Does this branding appeal to you? Please be brutally honest.

[NimbleStork]

We’re two female founders in our 30s developing a new protein shot designed for women and are currently arguing over what the brand should actually look like.

Rather than sitting in our own little bubble, we thought Mumsnet might be the best place to get some properly honest opinions…:)
We’ve narrowed it down to a few different design directions and made this survey. It's very quick and genuinely takes about 2 minutes!
Would love to know which one you’d actually pick up and why (and which one you absolutely wouldn’t).

Thank you in advance!

Am I the only one who thinks most protein brands look absolutely hideous? There seems to be no middle ground between gym bro like style and sad beige.

All way too boring and bleh.

Is this aesthetic not over?

That’s basically what we've been trying to do! We want the brand to feel like something that works and you'd actually be happy to have on your kitchen counter/in the fridge

Got it. What would you like to see in a brand then? And out of the three, which one is the least "blah"

Does it work? Have you tested it? What makes it different?
I looked at the survey but my email address was linked to it, so I’ve not completed it.

Hate the yellow, it feels very “come and drink our healthy piss”.
I love the green but didn’t like the blue with it.
The beige was… beige.

I’m 34 and I’m back in my pink/lilac era 😂 so I’d be really drawn to those colours with solid white font (easier to read, less faff).
I’d equally be drawn to the green but the blue would put me off.

I wouldnt pick up any of them as these shots / collage/ protein are all just expensive nonsense
Eat a steak!

Done. It auto linked to DH's email address, but who cares!

Got to be honest, I didn't particularly like any of them, although the one in yellow was the best of the three, as it has more of a health & fitness angle. Don't like the blue one at all as it reminds me of a chemistry lab, and the beige 'wellness' vibe - meh.

Would I buy it on the strength of that? No.

Why is a protein shot (makes me think of injecting or guns) better for you than, say, an egg?
Eggs are a miracle food and waaay cheaper than any kind of fancy packaged shot, surely?
I know what you're trying to do but I really hate capitalism today. So nothing like this appeals to me at all.
I apologise for being a grump on your thread.

I absolutely wouldn't pick up any protein shot specifically aimed at women because I am sick of sex-non-specific things being essentially pink washed. My consumption of protein isn't gendered.

On the sign-in - we don't collect emails and you don't need to sign in at all, that's just your browser auto-filling. If you want to skip the form, you can just tell me here which direction you prefer (or dislike) and why.
Regarding the product, we're still in development but it contains scientifically studied amount of leucine shown to help maintain muscle as we age so we're confident about putting something efficient on the market

I hate the yellow one. It looks like fake banana milkshake. The green is my preference, has more of a wellness/natural vibe. Beige is too boring. But I wouldn’t buy a protein shake.

.... I also wouldn't buy protein shots because, well, meat, dairy, eggs, pulses, etc., are all a thing

Like the blue one looks more medical and to the point. The other 2 look like they will have filler and not enough protein.

I like the yellow the best.
not keen on the pastel palette.

If it is to do with maintaining muscle mass during ageing, then what age group are you aiming this product at? Your product marketing needs to appeal to that demographic.

I don't really like any of them - they all play into different marketing stereotypes for women none if which I align myself with.

What's your market? All women? Those into strength training? Women who need more protein for specific reasons? Those into wellness bullshit?

I use protein powders. I have no issue with buying "bro" brands as long as they do the job. What matters to me is content (how much protein am I getting), price (am I paying for fancy branding or names) and flavour (is it bloody edible).

I wouldn't really be interested in a brand marketed to women because I'd assume it's just the usual stuff that's been pinked washed. I could have my mind changed if the product was offering something sex-specific. Are you?

Sorry to be brutal.

Regarding the product, we're still in development but it contains scientifically studied amount of leucine shown to help maintain muscle as we age so we're confident about putting something efficient on the market

What does "scientifically studied" mean? Just because it's been studied doesn't mean its been proven. Studied by whom? Where? With what results?

These seem more like mood boards than brands?

The beige is, well, beige.
The blue and green is more eye catching but the imagery doesn't say protein shot to me. Also the green on the top right is a horrible shade that screams military.
The yellow seems more on the right track.

I don't know much about branding (except I know what appeals to me) but I think you need bright, warm colours to suggest health and vitality.

I’ve filled the form in. Yellow is the worst, sorry.

But these aren't representing anyone's kitchen. It represents an aesthetic most people dont aspire to unless you are 20 and a tiktokker.

Appeal to those who use protein shots, women who lift or gym are a great demographic, they aren't just doing yoga.

Who's your target? Women in their twenties should be targeted differently to women in their fifties for example.
I have absolutely no interest in protein stuff and wouldn't buy anything to do with it.

Doesn't really look like branding to me, agree with another poster that I'm looking at mood boards.

Personally wouldn't be interested in a product targeted at women either and also think it would effectively be a shot of empty calories as protein only really works if you are lifting weights.

The market is over saturated with this crap sorry !
I'd rather fill up on proper protein rich foods plenty of the them !
And it all depends on the demographic u trying to sell it 2 ?.

How much protein and how many calories in your shot? Personally I'm going for body recomposition (I'm 40) so saying something about would interest me. None of the images scream protein to me, look very AI generated and meaningless. What's your USP?