Chloe Cordover
Author · Other
In their own words
The easier it becomes to make things, the harder it becomes to make something that has depth.
AI tools streamline creation but often remove the layered decision-making that builds originality.
The real magic of it all is being in a massive convention center filled with people who speak the same language.
Thousands of people moving in every direction, like ants in a bed, each working toward their own goal but somehow creating a system that functions.
Articles & interviews
- Wellness Gummies Drive Billion-Dollar Boom
The article explores the booming market for gummy supplements, which has grown into a $10 billion segment driven by adult consumers who prefer candy-like wellness products. It highlights how brands like Grüns have capitalized on this trend, with Unilever acquiring the company for $1.2 billion. The piece discusses how the appeal of taste and ease of use has transformed supplement consumption habits.
- Is Bottled Water Purely Performative?
Written by Chloe Cordover for The Dieline’s Shelf Life newsletter, this editorial explores how bottled water functions as a performative product in consumer culture. It argues that water brands act as social badges, reflecting identity and status through everyday public consumption.
- Should Designers Trade Work for Equity?
Written by Chloe Cordover for The Dieline’s Shelf Life newsletter, this article explores whether designers should consider trading their creative work for equity in the brands they help build. It argues that branding and packaging have become central to business success, citing examples like Liquid Death, Graza, Rhode, and Poppi. The piece reflects on the evolving relationship between agencies and brands as design increasingly drives business value.
- How AI Is Reshaping the Taste Economy
The article explores how artificial intelligence is transforming creative industries by simplifying production but diminishing the nuanced decision-making that defines human taste. Writer Chloe Cordover argues that while AI can replicate aesthetics, it cannot replicate the lived experience and intuition that give design depth and originality.
- Founder-Designed Packaging Gains Ground
The article discusses the growing trend of founder-designed packaging, where brand founders take creative control to express authenticity and individuality. It contrasts this approach with the overly polished, agency-driven branding that dominates store shelves, suggesting that imperfection and personality can help brands stand out. The piece also notes the trade-offs of in-house design, including potential lack of objectivity and professional refinement.
- Photography-Led Packaging Gains Ground, But Clarity Suffers
Written by Chloe Cordover for The Dieline’s Shelf Life newsletter, this article explores the growing trend of photography-led packaging design. It argues that while brands increasingly use imagery to convey emotional or sensory cues, this shift can sometimes come at the expense of clarity and straightforward communication. The piece connects this movement to earlier trends in 'vibe-based' flavor naming, where emotional resonance replaced literal description.
- Shelf Life 103: Isaac Arthur Breaks Down 2026 Beer Branding Trends
The article by Chloe Cordover reviews Isaac Arthur’s 2026 Beer Branding Trends report from CODO Design, highlighting a shift in beer branding toward simpler, more direct communication. It emphasizes that successful breweries will focus on clarity to help consumers quickly understand their products.
- Expo West 2026 Trends: Surprising or Predictable?
Written by Chloe Cordover for The Dieline’s Shelf Life newsletter, this article reflects on the trends and atmosphere at Expo West 2026, a major natural products and food innovation trade show. Cordover shares personal observations about the energy, networking, and brand activity at the event, highlighting the dynamic ecosystem of founders, PR professionals, and investors.
- Wine Labels Borrow Beer’s Simpler, More Approachable Design
The article discusses how modern wine label design is shifting away from traditional ornate aesthetics toward simpler, more approachable styles inspired by beer packaging. It highlights how changing consumer discovery habits, particularly through digital and social media, are driving this visual evolution. The piece suggests that clarity and friendliness are replacing heritage and formality in wine branding.
- Elizabeth Goodspeed on the limits of imperfection as a design strategy
Elizabeth Goodspeed critiques the design industry's current fascination with 'analogue' aesthetics, arguing that much of what is labeled handmade is actually digitally fabricated. She explores how imperfection has become a strategy to signal authenticity in an AI-driven creative landscape, questioning whether this trend represents a genuine material shift or merely a symbolic one.