How awesome is this! Its a limited addition giveaway packaging for a new line nike came out with a few years ago. I really like the over indulgence of room and the harsh lines the outer packaging makes that contrast to the soft padding on the inside. I would totally keep this package for as long as I had the clothing.

Hollowing Out A Book

This Page among others helped me so much with my project that I felt the need to share it. Tired of those pesky books clogging your shelves? Need a place to conceal your stuff, or perhaps make some creative paper art? Then this is the project to use! I personally like how this webpage's examples are a bit more playful in carving around pictures. So whenever you feel like it, try it out. I personally loved doing it for my project, it made my parents' old books so much more interesting.

For the person who has everything....

I really think this is a silly packaging idea: Medea Spirits has an interactive LCD display bottle. I guess they might have thought this is the kind of gift you might get someone who needs nothing else? Since most people have smart phones that play videos and store photos, this seems kind of excessive to me. The release date and price are still TBD. I wonder how much this will cost? 

Cardboard High

Design Art News

Makoto Orisaki made a special cutting tool to cut cardboard in more sustainable and eventful ways for packaging. The simplicity of the cutting tool, "or-ita", makes the act of folding cardboard as familiar as the act of folding paper. This tool is a great source for packaging with the new expressions that become possible with the use of or-ita; so called cardboard furniture and products could be benefited from or-ita.

Student Works

With the end of the year drawing nigh, I felt a bit nostalgic looking back at all of our packaging projects, seeing our skills change and adapt. So I wondered what other packaging students came up with at other art schools, and looked up some student work. Here is a list on Lovely Package with works that packaging students have done. I gotta say I admire the craftsmanship on many of them, especially the wine bottles and any other packaging that begs for sophistication.

So here's to the end of the year, when all of OUR class works will finally pay off ... and we won't have to see them ever again.

The Future is Here: Edible Packaging

In 2010 Americans threw away over 75 million tons of packaging waste. Ugh. Some Harvard scientists came up with a (possible) solution: what if packaging was edible? This video from Bob's Burgers in Brazil talks shows people eating their edible burger wrappers. I was wondering if this was a joke when I first watched it... what could edible wrappers possibly taste like?

This is the Huffington Post article with more info.

also, this isn't packaging but I wanted to share because its.... AWESOME
http://www.behance.net/gallery/Sponsored-Heroes/7322335

We have talked a lot about how our packages inpack our environment and how to minimize that impact but we havent talked much about how a package can give back to the community other then the ability to be composted. This company Depaul Box Co suports and helps homeless young people whenever you buy there product, which there product essentially is packaging and not a real product. I like how they used the iconography of existing packaging to advertise there cause and turn there package into a moving advertisement that my stay in a persons home for years, be it in a grage or attic some where.

Anti-Anti Packaging Ad: Packaging is not JUST about having too much!

In response to a French environmental group making a commercial about over packaging, the French packaging company Elipso made a video about why they think packaging is important. Elipso's video imagines a world without packaging, where you carry meat on your arm. It's pretty silly, and I feel like Elipso may have taken the environmental commercial a little too seriously.

Read the article and compare the commercials here.

Here is a blog of some one doing a similar class to ours and shows  there steps and thought process from how they do market research to how they update or change the package.
http://blondenine.wordpress.com/category/uncategorized/page/2/

this is a good image to show how they layout information in there project boards in much the same way we do for our class. 

Illustrative Comfort Packaging Box

These are handmade 3D illustrations in small pocket size boxes. The boxes include comforting words like: 'everything with be ok', 'you look wonderful today', 'you can do it!'. Kim Welling created these nifty designs, ideas, and illustrations. I considered these to be some what relative to the packages of ideas we are doing for our projects now. The out side slip box has great hand written font design. However, the craft not being the best, I think it works well with this idea and the way she went about creating it in a three dimensional manner.

Canned Goods

Design of universal form based from the idea of immaterial needs that we, individuals change of mindset and is about "next generation luxury". FLOWmarket was designed by Mads Hagstrom. I found this packaging interesting from the basic black and white and very simple design to be very appealing. I can see how this package stands as a design, art, and business or activism, in which how some journalist would label it. This reminds me of a rock or a luck coin in which someone keeps in their pocket or purse, but instead reinterpreted through the art of packaging design.

theflowmarket

HLP Klearford Clear Packaging

HLP Klearford is a packaging company solely focused on producing clear packaging. I have to admit, there is a sophisticated and smooth look to clear packaging that is just so appealing. They do everything from baby lotion to alcohol, and it all has a special way to utilize the clear packaging. I especially love how some of the plastic boxes utilize the dimensions of the box to make the graphics look 3D. Do you see that fish? That's one cool fish!

