Welcome to the Toast blog.

The future of printed marketing collateral.

The future of printed marketing materials is not about nostalgia. It is about precision. Fewer pieces. Better targeted. Better designed. Fully integrated with digital.

The agency perspective on client deadlines.

When a client shares timelines in advance, trusts the team to do their job, and understands the impact of changes, the relationship works better, and the work is stronger. Agencies are built for deadlines. They just need to be fair ones.

Why Businesses Outgrow WIX and Move to WordPress.

If you’re on WIX and starting to feel restricted, the best first step is a conversation. We’re always happy to take a look at your current setup and let you know what’s worth keeping, what could improve and how a move to WordPress might help.

Why illustrated maps are more than a gimmick.

We outline why illustrated maps are more than a gimmick. They make navigation emotional, not just functional. They turn places into experiences. They make information sticky. They extend your brand, not distract from it. They show your priorities visually. They are worth more than a logo. Talk to a Professional Map Designer Today They make […]

Why good UX beats flashy visuals every time.

This is one of the hardest truths for clients to accept. You know your site inside out. You know your offer, your brand, your process. Your users don’t. What seems obvious to you may be unclear to them. What feels engaging to you may feel distracting to them.

What clients misunderstand about design consultancy.

That might mean asking hard questions. It might mean scrapping the brief and starting over. It might mean fewer deliverables than you hoped for. But it also means better outcomes. More clarity. A stronger brand. Less waste. You’re not just buying creative, you’re buying confidence that it’s the right creative.

Design subscription services: hype vs reality.

Design subscriptions save time and money by eliminating the need to redo the groundwork.

Because design is not just output. It is clarity. And no subscription model creates that on its own.

How to decide when print is better than digital.

The key is intention. Poorly targeted print wastes budget. Well-planned print supports sales, brand and retention in ways digital alone cannot.

The biggest mistakes clients make when briefing a design agency.

Brief better, and the work gets better. The project moves faster. And your agency becomes a partner, not just a supplier.

The truth about optimisation and SEO for small business sites.

SEO is not a one-time job. Algorithms change, competitors adapt, and your business evolves. If your last update was years ago, then your site’s probably drifting further down the results without you even realising.

Why content strategy should lead design decisions.

If you want your brand, site or campaign to make sense, start with a content strategy. Define what needs to be said, who it’s for, and what you want them to do next.

Why the role of agency opinion still matters in an AI design world.

The agencies that thrive in an AI-first world won’t be the ones with the best software. They’ll be the ones with the best judgement. The ones who listen better, ask sharper questions, and offer clearer points of view.

Is an AI-generated website better than using WordPress?

Sure, you can build a website using GPT, but why would you when WordPress is so much better.

Why Annual Reports Still Matter in 2026.

An annual report is more than a collection of numbers. It is one of the clearest ways to express who we are and where we are going. If it feels like a chore, something is off. It should be something you are confident in sharing.

Illustrated Maps: What They Are, Why Brands Love Them, and How Long They Take.

Illustrated maps can add so much to your brand – they are also completely unique to you which in a world of stock images, is brand-gold.

10 things to consider when commissioning a map design.

Designing maps can be a complex process – here’s a guide on what to consider and how to brief your map design agency.

Why is hosting so important for WordPress?

If you don’t host your WordPress site on a reliable hosting platform, you are setting it up for failure, it really is that simple.

How to Design an Impact Report That Truly Stands Out.

An impact report is more than a summary of your achievements; it’s a powerful storytelling tool that showcases to stakeholders, funders, and your audience the tangible difference your organisation is making.

Unlocking the Power of Your Brand: Why Branding Workshops Are Essential for Business Growth.

Whether you are a start-up wanting to establish your identity or an established business needing a refresh, branding workshops can provide the tools, insights, and strategies you need to stand out.

Professional Report & Whitepaper Design Services.

At Toast, we help organisations create reports and whitepapers that look polished, meet accessibility standards, and deliver results; whether for print, digital, or both.

Making Print Accessible: How WCAG is Applied to Create Compliant Digital Documents.

At Toast, we help businesses and organisations create accessible brochures, reports, guides, and other print-ready PDFs that comply with these standards, ensuring your communications reach everyone.

Why Professional Logo and Brand Design Is Essential for Business Success.

At Toast, we offer comprehensive logo and brand design services to help businesses like yours define their visual identity and communicate their values clearly and effectively.

How Google Reviews Can Help Your Business Get Found Online (And What to Do About It).

Now more than ever, your online reputation is more important than ever, and one of the easiest ways to boost it is through Google Reviews.

Designing Custom Business Cards: Make a Lasting Impression.

Whether meeting a potential client, networking at an event, or simply leaving your details behind, a well-designed custom business card helps you stand out.

Benefits of a Brand Audit.

Whether you’re just starting, you have an established business, or you’re thinking of rebranding a brand audit can give you insights into growing long-term.

The Power and Importance of a Professionally Designed Business Card.

Whether you are a start-up, a freelancer, or a large corporation, investing in professional business card design can set you apart from the competition and create meaningful connections.

How a Branding Workshop Can Drive Real Business Growth.

If you want to create a powerful brand, attend a branding workshop. These aren’t just meetings; they’re immersive experiences that help businesses clarify their brand strategy, refine their positioning and create an identity that resonates with customers.

How to Unlock the Power of a Branding Workshop for Business Growth.

Through strategic discussions and creative exercises, you can refine your brand identity and create an unforgettable brand experience that sets you apart from the competition.

How to supply your website content to your web design agency.

In today’s fast-paced digital world, collaboration and efficiency are key to success. At Toast, we ask all our clients to supply content for their websites as Google documents.

Understanding the Differences: Project Quotes vs. Consultancy in a Design and Digital Agency.

What’s the difference between proposals, quotes and consultancy when engaging a creative agency?

Moving your website from WIX to WordPress.

WIX is often the go-to website builder for start-ups and smaller companies, but it’s easy to outgrow it as your business grows and you need a more robust platform for content and SEO.

Demystifying AI Image Generation: Exploring the Latest Trends, Technologies, and Applications.

AI Image generation is one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving fields in artificial intelligence.

Are design subscriptions any good for small businesses?

Small businesses’ design needs are as broad and varied as global brands, so could a design subscription be the answer to their requirements?

How to use ChatGPT as a copywriting tool.

If you’re a half-decent writer, AI shouldn’t be stealing your job.

Design Costs: Don’t Pay Too Much.

Are you paying too much for design services?

Do fliers still work as a marketing tool in the digital age?

There is a presumption that if a marketing promotion is not ‘digital,’ it is redundant or backward thinking.

10 things to consider when planning a magazine.

If you want a magazine designed, here are some tips on the planning and initial stages of the project.

How has commissioning a design agency changed?

Everything changes, but the rate of change in how design agencies are commissioned has been incredible over the last few years.

How to choose a graphic design agency that is right for your needs.

Finding the right design agency can be guaranteed by asking just five questions. Answer these before you even start looking at design agencies.

10 tips for designing magazines.

Designing magazines can be a daunting task for some; avoid some common pitfalls with our helpful guide.

5 tips for rebranding success.

Rebranding your business is not a decision that is undertaken lightly. It’s a huge commitment of time and resources, and if not done correctly, it can have dire consequences for your company’s future.

How to use icons on your website.

Adding simple but visually interesting content can help readers navigate and enjoy your website.

10 tips for effective packaging design.

When it comes to creating effective packaging design, it is essential to consider both Form and Function.

10 Benefits of using a larger design agency (but not one that’s too large).

Choose the design agency that suits the company you are going to be and the results will speak for themselves.

10 examples of amazing infographics.

We love magically compressing large volumes of information into a simple, effective graphic. Despite our neverending thirst for knowledge, humans actually have an average attention span of 8.25 seconds

How to use social media to market your business.

We know Grandma is on there because she keeps tagging us in posts about lost dogs at the other end of the country.

In the digital age, are printed magazines still viable?

If you were to walk down the aisle of WHSmith’s or even the magazine aisle in your supermarket, you would hardly consider the future of printed magazines to be in jeopardy.

How can a design subscription save you more than time and money?

A design subscription service can be a very straightforward way of getting your desired design services. But why should you try it?

Moving your website from Expression Engine to WordPress.

