The JOURNAL

You know that moment when someone says, “Let’s make pizza at home!” and your first thought is Eww, David? Seriously, why? Every time, it ends up costing more than delivery, tastes like disappointment, and your kitchen looks like a scene from a natural disaster movie. And then, when the smoke clears, you realize the harsh […]

The cost of packaging design in 2026 ranges from $1K to $20K, depending on whether you’re paying for basic execution or strategic decision-making. Designers are not spinning a wheel and picking random numbers. No one wakes up and thinks, “Today feels like a twenty-grand label.” Some designers are order takers.Some designers are strategists. Different job. […]

Pro age beauty branding reframes ageing as confidence rather than something to fix. Most beauty branding still treats aging like a crisis. Fix this. Reverse that. Turn back time before it’s too late. But the brands that convert at a premium don’t play that game. They don’t sell empowerment. They don’t sell desirability. They don’t […]

Premium Packaging Design for Food Brands: What Actually Justifies a Higher Price isn’t about cost. It’s about conviction. Most food brands think higher prices are justified by ingredients, provenance, or production costs. Those matter, but they are not what customers pay for first. They pay for belief. Packaging is the fastest way to manufacture that […]

(And no, it’s not about picking a fancier font) Your product is brilliant. Your passion is infectious. But your packaging… well, let’s just say it’s not doing you any favours. You can’t hide behind the shelf whispering, “psst… mine’s better,” to someone in yoga pants, half-distracted, comparing labels while scrolling on their phone. You can’t […]

Branding = the outfit.Marketing = leaving the damn house. It’s one of the biggest misconceptions in small business: people think branding and marketing are the same thing. Spoiler aler: they’re not. They’re more like cousins who show up to the same party but have totally different jobs. What Is Branding? Branding is who you are […]

As a small business owner, you’ve probably been bombarded with advice about the importance of branding. Everyone says you need “proper branding” to succeed, but what does that really mean? And more importantly, what does it cost? Is it $500? $5,000? The GDP of a small nation? Here’s the thing: professional branding isn’t just about […]

Let’s talk about cults, baby. No, not the creepy basement kind with matching robes and suspicious Kool-Aid. We’re talking about the kind where people camp outside stores for days just to buy a water bottle. (Looking at you, Stanley Cup warriors.) The Cult Brand Phenomenon Ever wonder why people tattoo the Apple logo on their […]

Are you sabotaging your brand without even knowing it? From inconsistent visuals to chasing every trend, most brands are guilty of these common mistakes. Don’t worry—we’ve got the tough love (and solutions) you need to fix your branding and finally stand out. Ready for a reality check?

Let’s be real: I don’t know the first thing about trauma therapy, speech therapy, or roofing (I’m not even sure what tools roofers use — a hammer? Shovel? 🤔). And here’s the kicker: I don’t need to. My expertise isn’t in knowing how to guide someone through emotional healing, help them find their voice, or […]

Imagine this: You walk into an old petrol station off the highway, the kind that’s seen better days. The shelves are dusty, the snack selection is, well, questionable, and the cashier behind the counter is eyeing you with mild disdain as you load up on not one, not two, but three bags of Flamin’ Hot […]