Perhaps for my box design with windows, I can insert a little surprise such as those 3D graphics underneath the jewelry to make the packaging more dynamic. Too much?

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1665858/why-not-heres-luxury-packaging-designed-for-rehab-drugs#1
Here is a short article about Luxury packaging designed for rehab drugs. They are amazingly simple and beautiful and make me want to buy them regardless of what the liquid inside is for! In the article they talk about the glamorization of drug use and celebrity status that rehab has played a role in. This packaging compliments that glamorization and makes you want it.. maybe more then the drugs?....

C.T. Lockart Whiskey

I thought of the book packaging for Brittany's project we were talking about last week in class when I came across this project. Trevor G. Rogers used a hollowed out book to package a flask of whiskey for C.T. Lockart limited edition whiskey. Hiding a limited edition within a book makes sense and puts another layer on the well known idea of hiding flasks in hollowed out books. Plus, I love how the text on the packaging says the product  is "top secret" and "behind closed door." The fact that this is a "History of Prohibition" book makes this project funny, clever, and adds more layers of meaning to the idea of using a book for this product. 

Cyber Graphics!

We have a field trip scheduled for the morning of Wednesday, April 17. The field trip will be at Cyber Graphics here in Memphis. The focus primarily on flexible packaging.

Prior to our visit, please familiarize yourself with their website.

The address is 3825 Delp Street
Memphis, TN 38118

More information to follow.

Kael Little on Behance

Kael Little on Behance

Kael Little is a midwest designer/illustrator who creates an interesting link between illustration and design. Not all of his work is package design however the few I did find were very comical and eye catching.
I found the chocolate boxes first and would have loved to have woken up to them Easter morning. The other works are scattered among his page but worth the find!

Farrow

I found Farrow, a design agency in London, while browsing for inspiration for our experimental project. The image that drew me to their website initially was the package design for Harvey Nichols (bottom image). I love the colorful candy-like pills spilling across the box evoke a sense of the beauty products being "healthy" but also young and playful. When I went to their website I  came across this simple sleeve for the Pet Shop Boys CD.  I like the way the flowers in the cutout become the figure while it is packaged, but reveal the full image when it is opened.

The Fun Theory

A tad dated, yes, but I still think this is such a great idea and something every product and packaging designer should think about!

The Fun Theory was formed by Volkswagen with a simple idea -- That people are more willing to do something if the task is made fun! By applying creative thinking to issues like how to get people the recycle or exercise more or obey the speed limit, they can turn the task into a funny and exciting experience. It made me think of the surprise-and-delight features of packaging, as well as how awesomely this re-enforces sustainable thinking in that it improves the lives of people and products. Think of the possibilities that could emerge if everyone had this theory in the back of their minds.

Check them out!

http://www.designresourcebox.com/examples-of-package-design-made-of-wood/

This blog show a lot of really awesome wooden packaging designs! my favorite out of the bunch is the blackbox case, it is so simple and elegant it becomes something you always keep with the product and is what the product becomes know for. Also this would make amazing leave behinds for portfolio reviews.

The strangest one on the blog is the toothbrush shower holder, Its an example of reusable packaging but seems so weird sitting in the shower!

Jewelry Packaging

At CarmelPackaging.com, they have awesome and beautiful designs for jewelry packaging. They come in many styles from simple and colorful to elegant and sophisticated. Apparently they are a leading manufacturer and designer of jewelry boxes and packaging, which definitely shows because they have lines of packages, gift bags and organizers that are all creative and beautiful.
For all your jewelry packaging needs, Carmel is a great choice!

The Disappearing Package

The Disapearing Package

I remember you showing us the glad bags that would eventually turn into ourselves well here is the website that talks about that product among others that also disappear. I find it interesting the ways they found to make products less wasteful. The soap bar's box for instance is also used as soap as well as packaging.

I thought this blog had lots of ready uniqice and one of a kind packaging ideas. we have seen some of them before but others like the antismoke packaging i really enjoy because the package reflects a message the designer was trying to say. another favorite on this blog is babees honey, the design is so simple and so elegant its almost plain but is seemingly perfect! But the blog goes on and on showing some amazing stuff that i could talk about for forever.

