The Art of the Simple Cheese Board.

A few weeks ago, I spent a relaxing weekend with friends at their country home in Pennsylvania, just across the Delaware River from charming Frenchtown, NJ. One evening, I prepared a simple cheese appetizer platter. Nothing extravagant—just a cheese as the star, a bit of jam, dried cranberries, a touch of pâté, and some homemade pickles.

It struck me that building a brand is a lot like assembling a good cheese board. Sometimes, a complex, multilayered, and heavily designed approach is what’s needed. Other times, simplicity makes the strongest statement. Knowing when to streamline your brand messaging—and present just a few standout elements—is an art in itself.