Expression Engine accounts for about 0.1% of the total CMS usage, so if you want to move your Expression Engine site over to WordPress, we can help.

How to hire a Graphic Design Agency.

Chances are, if you are reading this you googled about hiring designers: whether that was how to hire a graphic designer or what questions to ask when hiring a graphic designer or even how you engage a graphic design agency.

10 easy ways to technically optimise your website.

Everyone knows that a website needs to be optimised to rank better, but where do you start?

What is a Corporate Identity?

Asking the internet for a definition usually gives you a lot of surface-level waffle.

How to get the best from a branding workshop.

As with many things in life, what you get is very dependent on what you put in! The same is true for branding workshop activities.

10 Tips to achieve the best poster design.

Want to know Toasts poster design ideas? The following tips outline our thoughts on what makes a good poster design and avoid having to rely on free poster design templates which aren’t worth the money!

6 interesting PowerPoint template examples.

Slideshows don’t have to be boring – take inspiration from PowerPoint templates that keep audiences engaged.

Why an infographic works so well on your website.

Infographics convey complex messages in an appealing and accessible manner, creating exciting visual content out of mundane facts.

What are brand guidelines?

Brand guidelines, corporate identity guidelines or a brand book?

7 ideas for a new leaflet design.

In this increasingly digital landscape, we believe there’s still a space for great leaflets that connect with new and existing customers.

Unlimited graphic design services – too good to be true?

If you’ve been on the hunt for a new design agency in the UK, you’ve likely noticed a surge in websites promoting unlimited graphic design UK services.

Top 10 Tips to get the very best corporate brochure design.

Corporate brochure design should not be a difficult or troublesome experience, so we have compiled a list of Toast’s top 10 things to consider.

Point of sale design.

All your hard work has paid off and you’ve secured a spot on the shelves for your new product. Great point of sale design will help your wares stand out from the crowd.

How to mark up a PDF.

We’re a helpful bunch at Toast, so here’s our handy guide on how to mark up a PDF.

How to make your sales posters pop.

LifePharm® approached us to redesign a range of 10 posters for their sales teams. The posters were to be displayed in offices to help the sales teams quickly identify the range and the unique benefits of each product.

10 things you can do to improve your website.

If you are working remotely, you can still improve the effectiveness of your website – all you need is an internet connection!

Why using a magazine design template is a terrible idea for marketing people.

There are loads of them on the internet. And if you already know a bit of InDesign, how hard can it be? It might even be fun, a chance to break out of the daily slog and indulge your creativity…

What is full service design?

‘Full-service design’ means that the design agency can provide a large range of services.

Inktober and Mabs Drawlloween Club 2019.

Inktober has become a global event in the illustrator’s calendar since it’s small start back in 2009.

Rebrand or promote what you’ve already got?

The internet is full of big-budget rebrand success stories, but is a rebrand always the best strategy?

Digital Marketing services for Food or Drink Brands.

Whether you’re an established brand or just starting out, there’s one place your buyer can always be found; online.

Work Experience 2019 – Jess Wilson.

We always try to do at least one work experience placement a year at Toast.

‘Digital’ and ‘print ready’ PDFs – what are the differences?

You have had your brochure designed and then the designer supplies you with a digital and ‘print ready’ PDFs, so why have they done this and what is the difference?

File Formats – Whats What?

It’s important to choose the right file formats for images to get the best results. However you want your files, you should probably research the formats you need for whatever you want to do with them. To help you make sense of them, we’ve compiled a list of file formats and their various uses. So, […]

RGB and CMYK colour formats – does it matter what I use?

RGB and CMYK colour formats – does it matter what I use?    

White space is your friend.

Sometimes when we’re working on a brochure for instance, the client notices some white space on the page and feel they need to fill it with something.

Specifying colours – from screen to print and how these differ.

Whether you’re just about to start your design project or in the finalising stages, specifying colours you want can get complicated as there are many systems involved that display the colour you want differently.

How do I supply amends to my designer?

You’ve received the first draft of your new brochure from the designer and want to make a few changes. How do you go about giving them amends?

What is the difference between a pixel and vector based graphic.

If you’ve ever briefed a designer to create a promotional brochure for your company they may have asked you for your logo as vector-based graphics, but what is this?

What is the difference between a logo and a brand?

