is based on their generation, childhood upbringing, and past experiences. However, one thing everyone has in common is that we seem to be drawn to nostalgia during times of uncertainty and change. Currently we are all experiencing a life filled with uncertainty and anxiety due to this worldwide pandemic. So, let’s find a way to ease each others minds through the use of nostalgic design and marketing.