reflections

The Strategies of Strategy

At Sister Mary, strategy and creative always operate in lock-step because great design doesn’t just come from strategy — it proves it.

Saints and Sinners of 2025

Rejoice (or repent). It’s time for Sister Mary’s second annual saints and sinners: our unapologetic take on the brands that earned devotion - and those that didn’t, in 2025.

Who are you, really? Making your brand's true self shine

Forget Jung’s archetypes and adjective lists — here’s how to build a personality that actually feels human.

Picking your Partners: Learnings from the best and meh-est around

From electric-charged smoothies to iced tea flavored lip balm, brand partnerships are having a moment — and not all of them are good. When done right, collabs build buzz, break boundaries, and give brands new life in unexpected places. When done wrong, they feel like April Fools jokes no one asked for.

Desirable by Design: The Glow-Up Guide for Any Category

From Graza making olive oil a centerpiece to Liquid Death bringing edge to the epitome of bland, and everything in between, we’re seeing lifestyle brands being built and thriving in even the unsexiest of aisles.

From Mocktails to Must-Haves: Building a Brighter Future for 'Non-Alc'

As the non-alcoholic beverage market continues to grow, brands must move beyond simply mimicking alcoholic drinks and start defining the category by what it truly offers.

The Pursuit of Desire: Building Brands that Inspire Devotion

As the meaning and role of desire & gratification has changed in culture, we at Sister Mary are championing its power across all the brands and categories we work with - inspiring devotion with every brand and category we touch.

When Soda Meets Spirit: The Risks and Rewards of Soft Drinks in the RTD Cocktail Mix

A look at the ever-evolving landscape of ready-to-drink cocktails, exploring the risks and rewards of adding soft drinks into the mix.

Don’t settle for brand loyalty. Cultivate brand devotion.

Emotion plays a bigger role than ever in the way that people choose which brands they interact with. They want to be seen, and to be invited to be part of something; not as mere followers, but as disciples. As devotees.

Balancing Consistency and Creativity: Choreographing Brand Success

You can’t build a distinctive system on designs that seem to intentionally avoid creative expression; you have to cultivate a richer ecosystem for your brand, one that balances raw creativity with strategic consistency.