Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 460,228 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,238 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 321,344 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,238 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 321,344 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,209 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 460,228 cutting edge ideas.

Artistic Chocolate Shops

Toronto's Chocolates x Brandon Olsen Serves Up Colorful Hand-Made Bonbons

— September 16, 2016 — Business
Toronto recently became the home of a design-forward chocolate shop serving up colorful confections that are almost too pretty to eat. Characterized as “designer Willy Wonka,” Chocolates x Brandon Olsen – also known as CXBO – produces tantalizing treats with a wonderfully artistic touch.

CXBO is a colorful sweet shop tucked away in Toronto’s beautiful Brockton Village. The shop is headed up by chef Brandon Olsen – whose resume includes successful stints as the chef de cuisine at Bar Isabel and The Black Hoof – and his successful filmmaker and artist fiancé Sarah Keenlyside. It is the combination of Olsen’s unique flavor pairings and Keenlyside’s expert eye for art and design that sets CXBO apart from any other chocolate shop in the city.

CXBO is dedicated to creating gourmet confections that are art-focused and design-oriented. This is immediately apparent from the shape of the chocolates, which resemble tiny geodesic domes. The indulgent chocolate confections are then sprayed, splattered or finger-painted with edible cocoa butter to create aesthetically pleasing patterns that are reminiscent of Jackson Pollock's abstract designs. The result is a highly curated collection of sweets that includes enticing flavors such as Raspberry Rose Fennel, Cinnamon Brown Butter and Pistachio Bergamot. In addition to its original collection and limited-edition runs, CXBO also devotes nearly half of its business to custom work for brands, weddings, corporate events and other special occasions.

Not only are the colorful confections a treat for the eyes, but so is the highly Instagrammable packaging. Created by designer Ryan Crouchman – who is currently the Creative Director, Design at Leo Burnett – CXBO packages its gourmet chocolates in stark white boxes topped with hand-painted designs that are impossible to miss. These eye-catching packages of tempting treats can currently be found across the city at top Toronto boutiques, cafes and patisseries such as Colette Grand Café and The Tempered Room. CXBO also does a special collection of bespoke chocolates for The Drake General Store.

With plans for a collection of full-sized chocolate bars already in the works, CXBO demonstrates that finely crafted flavors and artistic design is a winning combination when it comes to chocolate.
Trend Themes
1. Artistic Confections - Opportunity for chocolatiers to incorporate visually pleasing designs and unique flavors in their confectionery creations, making them Instagram-worthy and distinctive.
2. Custom Chocolates - Opportunity to tap into the lucrative custom chocolate market by offering personalized chocolates for events like weddings and corporate parties.
3. Designer Packaging - Opportunity for chocolatiers to invest in designing visually appealing packaging for their products, making them stand out on shelves and in social media posts.
Industry Implications
1. Chocolatiers - Innovation opportunities to consistently create new and visually appealing designs and flavors for chocolates to stay ahead of the competition.
2. Graphic Designers - Opportunity to explore collaborations with chocolatiers to create visually stunning packaging and confectionery designs.
3. Event Planners - Opportunity to partner with chocolatiers that offer custom chocolates for events like weddings, corporate parties, and other special occasions.
6.9
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness