Exploring the World of Citrus: How GPT and Marmalade Led to the Creation of California Whip

As a citrus enthusiast, I have always been captivated by the bright, tangy flavors of lemons and limes. Just check out some of my projects and you will see what I mean. So, when my wife and I were blessed with a fertile lime and lemon tree in our backyard, we knew that we had to make the most of this delicious bounty.

Our goal was to explore new and innovative recipes that would allow us to preserve the fruits for longer periods of time. And so, I set out to make my first batch of marmalade. As I carefully sliced and simmered the lemons and limes, I couldn't help but think about the endless possibilities that this versatile condiment offered.

But little did I know that my marmalade adventure would lead to something even more exciting.

You see, as I was busy in the kitchen, I couldn't help but play with GPT, an AI-powered language model, and "midjourney" a platform that allows you to use GPT to generate code and other creative content. I've always been fascinated by the potential of AI to revolutionize the way we create and innovate.

And that's when it hit me: Why not use GPT and midjourney together to create a prototype of a new desert product based on the recipe?

My wife, who is also a fantastic cook, came up with an original recipe that blended the tangy sweetness of marmalade with the creamy richness of whipped cream and some secret ingredients. We named the desert "California Whip". 

California Whip was a dessert that blended the tangy sweetness of marmalade with the creamy richness of whipped cream, creating a flavor profile that was truly one-of-a-kind.

In comparison to traditional desserts like Florida Key Lime Pie, California Whip offered a fresh and modern twist on the classic citrus flavor. I thought that once the Floridians got a taste of California Whip, they might just be extremely envious of our delicious creation.

We served it at a party with our friends, and the feedback was ecstatic. Everyone was blown away by the unique combination of flavors and textures. We even had some friends asking for the recipe!

With my new dessert, California Whip, in hand, I knew I needed to create a product description that would accurately convey its unique flavor and ingredients. I started with this description:

        California Whip

  • Flavors
    • Lemon Tart
    • Orange Peel
  • Options
    • Dairy
    • Non Dairy 
  • Contents
    • California Citrus
    • Whipped cream
    • Sugar
  • Packaging
    • Small individual portion sized jars in 6 pack

Next, I asked GPT to generate marketing copy that would help to sell the product. The copy it produced was catchy and persuasive, and I knew it would be a valuable asset in my efforts to bring California Whip to market.

Indulge in the sweet and tangy flavors of California with California Whip! Our delicious dessert is made with fresh California citrus and whipped cream, perfect for a refreshing treat. Available in two mouth-watering flavors, Lemon Tart and Orange Peel, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Choose from our dairy or non-dairy options, perfect for all dietary needs. Our small individual portion sized jars come in a convenient 6 pack, perfect for on-the-go snacking or sharing with friends. Experience the taste of California with California Whip today!


I then turned my attention to the packaging. I asked GPT to design a label for the jars, but it could only describe it in text. 

For the Lemon Tart flavor:

  • A bright yellow background to represent the lemon
  • A large image of a lemon or lemon slices
  • The name "California Whip" in bold and prominent font
  • The flavor "Lemon Tart" in a smaller font below the name
  • The options "Dairy" or "Non Dairy" in a small font near the bottom of the label
  • The ingredients "California Citrus, Whipped Cream, Sugar" in a small font near the bottom of the label
  • The net weight of the product in a small font near the bottom of the label

For the Orange Peel flavor:

  • A bright orange background to represent the orange
  • A large image of an orange or orange slices
  • The name "California Whip" in bold and prominent font
  • The flavor "Orange Peel" in a smaller font below the name
  • The options "Dairy" or "Non Dairy" in a small font near the bottom of the label
  • The ingredients "California Citrus, Whipped Cream, Sugar" in a small font near the bottom of the label
  • The net weight of the product in a small font near the bottom of the label
However, I quickly realized that I could use GPT to generate the "midjourney" prompts that would allow me to create a label with a professional look. And voila, the labels came out looking great.

These prompts are designed to grab the attention of potential customers and entice them to try the product by highlighting its unique selling points, such as the use of fresh California citrus, the dairy and non-dairy options, and the different sizes of packaging.

Lemon Tart:

"Take a taste of sunshine with California Whip's Lemon Tart flavor. Made with fresh California citrus and whipped cream, this sweet and tangy treat is sure to brighten your day. Try it today in our convenient individual portion sized jars."


Orange Peel:

"Experience the zesty flavors of California with California Whip's Orange Peel flavor. Made with fresh California citrus and whipped cream, this refreshing dessert is perfect for any time of day. Try it in our dairy or non-dairy options and discover your new favorite treat."


 

I wanted to hint the look and let the graphic designer polish the details. Also showing people photorealistic fake images is deceptive, because it may create a false perception that the product exist. midjourney hides some detail by using fake text, but I wanted more, so I asked GPT to generate prompts for lower fidelity drawings. Sure enough, they came out really nice.

Lemon Tart:

A sketch of a small jar with a yellow background, on the front of the jar there is a sketch of a lemon cut in half with drops of juice coming out of it, on the top of the jar there is the name of the product "California Whip" in a bold font, and on the bottom of the jar there is the flavor "Lemon Tart" in a smaller font.

Orange Peel:

A sketch of a small jar with an orange background, on the front of the jar there is a sketch of an orange peeled with some of the orange slices visible, on the top of the jar there is the name of the product "California Whip" in a bold font, and on the bottom of the jar there is the flavor "Orange Peel" in a smaller font.



Other variations included the actual label design, which could be used as a starting point for the designer. They are quite detailed!


All in all, this exercise gave me all the components of my functional product design, from the product description and marketing copy, to the label and packaging design. It's amazing how much GPT and midjourney can accomplish in such a short amount of time. I can't wait to see what other ideas I can come up with using this powerful combination of technology and creativity.

The takeaway from the story is that I can use GPT to generate the midjourney prompts. Since they both use Open.AI that's not a surprise, however GPT has a session memory, which makes it easier to apply incremental changes. It appears that GPT knows the correct key words for creating certain effects such as hand drawn sketch look, which I did not figure out on my own at first.

Are you curious to taste California Whip?

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