Our Thinking
The World Through our Lens
Kaleidoscope is a CPG packaging design and prototyping agency headquartered in Chicago. We’re makers, thinkers, and opinionated observers of everything packaging. Here’s what’s on our minds — from design trends and sustainability to the forces reshaping consumer goods. For a deeper look at our capabilities, visit: strategy, packaging design, and prototyping.
Latest Perspectives
June 23, 2026
CPG innovation has never moved this fast, and for most teams, the process still hasn’t caught up. Here’s why speed is the defining factor in modern product development, and what it takes to actually move at the pace the market demands.
Moment of Truth
In light of recent changes, there are rich opportunities for both brands we are not so familiar with and our go-to love brands alike.
Finding Inspiration at Home
When we found out we were working from home, I was concerned. The office was what made me a stronger creative. Sketches and retro packaging stapled to the walls, co-workers teaching me design tricks, and other inspirational interruptions seemed to help guide my work. How would I recreate this creative environment at home?
Stuck! 6 Hacks to Strengthen Your Writing
As if suddenly working from home while fearing a global health crisis wasn’t enough, nearly a third of the nation’s workforce began experiencing an added stress: writing, and writing more often, and writing for occasions unusual for them.
Working From Home and the Importance of Prototyping
As the work-from-home culture of our industry evolves, so does our need to better communicate design thinking and design intent beyond beyond sharing computer-generated image.
From House to Home
As the ways we live continue to evolve, our approach to organizing and filling our homes have been subject to change as well.
In Defense of Design When Assets Offend
As designers, we should be embracing the changing consumer mindset and lead. With an understanding of strategic design principles, design history, storytelling and grounded marketing, we can support our clients with enacting meaningful change.
How Action-Centric Design Can Improve Client-Agency Relationships
The future of the agency-client relationship is more about creating an action-centric working partnership that starts with rethinking the brief and incorporating co-creation in design work.
Back to School in the Time of Covid-19
This year, many parents across the country are finding themselves with the hardest back to school decision: Do we actually send our children physically back to the classrooms?
Adulting in the 21st Century
A relatively new term, “adulting” is used to describe those mundane-but-necessary tasks we must accomplish.
More Than Just Water
As attitudes toward health and sustainability continue to evolve, brand strategies and product designs for hydration bottles have also heated up in the last several years.
Keeping it Clean
Many Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies and retailers are attempting to set goals and honor commitments to integrate eco-friendly solutions into their packaging and product design.
Updates: You Have Needs. We Can Help
For the past four months, our strategy, design and realization staff have been able to respond our clients’ needs utilizing a hybrid model of onsite and remote teams. As we move into the next phase of readiness, we want to share updates to our business community plan to adapt to COVID-19.