Blog

Ten years ago, I walked into Twisted Toast convinced great design was about bold ideas and a strong creative vision. I was wrong, gloriously so. What I’ve learned since is that the true power in design lies in empathy, humility and listening. On 1 September, I mark a decade with this remarkable agency. I started with hope and a fair amount of nervous energy, unaware of just how profoundly my view of design, business and life would shift. These lessons haven’t just shaped my work, they’ve changed me.

In more than twenty years working across the shifting sands of design trends, one truth remains constant: Minimalist design is not a passing phase. It is a purposeful philosophy. For premium brands that understand the value of clarity, consistency and restraint, minimalism continues to offer a powerful advantage.

A new search era dawns As of July 2025, 43% of consumers now use AI search tools such as ChatGPT or Google Gemini daily. Trust in these tools is substantial. Yext’s global survey (March / April 2025) reveals that 62 % of users trust AI to help them discover and evaluate brands. This marks a monumental shift from traditional search.

A lifelong friend of mine is a devout vinyl record enthusiast, listener, collector and a sometimes-trader of high-quality old-school records. Pieter’s Groovy Records side hustle has become a known brand amongst like-minded aficionados of the emotion-rich qualities of a distinctive vinyl record sound. He and his ilk are not alone.

At Twisted Toast Digital, we believe a website should be your most reliable employee, always on, always working. But too often, websites are neglected or underperforming. We change that by following seven wise steps: from smart strategy and brand-first design to UX-driven layouts, sharp GEO and SEO plus ongoing optimisation. Our approach combines thoughtful content, technical excellence and continuous refinement. The result? A high-performing site that tells your story, converts visitors and evolves with your business. Because a good-looking website isn’t enough... it must deliver results.

At Twisted Toast Digital, we’ve learnt that content without strategy is just noise. Many brands chase likes or pageviews, but overlook what matters most: Sales. The biggest pitfalls? No clear goals, inconsistent output, poor GEO and SEO and content that talks at customers instead of connecting with them. Our approach is different. We build smart, results-driven strategies aligned with your business goals, optimised for human impact and AI visibility. The result? Content that doesn’t just exist. It performs. Let’s make yours count.

At Twisted Toast Digital, we’ve witnessed the AI explosion firsthand: Logo generators, layout engines and rapid-fire visuals that impress at first glance but fade on second. Why? Because they lack soul. AI doesn’t feel, doesn’t understand nuance, doesn’t create with intent. We do. Human design is still the difference between generic and great. Between bland and brand. Our team blends emotion, cultural insight and professional experience to craft work that matters. AI can assist, but only humans can truly create.

ChatGPT becomes a search super power A fast developing digital battleground is shaping into an internet search war certain to alter everything from pay-per-click advertising to the way in which website and related digital content is finessed. Perhaps it’s a bit early to announce an eventual demise of traditional keyword search results from Google, but judging from my own personal experience, large language model generative AI search expressed in natural language in a chatbot conversation format results in more fluid, nuanced and useful feedback.

Reflections on the 2025 Waterfall City Tournament of Champions As the golden hues of late autumn bathe Jozi in warmth, we had the privilege of attending the 2025 Waterfall City Tournament of Champions, a remarkable event that transcends the boundaries of traditional golf tournaments. This Sunshine Tour event, powered by Attacq and held at the esteemed Royal Johannesburg Golf Club, was not just a display of athletic prowess but a testament to the spirit of inclusivity and unity in sport.

Barney Tabasco lives on in our memories Barry McIlheney was one of the all-time greats of magazine publishing. Not just because of the titles he edited or the successes he racked up, there were many, but because of the way he made people feel. Warm, funny, generous and endlessly creative, Barry brought something rare and human to everything he did.