Cake Your Way to the Top

         

(images from Erica O'Brien Cake Design Blog, showing her design process from invitation design, to the sketch, to the cake.)

This woman's bouquet inspired Erica to create this masterpiece..

          A Cake designer is truly the poster child for synaesthetic design. Design is multisensory, and Cake does just that, it indulges both the eye and the palate. We see no point in a cake that is visually appealing but tastes, well, dry and gross. Erica O'Brien Cake Design creates client-driven, one-of-a-kind designs that taste as decadent as they look. Erica O'Brien combines her lifelong love for baking with her design innovativeness in every cake she bakes. The art of cake designing combines a visual experience of art, design, and taste. Touch the ingredients, taste the frosting, see the beautiful decor, and hear the oven baking delicious design.

            While Lauer, McCloud, and Aspelund have their own creative process’, add Erica O’Brien to that list, for even Cake designers have their own design process. “Design doesn't just happen. Designs are conceptualized, created, and perfected. Whether you have a clear vision or just a vague idea for your wedding cake, we work collaboratively with you to discover the designer you have within. We'll help you determine the look and feel of your cake. The inspiration for your wedding cake can come from anywhere: a family heirloom, your invitations, a china pattern, a postcard. After your consultation, we will have a clear idea of your design concept, and will get to work on a sketch of your cake. Then we tweak the sketch until it is the exact cake you want. We want you to love your wedding cake!” While any design interacts with its audience and many times it is the designer communicating with the client. Yet, here, you can see that maybe design should be interactive; the customer should be part of that design as does Erica with her clients.

Could it be that cake designers are changing the boundaries of design in the business setting? Moral of the story: Don’t underestimate your dessert! There’s design baked in it.