Our clients come to us at Toast asking us to design their logo or brand but what is the difference?

High resolution and low-resolution images – what to use and when.

When dealing with brochure designers you might get asked to supply your images as ‘hi-res’.

What are crops marks and bleed, do I need them?

When sending artwork to a printer you might get a response from them that they need the artwork to include crop marks and bleed. So what do they mean and why do you need to add them?

Purchasing images and licensing implications.

So you’ve instructed a designer to create an engaging brochure for your company but don’t have any images you can provide them because you simply don’t have any or the ones you have are not suitable for print (hi-res).

How can I edit my brochure?

You brief a design agency to create your company brochure for you. You’re really happy with the results, however, later down the line you need to update some of the information and make edits. How do I edit my brochure?

Large and multiple files, how do I send these to my designer?

When working with a designer on your latest brochure, you will probably need to send them multiple and or large image files. How can you do this without clogging up yours and their email accounts with Large Multiple Files?

Are you looking for a new design agency?

When we are approached by a client looking to work with us, we don’t focus on what their previous design agency did wrong but choose to concentrate on how we can fulfil (and hopefully exceed) their needs.

Biggest PR challenges in 2018?

What are the biggest PR challenges 2018 and how can we help you overcome them?

Are you planning on improving your marketing & print?

Are you confident in the effectiveness of your current marketing materials?

How much should you spend on hosting?

With so many hosting companies to choose from, how do you pick what’s best for your site?

The importance of brand consistency.

A successful brand is one that has considered all aspects of how engages with its customer and brand consistency is vital in this day and age.

Improve your site speed with managed hosting.

If your site isn’t as quick as you think it should be, we can improve your site speed with managed hosting.

Website planning – the stages of a website project.

If you are thinking about getting a new website, read on to find out how a good website planning process will make it more effective.

Why sketchbooks are important when applying for design jobs.

If you’re a design student or currently looking for your first design job,  sketchbooks can make all the difference at an interview.

Interactive brochures.

Toast can create or convert any professionally designed brochure into an interactive format that can be used across digital channels.

Rolling out a new “bigger” brand across all marketing materials.

Creating brands can be fun and we have taken a much-used phrase “can you make our logo bigger” (heard a lot in the design industry).

Looking to create marketing materials that are integrated and on brand?

Consistent and coordinated marketing materials project a clear and uniform message.

What are pop up exhibition stands?

Its a term you have seen used when it comes to exhibitions, but what are they and is it the right exhibition format for you?

Successful product launch – designed for maximum impact.

If you are looking for help launch a new product in the market or even just a simple new product launch checklist then read on.

Creative ideas for promotional giveaways.

Everyone wants a bag of goodies after leaving an event.

Some helpful tips when creating your next newsletter design.

Newsletters have always been the go-to option for marketing design teams that want to update or advise their various audiences.

How to engage your target audience with effective marketing design.

What is your target market and how do you engage with them?

Creating brand consistency in Marketing Materials.

Due to the high level of integration that is now demanded by modern marketing campaigns, it is now obvious that brand consistency is important in your marketing collateral. Brand consistency should be achieved across not only the campaigns but the underlying strategy.

Branding and Packaging Tunerfish Luglocks.

Tuner Fish lug locks are an essential bit of kit used by professional drummers worldwide to keep their drums in tune.

Do’s and don’ts for annual report design.

What you should be doing, and avoiding when creating your next annual report.

What is building a brand all about?

If you need to create a new brand or rejuvenate a flagging/unsuccessful brand then there is no shortage of articles and advice all saying that you should build you brand but gloss over exactly how!

New Kombucha Drink Branding & Packaging Design.

Toast has recently completed the branding and drink packaging design for a new brand on the market, The Kombucha Tea Co.

Planning your WordPress website.

How you plan your new website is crucial to make it work hard and win you new business. 

Clever use of Infographics in Annual Report Design.

As the audience for Annual Reports broadens the use of bespoke infographics is now more popular than ever as a way of presenting information.

Formats and finishes for annual reports.

Selecting the correct format and finish to your annual report will add that extra finesse, making it stand out and communicate more than just the facts.

Rebranding baby food with Goodness Gracious Foods.

