#packagingstudio

BLOG ENTRY #8

Nov, 7th, 2017

For class we headed off to Coombs to check out the shops and get a break from the studio which was awesome. The goal was to find a series of brand packaging and answer the following questions:

#1 the Cape Herb and Spice:

1. The branding is consistent across the packages because of the design elements such as type, imagery, colour, and hierarchy of type. SO they are all white back drops with one main vocal image and then the type of spice is the first seeing in the typographic hierarchy.

2. The design differentiates among flavours by changing the vocal image and the first level of type to a different font.

3. The brand is a collection of herbs and spices that are modern and the imagery used ties into where or what the spices/herbs apply to so for taco spices they put a photo of a taco and for the ghost pepper they show a real photo of a ghost pepper etc. Plus, the use of red is seen a lot to give that sense of heat within the containers. Thus, overall looks legitimate and fun because of the imagery and the conniptions behind some images. 

# 2 TREE ISLAND YOGURT

1. The branding is consistent in this example because the use of space, imagery, layout, hierarchy. The packages all showcase the brand TREE ISLAND and also show a picture that represents the flavour of how the yogurt will taste. An example with the chai latte, lemon, and hasp yogurt being display and keeping a pretty centre focused vocal point on the packages. Plus, this is a sense of lightness and delightfulness with the use of energetic colours and using elements from the sky as backdrops. 

2. The design differentiates from the other flavours by changing the main pictures that inclose of the flavour labeled in the middle and by also choosing different colour palette for each flavour. 

BLOG ENTRY #4

October, 3rd, 2017

Today in class we finished our first assignment with packaging design and it definitely taught me a lot regarding the digital to physical relationship and the importance in a designer being able to focus in on the finest details yet be able to back up and look at the design as a while without overly fixating. 

Printing the work always puts things into perspective especially when this type of design is meant to existence in a tangible way. 

Finally, always ways to improve I think it is possible to perfectly make a original package but it is a extremely tedious task. It truly makes you consider the smallest nuances of what goes into the design from colour, type, size, etc. 

BLOG ENTRY #2

Sept 19th!

So today in class we are working on moving from the sketch mock up now to the digital. We switched packages and with our partners and now are referencing their information and drafts with all the measurements. Thus, putting things in perspective again about the importance in details given and received. As it’s easy to make a mistake if you are not paying high attention. For example, almost started to move forward in designing my new package when I realized the upper and lower tabs were on the wrong plane. 

This is just a reminder  that the foundation of design is so so crucial in that it’s the most important. The reason being, that if the structure is off even by the slightest bit, the overall outcome of the design will suffer. 

BLOG ENTRY #1

Today in class we are replicating a package we choose. I picked a TATCHA brand and this is a well refined design, and everything is in the details. So, as I am tracing and getting the measurements it’s incredibly difficult because I have to focus on each increment. a few cms or millimetres and the design goes astray. Also, I admire the amount of negative space still found within this layout despite the fact that it is such a small canvas. For example the front panel being 2.5″ x1.5″. So, it’s interesting how the package still functions and gives that sense of simplicity yet can still display all the information the viewer needs to know what they are buying. 

This week, we had an in-process critique session for packaging studio. In addition to getting feedback from my professor, we also had guest speakers come in to give us more feedback: Hired Guns. 

Overall, I was very happy that Hired Guns was there this week. They’re such genuine, chill guys. They were honest, poignant, and constructive with their feedback, but always respectful in their own way. I feel like I learned a lot just based on what they said about everyone’s project, as they further reinforced the importance of thinking about our packaging designs in a 3D context, as well as a business context. 

I thought the feedback they gave me was really useful. They brought up concerns that I didn’t think about (i.e. how to keep moisture out of my container). They also pointed out many areas of improvement that I was hoping to get, especially with information hierarchy and tone of visuals. They also pointed out that using purely colour to distinguish flavours will run into many obstacles in the long run was something that I didn’t consider. My professor also had similar feedback for me, which further emphasizes the need for me to improve in those areas in my packaging design. 

The only thing I may disagree with slightly is the use of puns in the branding and copywriting. Hired Guns mentioned their concerns about using puns in branding products, as in their work, puns are often heavily overused. But they also said that they don’t do a lot of products like whey protein. I think in the context of the whey protein market, puns would definitely help set the product apart from its competition, which features muscle-bound brands, such as Bio-X, TrueMass, Muscletech, and... you guessed it, “Arnold Scharzenegger”. I think a brand name like “One Whey” and the possibilities associated with that would be a refreshing approach to branding a product to bodybuilders, as well as other groups of men and women who are already physically active. It’s a small gesture to combine brains/wit with brawns. I’m going for strong and healthy, but clever as well, which will help make the brand more accessible. I do agree though, with my professor as well as Hired Guns, on everything else, especially on injecting the packaging with more personality.