4011- Why Banana Stickers are Peak Communication Design
Bananas; beloved by monkeys, potassium-deficient folks, Gwen Stefani and me.
No, I have not gone B-A-N-A-N-A-S. Instead, I want to talk about the stickers that adorn them and have given bananas their marketing magic for just under a century.
Banana Sticker Background
For a little history, “the first sticker on a piece of fruit appeared in 1929, on a banana. This first label was called « The Fyffes Blue Label », and its goal was to distinguish Fyffes’ bananas from other bananas available in grocery stores,” said blogger Roxane Gataud.
Knowing the intent of the sticker was to distinguish itself from the crowd had me thinking, IS the dancing Chiquita lady on to something? She might just be.
So, what can visual communicators learn from the banana sticker?
Banana Stickers have a Personality
Miss Chiquita Banana exudes undeniable energy with her vibrant colours and basket brimming with fruit, symbolizing abundance. She epitomizes the spirited essence akin to the Salsa lady emoji – bold and sassy. 💃
Regardless of whether your brand matches Chiquita Banana’s gusto or not, how can we, as communicators, more effectively harness our brand personality?
Banana Stickers Spread Joy
Creating Positive user experiences can happen at different touchpoints; for this example, the banana sticker is the start of this journey.
Fostering positive outcomes could start with improving your product or service, customer service, online presence, accessibility, staff experience, etc.
When a brand starts with an emotional goal, that goal is reflective of a brands core values. Consider ways to evoke joy in your design and communication endeavours.
Banana Stickers Know their Target Audience
Few love stickers as much as kids do, making banana stickers a great touchpoint to motivate children to enjoy their fruits.
The presence of a banana sticker serves as a valuable reminder for creatives to conscientiously consider their target audience during the planning phase.
Banana Stickers are Iterative
For companies like Dole, imagery is iterative. From Star Wars to Disney characters, each sticker offers a particular surprise.
Similarly, the iteration process can be helpful, especially for shaking off creative ruts.
You may be working within corporate constraints, but creating small changes can be a way to switch things up, stay relevant and work within constraints.
Final Thoughts
There are small markings all around us begging for our consideration. In this case, it was the juvenile and joyful banana sticker.
Tapping into the concepts of personality, emotional connection, audience, and process can be a helpful place to start for communicators.
Just as Fyfes in 1929 knew what it meant to stand out in a basket of bananas, how can you?