Toast recently collaborated with Goodness Gracious Foods to complete a total rebranding of their range of baby foods.

Using a brand workshop to review and re-engage your brand.

It has been said that working on your brand “as you go” is like trying to change the tyres on your car while you’re still driving it!

Brand vs Logo. What’s the difference?

Brand versus Logo? These days the two are often mixed-up, even by designers, with the word ‘brand’ incorrectly used for a few different meanings, we’ll try to set the record straight.

Moving WordPress to a new theme.

We quite often get asked to quote for moving WordPress to a new theme.

The benefits of sketching.

Sketching is a vital part of the design process with lots of benefits.

What’s your brand story?

A compelling brand story is now seen as an essential element for all brands, both large and small.

WooCommerce websites that we have recently launched.

Using the flexibility that the powerful WordPress CMS offers, our experienced team of WordPress developers can deliver high-quality, bespoke e-commerce solutions for any business.

Logo workshop for startups: Branding your Success.

In the last few years, we have seen an explosion in the number of startups in a whole range of sectors from food and drink through to brand new niche consultancies.

Artisan Kitchen branding and packaging.

The Artisan Kitchen produce Award-winning Preserves, Jams and Marmalades in the heart of Gloucester. The requirement was to develop the existing logo, create a brand styling for labels and packaging.

14 ways a creative design agency can add value to your business.

If you’ve been handling all of your marketing, design and web presence in-house so far, it can seem like a huge jump to be joining forces with another company.

Design consultancy – the benefits of working with a larger agency.

When your design ambitions outgrow freelancer capabilities, it’s time to bring in some extra creative clout to push your business forward; you need the benefits of working with a design consultancy.

Planning your annual report design.

As there will be a lot of people contributing to the planning of your annual report, it is good to have a project manager to spearhead this and ensure the project runs smoothly.

13 Tips to Help Choose Between Graphic Design Agencies.

Choosing the right graphic design agency is an important first step in creating an ongoing and profitable relationship.

Different formats for brochures.

Using different formats for brochures can really make them stand out. Just because it’s a brochure, it doesn’t mean that it has to be A4. We’ve designed 100s of brochures – below are a few of the non-standard brochure designs we’ve produced.

Display banner designers.

Creating engaging and informative display banner designs are essential when showcasing your products or services.

Oxfordshire Design Agency for Marketing Professionals.

Marketing professionals have enough stresses and pressures on them without their design agency causing more.

Digital Marketing Banbury.

Based in the centre of Banbury, Oxfordshire, we work with B2B companies to improve their digital marketing.

Hachacha Curry Branding and Packaging made by Toast.

Bursting on to the Asian food scene soon, Hachacha brings an innovative answer to cooking a traditional Indian dish – in half the time. With tasty branding and packaging created at Toast.

Why design-led businesses benefit from using a full-service design agency.

Design-led businesses are becoming more and more popular every day. Companies realise how important design can be to business.

Ten things Marketers should look for from a full-service design agency.

There are loads of marketers that buy designs from various design agencies, big or small. But, how can a marketer know that they’re getting the best service possible?

The benefits of a long-term relationship with a design agency.

All businesses rely on other companies for various products and services. Firms have to pay energy companies for gas and electricity supplies.

No more death by Powerpoint.

So your Powerpoint presentation looks boring and amateurish, which is having a negative effect on your audience.

Stunning magazine design.

If you are looking at launching a new publication or thinking of refreshing your existing magazine design then toast are the ideal agency to help you with this.

What is the best finish for your brochure?

Design finishes can give your brochure that extra wow factor.

How do I improve my marketing?

How do I improve my marketing? If you are asking this question then you are ahead of the game of those that think that their marketing can’t be improved.

How do I audit my marketing?

Most marketing teams have a whole range of marketing materials; some of it new but most of it will be historic.

Give your brand, design and marketing a full service.

Give your brand, design and marketing a full service: Are you happy with your brand & marketing performance? Are you hitting your targets and achieving your goals?

Outstanding exhibition design.

If you are displaying at a show or an event you’ll need some form of exhibition design to promote your product or service.

Pocket folder designers.

Pocket folders come in all shapes and sizes, and establishing the purpose, content, and use is important before you start, as this will define the type of folder needed.

Infographic design.

