Blog

When you have wines that are substantially different from each other, consider creating tiers that each clearly place them in relation to each other in the mind of the potential customer. This is done in the automobile world. Toyota has a premium line—Lexus. They also...

As a well-positioned vineyard brand becomes increasingly well respected, the value of both its property and its product escalates. That, in turn, positively affects the value of neighboring properties. Investors increasingly seek it out. Winemakers sign longer-term...

Often clients believe that if they paid for an original piece of art or commissioned a photo shoot, that they own all rights to the resulting images and can use them any way they wish. That is a very risky assumption! If the buyer reads the fine print, they will often...

A white-labeled product is one that is produced by one company for other companies rebrand, to make it appear as if they (the final retailer) had made it themselves. It’s a fairly common practice in the wine industry because it makes sense in many situations:  Those...

We’ve written these guidelines to help you prepare for your photoshoot…If you’re still not sure, bring more than one outfit to the shoot and our art director will be happy to offer guidance. Yes to Color!Many believe that black is slimming and professional. But,...

Why is some copy read and other copy ignored? Good writing and editing matter—a lot… However, there are things you can do to make your copy easy on the eyes—and the brain—and dramatically improve the chances that your copy will be read. Use short, easily understood...

I was puzzled when my group leaned an earthy, cozy, coffee shop vibe. I wondered how I could be so “off” in my color forecast? You’ve probably wondered why when you walk through the mall, you see the same colors over and over and over again. You think to yourself...

If you want it blue, do this! If you design a logo or label by committee, you will likely end up with a design that is blue (because everyone can agree on blue) and “safe”. Extraordinary concepts will be “revisioned” into mediocrity by well-meaning people. And sadly,...

An extremely perceptive young man once asked what we are looking for when we hire. It was such a great question, that I penned the response below. This may not be the same criteria other employers use, BUT if you’re in college preparing for a career in design, I...

It's not uncommon for a winery to have one or more “second labels” - often quite different from their primary brand. They may want to make it obvious that they came from the same winery or they may choose to be so different that no one knows the wine came from your...

As I flip through the pages of the glass catalogs, my designer-heart skips a beat. The shapes are sexy, elegant, sleek, and exciting.  I long for the day when a client calls and says we’re using THESE exquisite bottles and I want you design the glorious packaging....

The timing was interesting. I had just given a talk on the subject of —“Is it time to update your brand?” when my 2022 International Color Forecast boards arrived in the mail.  Color forecasting is an involved, year-long process, so the arrival of the final color...

Disclaimer: This is NOT legal advice.  It is based on our own experiences. Over the first few years of developing a new business, you will spend thousands—or even tens of thousands—of dollars developing a brand, buying signage, printing marketing and...