A Slice Of - Packaging Design

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May 2026

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Packaging design can make or break how consumers see and understand your brand. On average, a medium-sized UK supermarket may stock around 30,000 to 40,000 individual products. That a lot of choice! So what is it that makes us pick up the products up and part with our hard earned cash? In each episode, ‘A Slice Of’, will take a look at a supermarket brand and critique the packaging design to find out what works, or doesn’t. What makes you desire them, or even hate them? Website - https://slicedesign.co.uk LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alangilbody/

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May 15, 2026Episode 429 min

A Slice Of... What does sustainability actually mean? (No. 42)

When it comes to packaging design, what does sustainability or being sustainable actually mean?So, what exactly does 'sustainability' or to 'be sustainable' actually mean when it comes to packaging for consumer goods?Is it about the carbon footprint? Is it about the energy consumed at manufacture? Is it about how the products are packaging, recycled and disposed of, or is a mixture of all?If you asked most consumers, or even experts in the industry what it means to 'be sustainable', they’d be hard-pressed to answer.The simple truth is, if you pin down a consumer on actual carbon data and overall 'carbon saved' on one packaging format versus another they would have no idea whether this was a significant or moderate improvement.I suppose this comes down to brands and especially manufacturers to educate consumers and explain exactly what some of these figures mean in real terms and also some of the trade-offs when it comes to trying to achieve them.This conundrum was brought to light recently when the curiosity got the better of me and I decided to open up one of those snazzy paper wine bottles. The truth I found out is that its not strictly a 'paper bottle' but a clam shell covering a pouch.You can find our contact details below:Alan Gilbody on Linkedin:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alangilbody/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slice Design Company website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://slicedesign.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#packagingdesign #packdesign #packaging #branddesign #branding #design #agency #designagency #drink #food #advice #sustainability

April 15, 2026Episode 416 min

A Slice Of... Why your back of pack is an integral part of the design system. (No. 41)

Why you should see your back of pack as an integral part of the packaging design system. (No. 41)The back of pack is an often underused and unloved part of the pack. The fact is, it is an important part of the design system.With consumers becoming increasingly discerning and seeking more information to aid their purchasing decisions, the back of the pack has emerged as a crucial element in the brand storytelling process.This podcast delves into the best practices and potential pitfalls associated with leveraging the back of the pack as a powerful marketing tool.You can find our contact details below:Alan Gilbody on Linkedin:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alangilbody/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slice Design Company website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://slicedesign.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#packagingdesign #packdesign #packaging #branddesign #branding #design #agency #designagency #drink #food #advice #colour

March 6, 2026Episode 405 min

A Slice Of... Why is it important to establish a brand, rather than solely focusing on aesthetically pleasing packaging (No. 40)

Why is it important to establish a brand, rather than just solely focusing on aesthetically pleasing packaging?Why do I need a brand? This is something we get asked a lot, especially from Startups who don’t fully understand the benefit of having one.A brand isn’t a logo, it’s not the colours you decide to use, it’s not what you call a product, it’s not how the product looks, it’s how your product is understood in the mind of the consumer.In today's competitive marketplace, having a strong and well-defined brand is crucial for the success of any product or business. A brand is not just a logo or a catchy name; it's the way your product or service is perceived by your target audience. A well-designed brand can help you stand out from the competition, build customer loyalty, and ultimately drive sales.You can find our contact details below:Alan Gilbody on Linkedin:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alangilbody/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slice Design Company website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://slicedesign.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#packagingdesign #packdesign #packaging #branddesign #branding #design #agency #designagency #drink #food #advice #colour

January 22, 2026Episode 396 min

A Slice Of... The importance of creating a robust pack architecture (No. 39)

