MBD won TEN Vertex Awards this week at the Velocity Conference + Expo! We are also excited to give a big congratulations to our client Sprouts, who won Retailer of the Year, winning the most design awards out of any retailer in the competition. We are excited to share with you MBD’s winning designs below:
GOLD: Sprouts Brand Redesign
The new Sprouts brand delivers uncompromising quality with a wide variety of products across most categories throughout the store. This redesign focuses on increased awareness and perception of the brand by using the refreshed logo and modernizing the current packaging through various categories across the store. MBD created a look that elevates customers’ expectations and generates excitement around new products and new flavors. We used a billboard effect to broaden appeal beyond its existing customer base with bold coloring, storytelling through illustrations and ownable photography, unexpected typefaces, and design elements that are more category specific.
GOLD: Sprouts Everyday Crackers
The cracker category is saturated with many brands using bright, primary colors to stand out on shelf. MBD pulled back the design and utilized pastel colors to create an on-brand and on-trend package that stands out in a crowded category shelf set. We used simple, elegant watercolor-style illustrations combined with photography to elevate these everyday crackers.
SILVER: Sprouts Soy Chorizo
A new product to Sprouts, MBD designed soy chorizo to compete with the other vegan alternatives. The unique design disrupts the on-trend plant based product category with a quirky approach to the farmers market feel. The fun pattern work brings a youthful energy to the design.
BRONZE: Sprouts Olive Oil
MBD’s beautiful olive oil design uses colorful, bold patterns and quirky typeface to stand out in a crowded category. The unique approach to a farmers market style feels lively and unexpected.
BRONZE: Sprouts Almond Milk
Very early on in the redesign, MBD’s team was tasked with revamping the existing almond milk line at Sprouts. This design was the first where MBD introduced a “character” with some cartoon charm. We designed the almond milk mascot to differentiate product variation without breaking cohesion of the brand and product line. The earth tones, simple line work and punchy ingredient shot with a large almond bring this item to life.
BRONZE: Sprouts Beans
Canned beans are a popular commodity item that find themselves in a wide range of recipes. MBD wanted to make sure these cans stood out on shelf and clearly communicated the product, without creating too much noise on the PDP. The photography within the set is what made the concept come alive and create a lot of fun and movement on the packaging. Organic and conventional canned beans were designed in a family look to connect the SKUs while keeping them easily shoppable.
BRONZE: Smart & Final Ice Cream
The structure of the ice cream carton was modernized to a “Scround” (square/round) shape that differentiates it from a traditional round package. The rich color palette and subtle pattern across over 20 flavors make a strong visual impact on-shelf. Completely ownable photography makes the ice cream the hero but pairs the product with interesting and indulgent ingredient inclusions. The design also allows the smaller side panel to act as an alternate PDP, allowing for more flexible merchandising in smaller format stores.
BRONZE: 7-Eleven Peppermints
MBD designed these peppermints to follow brand initiatives and match the look of the 7-Select candy line. We created an everyday look for a product that is often seen as seasonal. The final design uses creative storytelling for these sweet, fun, on-the-go treats. The carnival tent stripes magnify the iconic pattern of these classic candies, and the peppermints are playfully added into the scene on a rollercoaster.
BRONZE: PriceSmart Pet Food
MBD partnered with PriceSmart to design this friendly, fresh, inviting line of pet food products. The product benefits are highlighted in a distinguishable way without being too serious. The imagery of high-quality ingredients and happy pets are front and center to draw attention to the product.
BRONZE: BJ’s Wholesale Club Baby Wipes
The mix of diverse and happy babies with bright colors and fun patterns bring the baby wipes package to life. Callouts highlight competitive features equivalent to national brands carried in-club at BJ’s Wholesale Club stores.
Congratulations to all Vertex Award winners as well as all who participated in the competition! With all the current innovation and energy around new store brand packaging artwork, we are excited to see the new designs that continue to come out across all retail brands throughout the rest of the year!
