Strategy Blog Category

For the second consecutive year, 29 Design Studio is bringing home the gold from the Hermes Creative Awards. The agency was awarded Gold in packaging design for CPG brand Panacheeza and received an Honorable Mention for a King Brothers Dairy Rebrand.

We’re seeing these crests on more of the drinks on our shelves. Certifications symbolized with leaves and arrows, and checkmarks. But what are these beverage certifications? And why would a brand want to certify its beverage? Why would a beverage certification be valuable to a consumer?

In a year where recession looms large, 29 Design Studio must be doing something right. The branding and strategy agency isn’t seeing a downturn and has continued to see growth with clients in the food, beverage, and agriculture industries.

Opportunity dominated conversations at the New York Farm Bureau annual conference in Buffalo. While Focusing on the Future, the talk on the floor and on the stage was all about the positive ways we would adapt, advance, and achieve.

Some people think that storytelling is reserved for marketing consumer brands but nothing is farther from the truth. Companies who focus on selling to businesses equally need a clear and engaging story to differentiate themselves from competitors and engage decision-makers.

Forbes.com published an article featuring a recipe for success for diverse agritourism destinations. The article, which included 10 ingredients that make for successful agritourism, was written by 29 Design Studio Founder + CEO Maureen Ballatori.
“For many Americans, particularly those living in urban environments, how food makes it into their homes, supermarkets and restaurants seems almost like magic. When that “magic” broke down during Covid amid food supply chain issues, consumers became even more curious about where food comes from and how to obtain locally sourced products.”[…]

Try asking the almighty Google, “How do I brand an association?” You’ll get loads of articles about brand association — what a customer considers when they think about your brand. You know, the mental connections between a brand and a concept. Heady stuff (pun intended), but not quite what you were looking for. Okay, now […]

We know how helpful software is in improving collaboration. You’ve seen the list: Monday, Basecamp, Dropbox, Slack – they enhance project management and communications. At 29, we use them all.  But how about extending this collaborative energy into the way marketing and sales work together?  Too often there is a breakdown in integrating marketing and […]

AgriMarketing published a feature article detailing tips for food innovators to engage funders. The article, which highlights how to write a compelling story for investors, was written by our own founder and CEO, Maureen Ballatori. Ballatori writes: “If your story does not flow, is not clear, does not answer critical questions, and fails to pique the […]

First, it was hot because it was illegal. Now it’s hot because of demand. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo legalized medical marijuana in 2014, followed by its recreational use in 2021. While cannabis has always been a heated market, legalization has sparked intense conversation and industry change. 29 Design Studio has kept up with cannabis […]

Chances are high that your prospective customers are on Facebook. The wildly popular social media platform has more than 2.4 billion monthly active users. And that’s a pre-COVID stat. Imagine the growth on the platform now with people at home and online more than ever. So the question is… how do you hook your reader […]

We all know that if you want to succeed professionally, you need to dress for success.  Even in our current world of Zoom meetings, what you look like in camera view is important.  Guess what? The same is true of your brand.   A strong brand guide makes sure that every time your brand is visible […]