The importance of creating a robust pack architecture in branding & packaging designGetting your hierarchy right on pack can be the difference between standing out or disappearing on shelf.Implementing a clear, cohesive brand architecture across core and extended products is imperative both for shelf standout and to aid consumer navigation. This architecture provides familiarity while introducing cues that differentiate offerings. Done correctly, it helps consumers navigate the range in an efficient way.A solid architecture creates consistency. Customers appreciate it when a business has a consistent brand. In fact, consistent presentation of a brand has seen to increase revenue by 33 percent (Lucidpress, 2019).So why is this important? It takes between 5-7 impressions to even start creating brand awareness. When creating packaging design, especially on large ranges or ranges with multiple offerings, brands should make sure they repeatedly emphasise the brand uniform and assets in a consistent way, as this will help recall.Simply put, architecture defines were all the important bits should go.You can find our contact details below:Alan Gilbody on Linkedin:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alangilbody/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slice Design Company website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://slicedesign.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#packagingdesign #packdesign #packaging #branddesign #branding #design #agency #designagency #drink #food #advice #colour

November 20, 2025Episode 385 min

A Slice Of... The importance of colour choice for packaging design (No. 38)

The importance of colour choice in branding & packaging designColour is one of the most important elements of packaging design. Research shows that 52% of consumers first notice the colour on packaging before anything else.The right use of colour in packaging can instantly guide consumers to a brand and convey key product qualities. When used strategically and consistently, colour is an impactful visual shortcut that builds brand recognition. However, the wrong colour choices can have the opposite effect. This podcast covers best practices and watch-outs when working with colour in packaging design.You can find our contact details below:Alan Gilbody on Linkedin:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alangilbody/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slice Design Company website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://slicedesign.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#packagingdesign #packdesign #packaging #branddesign #branding #design #agency #designagency #drink #food #advice #colour

October 22, 2025Episode 375 min

A Slice Of... When should I change or update my branding & packaging design? (No. 37)

When should I change or update my branding & packaging design?Most brand owners have been there and asked themselves this question. It’s really easy to get complacent and refuse the need for a change to your branding and packaging design because you’re either currently doing ok, or there is no budget. But when is the right time – when you are on the upwards slope or when you are sliding down?You can find our contact details below:Alan Gilbody on Linkedin:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alangilbody/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slice Design Company website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://slicedesign.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#packagingdesign #packdesign #packaging #branddesign #branding #design #agency #designagency #drink #food #advice #freepitch #freepitching

October 2, 2025Episode 366 min

A Slice Of... Why You Shouldn't Ask Your Agency To Free Pitch (No. 36)

Why brands should never ask their packaging design agency to pitch for free.If you ask a design agency to pitch creative ideas for free, are you approaching the project in the right way and are you going to get the best agency work back?To free pitch or not, is something each design agency needs to decide based on the return for their initial creative investment.If the win for the agency is a continued relationship and more paid work with a client over a bigger portfolio of products, then obviously the initial free pitch may be well worth it. The same may not be true, however, for a free pitch on a ‘one-off’ project.You can find our contact details below:Alan Gilbody on Linkedin:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alangilbody/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slice Design Company website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://slicedesign.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#packagingdesign #packdesign #packaging #branddesign #branding #design #agency #designagency #drink #food #advice #freepitch #freepitching

August 19, 2025Episode 355 min

A Slice Of... Why Consumer Brands Should Consider Sonic Branding (No. 35)

