Interrobang Design Collaborative, Inc.

06/22/2026

The barcode on your cereal box that hasn't changed in 50 years is about to change.

By the end of 2027, retailers worldwide must be able to scan 2D barcodes at checkout. This is a global initiative known as Sunrise 2027, led by GS1.

The familiar UPC barcode (those vertical lines) can only store one thing: a product ID number.

A GS1 DataMatrix or QR Code can store:
• GTIN (product ID)
• Expiration date
• Batch/lot number
• Serial number
• A live web link to allergens, nutrition, sourcing data, and more

All in a code smaller than a postage stamp.

This is the biggest change to retail product identification since the barcode was invented in 1974.

The transition has already started, as 48 countries (representing 88% of global GDP) are piloting the new technology right now.

Has your business or organization started the transition?

We'll be looking into how the GS1 DataMatrix works in Part 2.

If you need help evolving your packaging for compliance—we've got you. Send a DM or visit interrobangdesign-scheduler.as.me to schedule a call.

06/19/2026

What does 12 years of iterative brand design look like? For Switchback Brewing Co., it looks like 40+ label variations, multiple packaging formats, and a brand that's grown stronger with every evolution.

From the original 22oz bottles in 2012, to 12oz stubbies, 16oz cans, and a current flagship design rooted in the legacy of American baseball graphics—Interrobang has been the design partner at every step.

Each iteration balanced retail recognition, production constraints, and keeping the brand fresh for fickle consumers—without losing the equity built in the years before.

This is what long-term brand partnership looks like.

Interested in having this kind of partnership with a brand/design strategist for your brand? Send a DM or visit interrobangdesign-scheduler.as.me to schedule a call.

06/17/2026

06/17/2026

What a brand audit reveals that your financial statements don’t:

Your financials tell you what’s happening.
A brand audit tells you why, and what’s coming.

A good brand audit looks at how consistently you’re showing up, how clearly you’re positioned, how well your team understands what you stand for, and how your customers actually perceive you.

It reveals things that matter: messaging that’s drifted from the strategy, inconsistent visuals across channels, a gap between what you think you stand for and what your customers actually believe about you.

These insights reveal hard consequences in conversion rates, in retention, in how hard your sales team has to work.

Do you know what’s actually happening with your brand?

If you’re in need of a brand audit and want to schedule a call…
DM us or schedule a call at interrobangdesign-scheduler.as.me/

05/20/2026

Interrobang Design Collaborative, Inc. has been awarded a 2026 ADI Excellence in Packaging Gold Medal for the Bourbon label.

The American Distilling Institute (ADI) recognizes outstanding spirits packaging through its annual Excellence in Packaging Awards, held concurrently with the ADI International Spirits Competition.

Backus Distillery Bourbon (backusdistillery.com) contacted Interrobang a full 14 months before their inaugural bourbon was going to market (it had already been aging for 2.5 years...). Working directly with Owner and Master Distiller, Luke Backus, Interrobang developed the logo, brand identity design, and labeling system for his 4 year old, straight bourbon whiskey that is fermented, distilled, barreled, aged, and bottled in Westfield, Vermont.

We were integral in devising and designing the base structure for the numbering system for each vintage, barrel, and alcohol by volume when bottled, ensuring this hand-applied system was compliant with all local and federal requirements. We were involved in the research and specification of label stocks, finishing, and necessary file preparation to keep the project on budget and schedule. With the design of the brand’s website and collateral materials, Interrobang provided all the necessary, distinctive tools for Backus Distillery Bourbon’s successful release.

If you’re launching or evolving your spirits brand and want to set up a call to talk brand strategy and packaging, send a DM or click the link in our link.tree

05/14/2026

When you notice your winning design’s award and your award design for winners have something in common. 💪🏆

Left: Mark’s CBMA Best Can Design/Best Beer Series Crushie Award for Switchback’s Double IPA cat series.

Right: The trophy Lisa designed for the 1998 Burton US Open Snowboarding championships—a sterling silver four-sided snowboard ring displayed on a plaster hand-stand. (Two fingers = second place.)

05/05/2026

Late to the party… but here are a few of favs from over the years…

05/01/2026

From the archive: Burton plate binding manual design / The original multilingual manuals (5 languages at the time) were booklets. Those evolved to posters like this with minimal text and supportive illustrations. The posters then evolved to non-lingual manuals with technical illustrations that provided clear direction with no text—greatly streamlining the development and design of the manuals and reducing print production costs.