Infographics are becoming ever more popular as they are great at presenting information in a quick, clear and informative format. 

Graphic design support.

We’re not a small agency, and that makes us perfect for larger clients that have a need for full-on graphic design support that’s quick and won’t let you down.

Making your website responsive.

Making your website responsive will have a beneficial effect on how hard it works for you.

Identify the marketing challenge….

The best creative design agency is one that is as eager to understand the problem, as it is to create the solution.

Launching a new food product.

If so, you’re about to embark on an exciting adventure into one of the most fast-paced and rewarding industries out there.

WordPress for small businesses.

While the platform is perfectly at home as a CMS for many enterprise-level businesses, it’s also a perfect starting point for any small business site – it provides a rock-solid platform, allows you to manage your own content and can be scaled up as your online marketing grows.

Looking for a new design agency to make the most from your budget?

Does your current agency seem to be overcharging and not really helping you get the return on investment you were hoping for?

We solve marketing problems with design.

I am quite regularly asked what Toast Design does and the simple answer is…

Looking for a new design agency?

Trust is a fundamental part of the relationship between a client and a design agency.

Marketing Food Products.

How to get your food products noticed, you’ve worked hard to develop a great tasting product, but how do you now get your product noticed and sell? – A clear brand identity is key.

Creating great food packaging design.

Based on our experience, we have put together 10 tips that we help you to create great and effective food packaging design for your product.

Getting your brand strategy right from the start can pay dividends..

Some good brands have developed by chance, but the great brands haven’t.

Content planning.

It’s very easy to get all excited about the prospect of a new website, but content planning comes first.

Adding that little more to your PDF brochure.

Online brochure formats are increasingly becoming more and more popular as they give you the ability to respond to client requests instantly. 

Get more from my WordPress website.

We have had a recent rush of companies coming to us and asking “how do I get more from my WordPress website?”. 

Designing an electronic brochure.

There is a lot of terminology being used at the moment regarding electronic brochures, epubs (or electronic publications), e-books (electronic books) and iBooks (Apple’s version of the e-book format).

Websites for Food Businesses.

If you’re starting a small food-related business or developing an existing one, you’ll already know about the importance of having a website that works.

Online brochures.

Online brochures or ‘flippy page’ brochures have different names but fundamentally offer the same thing, the ability to view your brochure online.

Key tips for great food label design for food and drink products.

There are currently around 10,000 new food and drink products introduced in the UK each year. So what do you need to do to ensure that your new product gets noticed, or your existing product doesn’t get lost under the raft of newcomers?

SEO Tips...

Two of the top questions we get asked by companies we meet is “How much should I spend on SEO?” and “What should I be getting from my SEO budget?”.

The key stages of great logo design.

Here at Toast Design we have developed a unique 5 Stage process for creating great logo design.

What is branding?

It involves every aspect of communication you have with customers, staff and other audiences – so what is branding?

First impressions last with luxury brochure design.

In this day and age, with consumers being sold to every minute of the day, it is even more important that you consider every aspect of that FIRST IMPRESSION.

Creating great catalogue design.

Toast Design have a range of clients that require complex sales tools from folders to niche brochures, but all depend on us to deliver great catalogue design.

Outsourced design services for PR agencies.

Toast Design provide outsourced design services for PR agencies and they are really happy with the results.

Charity brochure designers.

Brochures need to work hard these days, never has this been truer than with Charity brochures. Getting the most out of your budget isn’t so much a desire as a business prerequisite.

Luxury Brochure Design for brands.

Here at Toast we have helped our clients sell everything from widgets to thingy-m-bobs but some of the very best luxury brochure design has been driven by prestigious brands…

Creating Effective Logo Design.

There are lots of opinion pieces on logo design and it can be rather confusing, but with over the last 15 years experience working with many businesses we have put together a guide to creating effective logo design.

Logo & Brand Design for Startup Businesses.

Creating an effective logo and brand identity for a startup business is vital to it’s success.

Branding tips for artisan food producers.

We’ve worked with a few food brands recently, all of which can be classed as artisan food producers, and there are two things that they all have in common….

A taste for food brand design.

I have a real passion for working with foodie brands, particular the artisan, smaller companies that really care about what they’re producing and have a passion for it.