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Meet the member:
Mint Modern Creative

Introducing Nicola Stewart

What’s in a name? Tell us why your business is called Mint Modern Creative?

Beside a mojito being my favourite cocktail, the name Mint Modern reflects my businesses core values and mission. Embracing the symbolic qualities of mint, Mint Modern symbolises dedication to purifying and elevating brands, promoting mental clarity, and providing fresh, modern design solutions that leave a lasting positive impact.

Additionally, mint is a symbol of hospitality. It serves as a sensory trigger, evoking touch, taste, smell, and colour—elements that resonate with the approach taken in my creative process.

How would you describe your design style in three words, and how does it reflect your approach to brand strategy?

My signature style is clean, intentional, and energetic with a love for pops of colour, contrast and texture. I focus on thoughtful details and simplicity, following a “less is more” ethos. This reflects my approach to brand strategy by prioritising simplicity to ensure clear communication and my dedication to creating designs that are both purposeful and visually refined.

What drew you to work specifically with food, drink, hospitality, and tourism clients?

These industries are all about creating special experiences, emotional connections and exploring the senses. Whether it’s the joy of great food and drink, the warmth of hospitality, or the excitement of travel, each brand has a unique story to tell. I’m drawn to the diversity and creativity in these sectors, and I enjoy helping businesses share their stories and make lasting connections with people.

What is your expertise?

My expertise lies in crafting a consistently memorable brand experience by seamlessly aligning your products, platforms, and physical spaces. Whether it’s a retail space, a brand event, a website, or a digital/social campaign, I ensure that every touchpoint resonates emotionally with the audience.

What is your favourite kind of project to work on?

My favourite projects revolve around retail and event experiences. I’m passionate about crafting the entire customer journey—from point of sale and engaging touchpoints to visual merchandising, shop layout and interior design, packaging, and brand events. Working with the senses to create a memorable experience is particularly exciting for me.

I find joy in designing journeys that not only leave a lasting impression on customers but also drive commercial success for the client. It’s about striking the right balance between a memorable brand experience and ensuring it’s commercially viable, resulting in increased sales.

The evolving landscape of online shopping adds an intriguing dimension to these projects. I enjoy exploring ways to seamlessly integrate both online and offline elements, creating a hybrid shopping experience that adapts to the changing preferences of consumers. It’s a dynamic and creative process that keeps me inspired and enthusiastic about every retail-focused project I undertake.

How do you measure the success of your brand strategy and design efforts, and what key performance indicators (KPIs) do you track for your clients in the food, drink, tourism and hospitality space?

Success is aligned with overall business goals and is viewed holistically, not relying on a single metric. Key performance indicators (KPIs) include sales data, repeat business, and customer loyalty as fundamental measures of the brand strategy’s impact. Additionally, assessing collective data such as customer satisfaction, brand awareness, and engagement through feedback, online reviews, and social media interactions provides a well-rounded perspective on the effectiveness of the overall strategy.

Can you share a design or branding trend that you've noticed gaining traction in the food, drink, hospitality and tourism industry recently?

Sustainability – This is not a trend but a fundamental aspect of responsible business practice. Consumers are increasingly drawn to brands that showcase their commitment to environmental responsibility. Ways you can incorporate sustainability into your brand strategy are local sourcing, collaborate with sustainable partners, life-cycle of packaging, green certified such as organic or carbon neutral, carbon offsetting (only do this last after looking at other ways to reduce your carbon footprint).

In what ways can Food from Fife members collaborate with Mint Modern Creative?

I offer flexibility for various project sizes from one-time tasks like logo or label design to more extensive projects such as brand strategy sessions and website development. Whether it’s a standalone project or ongoing brand implementation I can adapt to your needs functioning as an extension of your business.

www.mintmodern.co.uk
Email: fresh@mintmodern.co.uk
Tel: 07809 415348