At Recipe, we always look outside first.
We stay closely connected to the world beyond our screens; avid followers of pop culture, we enjoy tracking the creative scenes and cultural shifts that shape how people think, consume and express themselves.
This genuine curiosity for the outside is a distinctive part of life at Recipe. It sharpens our instincts and enables us to create ideas that feel relevant, considered and deeply connected to the people they’re made for.
Studio Notes
Got my magnesium subscription delivery today and noticed that the refill pouch came in its own little box. Unlike my collagen, from the same company and in the same delivery, which came in a refill pouch only.
But I'm wondering why it needs the box as well? It offers exactly the same messaging as the pouch, with the addition of just one extra icon and short list of claims. It's certainly a very premium looking and feeling box, but seems very unnecessary as it's gone straight into the recycling. Unless capsules need more protection than powder? 🤷🏻♀️
Read this post in full on LinkedIn
A Gen Z take on toothpaste.
For decades, toothpaste was a pure utility: minty, clinical, forgettable.
But Gen Z doesn’t separate function from feeling, and now even oral care is being pulled into the world of identity, ritual and content.
Whipped Toothpaste from Hello (Colgate-Palmolive) is a category reframing:
Texture-first, designed for the 'everything shower' mindset, launched via TikTok shop, built to be seen, shared and styled, borrowing from beauty’s playbook.
A nice lunchtime read more than anything: I've recently been looking at Richard Guyatt commemorative mugs on eBay (as you do) and though I love his designs I never knew much about him. I found his obituary from 2007 in the Guardian last night, and thought I would share with you all as it tells a lovely tale of graphic design, design research, the RCA, the WHSmith logo, graphic designers being used in WW2 for various creative tasks, travel posters, and more!
Read this post in full on LinkedIn
One of my lovely colleagues Susie Cornelius showed us their tub of Marmite Caramel sauce from Marks & Spencer that they were planning to use for Pancake Day.
This really divided the room (virtual rooms, but okay).
Marks & Spencer has built a reputation on leaning into those unexpected combinations (a lot of us at Recipe are big fans of M&S products, it's quite often a topic of conversation in our daily stand ups!). Not everything is for everyone, but the things that stand out usually are a bit daring and a little weird at first.
Read this post in full on LinkedIn
I’d like to see brands rethink these gadgets so they blend easy UX/usability with a more imaginative design sensibility.
Two interesting examples seen this weekend: new proportions and structures for premium soup in M&S and low alcohol + magnesium in relaxing beer alternatives from BrewDog
.jpg)
I'm enjoying the new Only...Ingredients range at M&S. Looks like it's their response to UPF (ultra-processed food) concerns that were a big topic in public health and wellness last year - each product states how many ingredients it contains, and exactly what those ingredients are.
I think M&S seem on the front foot with these ranges, it normally takes supermarkets ages to respond to cultural trends / conversations.
Read this post in full on LinkedIn
Interesting on so many levels 🪴
It's just the beginning for Lego, but already it's a fresh take on Smart itself; fully embedded digital-physical.
Parents are going to love it aren't they... No screens!
Favourite image out of CES so far...this is the only way I'll be vacuuming from now on
No notes match the selected filters.
We’re a growing team of like-minded individuals who take great pride in our work and the results we deliver.
Deeply conscientious and highly collaborative, we’re proud of our reputation for quality of thought, creative rigour, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. If you’d like to know more about who we are, our leadership team would love to hear from you.