Why Consumer Brands Should Consider Sonic Branding.What Does Your Brand Sound Like?In an era of visual overload and shrinking attention spans, brands are constantly searching for new ways to cut through the noise and clutter. While many have a brand logo, tone of voice and robust graphical design system, a powerful tool is often overlooked: sound.Sonic branding, also known as audio branding is the strategic use of sound to express and reinforce brand identity. From Netflix’s unmistakable “ta-dum” to the Intel chime or the "beep-bop-beep-beep-bop" of the F1 notification (thats the best I could manage), these aren’t just sounds they are instantly recognisable memory anchors, emotional triggers, and trust builders.When done well, sonic branding becomes as recognisable as a logo or tagline. It’s about creating an identity your audience can hear and feel, even when your design system and brand logo aren’t present.Today’s media landscape is increasingly audio-driven. From podcasts and audiobooks to TikTok and app notifications, sound has become a dominant force in how people consume content and connect with brands.Here’s what makes sonic branding so effective:Speed of recognition: Sound is processed faster than visuals, helping your brand become instantly recognisable.Emotional depth: Music and the human voice can evoke powerful emotions. Everyone recognises the Jaws theme! Quick recall is essential for building loyalty and trust. Cross-platform consistency: Whether it's a podcast intro or a TikTok clip, your sonic identity unifies your brand across formats, even when you can't see it.Future-proofing: As voice search and audio-first experiences grow, brands that don’t sound like anything risk being forgotten.Sound has always been a shortcut for recognition. Think of the clatter of horse hooves, the ring of a church bell, or the buzzing of a wasp , your brain knows what these mean before you consciously think about it.It’s the same in marketing. A distinct sound can tell your audience who you are, your values and what you stand for in miliseconds.Research recently showed that nearly three quarters of Europeans recognise the Nokia ringtone and associate it directly with the brand, amazing eh? That’s the power of a well-designed sonic identity that makes the brand pop straight into the head of the consumer.Visual branding will always be important. But in a world where people are listening just as much as they’re looking, your brand needs to sound as good as it looks.Using these audio logos, the best marketers understand that audio is no longer optional, it’s a core part of storytelling and brand recall.So, it’s time to ask, What does your brand sound like?You can find our contact details below:Alan Gilbody on Linkedin:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alangilbody/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slice Design Company website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://slicedesign.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#packagingdesign #packdesign #packaging #branddesign #branding #design #agency #designagency #drink #food #advice #sounddesign #sonicbranding

July 9, 2025Episode 346 min

A Slice Of... Why Brand Guidelines Are Important For Packaging (No. 34)

The importance of creating robust brand guidelines in packaging design.In order to be consistent, a brand needs to have a precise set of rules in place that dictate how it should be realised in any eventuality. That is where brand guidelines come in.Brands that can successfully manage consistency have been proven to perform better and have higher recall from consumers.Consistency and repetition is key. Brand engagement needs to happen between five and seven times for consumers to remember you.A company's brand is one of its most valuable assets. It represents the business's identity, personality and reputation. Effective brand management is crucial for success. One of the key tools for managing a brand is the brand guidelines document. These are the rulebook for your entire brand. They offer a wealth of information to ensure consistency across all consumer touch points.You can find our contact details below:Alan Gilbody on Linkedin:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alangilbody/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slice Design Company website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://slicedesign.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#packagingdesign #packdesign #packaging #branddesign #branding #design #agency #designagency #drink #food #advice #AI #brandguidelines

April 2, 2025Episode 337 min

A Slice Of... Why AI Can't Replace The Design Agency (No. 33)

How AI can't replace the role of the packaging design agency.This morning, on LinkedIn, I came across a post that genuinely made me pause.It was from a reputable marketer, someone with significant industry clout and a track record of pretty solid thinking. They’d recently discovered a new AI-driven image creation platform and were clearly impressed. Fair enough, these tools are impressive. But the post ended with a rather sweeping statement questioning what value design agencies now added?!Not just because it felt unnecessarily provocative, but because it came from someone who should understand the broader value of creative partnerships. For someone with that much experience to make such a public declaration was, frankly, surprising.It made me wonder, what must the marketing teams reporting to this individual think? If that’s what they’re willing to say in a public forum, what messages are being reinforced internally? That creativity is now a commodity? That speed and aesthetics are more important than strategy and cohesion? Nah, surely not!You can find our contact details below:Alan Gilbody on Linkedin:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alangilbody/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slice Design Company website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://slicedesign.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#packagingdesign #packdesign #packaging #branddesign #branding #design #agency #designagency #drink #food #advice #AI #artificialintelligence