The Brand Bottle: Packaging Design for the Modern Drinks Industry

n this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we sit down with Matt Remphrey, the founder of Parallax Design, a brand strategy and packaging design agency specializing in the wine, beer, and spirits industry. Matt shares his journey from working at a large design agency to starting his own business almost 25 years ago, a decision he made after a trip to the US revealed that the work he was doing in Adelaide was on par with—if not better than—that of major international studios. He discusses the pivotal shift from being a generalist agency to niching down into the drinks sector, a move that was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and ultimately opened doors to a global clientele and more strategic, high-value projects.Matt delves into the core of his work, which spans from brand strategy and naming to packaging, marketing, and a growing focus on e-commerce and digital strategy. He explains how his agency helps drinks brands stand out in a competitive market by feeding consumer-driven brands that resonate with specific audiences. Looking ahead, Matt outlines the challenges and opportunities facing the industry, including global headwinds for alcoholic beverages and the strategic push into the non-alcoholic and functional drinks space, all while aiming to grow revenue by building deeper, long-term partnerships with his clients.