Blog - http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/clever-creative-packaging-designs/

Emma Hedlund Brand Identity

This type of packaging is designed for a lookbook, invites, business cards, and a promotional poster and hand tags. Emma Hedlund is a fashion designer, which Elin Svensson created the overall concept and brand of identity for her. I found this type of packaging interesting, solely based on it's function of how it opens and close. I also admire the transparency and no advertising on the package it self of what the object it holds is.

Foreign-Ade

Foreign-Ade  is a clever package design by Taylor Goad. Envisioned as a product in 2050, Foreign-Ade is a beer that comments on America's rising national debt. It claims to "convert infidels to democracy" and "spread democracy around the world." I kind of want more details and funny facts to be on the box, but especially like the play on words of the product name and simple, generic bottle graphics.

-Emily

L. Condoms: The TOMS of Condoms

I think Shelda mentioned redesigning condoms, and I thought of that when I came across this package project by Adrian Gilling. The idea behind L. Condoms is that for every condom purchased, one is distributed in a developing country. The hypothetical company also provides educational programs to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS within communities. I noticed that the box says 1:1, which instantly made me think of Tom's shoes.  Overall I like how sleek and elegant this package is, plus the "L." logo looks like a person laying down.


-Emily

Pyro (Substantial Packaging)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh1rR_EqTGM

Here is a video post for a package other people have come up with for substantial packaging (which I was supposed to post about for last class). The group redesigns fire matches that are bio degradable and figure out ways to get the most out of the product with as less waste as possible. There are more videos based on other substantial packaging examples that can be found just by searching on youtube for 48 HR REPACK.

-Gabby

Happy Easter!

Doesn't matter if you celebrate it or not, Easter packaging is just so awesome! I've been browsing around to find some of the most creative Easter-themed packaging to share with you guys. There's something charming, tacky, and special about holiday packaging. Besides Christmas, it looks like Easter product packaging is one of the biggest deals around the world.

This is an Article that talks about a memo like book called "Rules of Thumb". They sum up to book and  show the basic benefits and needs of reusable packaging. I really like the quote “As a rule of thumb, reusable packaging costs five times as much as expendable packaging, but it lasts 100 times as long,” which if you think about it a 5 fold increase in cost for a 100 fold pay-off is a good deal! 
you can view the actual book/memo Here. It may be something worth reading in full. 

JOCO CUPS

JOCO cups

This is the top of the food chain of sustainability if you ask me. The packaging physically tells you not to throw it away! It is MADE to be reused either by as a new package holder (You can even send it through the mail with its already noted post spots), or by setting it up at your desk for some kind of pen holder. Everything is recycleable in this product.

Fuck Yeah Packaging

Fuck Yeah Packaging On the internet there are a lot of blogs run by everyday people and many are related to design. I personally find that on tumblr i follow many design blogs. One is "Fuck Yeah Packaging", the "f yeah" thing is a common title among blogs that have a specific interest for instance "Fuckyeahartstudentowl" (is a meme about art student life along with fuckyeahdesignseal). But i found this one interesting because it shows someone fairly normal and what they are intested in. Shelda

Unique Forms

Here is an example of packaging where every part of the structure is being thought of or used in a unique form with multiple protducts. This was designed by a graphic designer. Her blog is http://www.i-m.co/oloramara/oloramara/packaging which she gives more view of her work and there are example os flavors she's worked with, as well. I found this package interesting because of how the inside of the box is considered and used.

3 Misconceptions About Sustainable Packaging

Entepreneur.com

When considering building your sustainable packaging, it's important to know when you're going ahead of yourself. These are three huge things to keep in mind when working out your sustainable designs.

I might also add that sustainability does not necessarily mean Eco-friendly. In the round, sustainability is about making both the product, it's manufacturers, basically everything having to do with it last longer, including the environment. It can be a tricky challenge, but that's why we are learning how to do it now!

Hanger

This is a creative example of sustainable packaging by transforming the box into a coat hanger. This package shows a way how packages can be used after and beyond just the box you get your product in.    Also using cardboard is a cheap material and using few colors, i only see black white and a little green. This could change package design forever packages that have an meaning, something to interact with.

Sustainable Bone Packaging?

The Bone Project by Andrew Ross aims to find a use for agricultural by-product bovine bones. This website explores various possibilities for bones, such as in jewelry, flooring, to house electronics, etc. There is also information about the chemical properties of bone and how it could possibly absorb toxins from electronics upon disposal. What I found most interesting was the need to change the perception of by-product bones, since a dramatic shift in the cultural view of bone material would have to happen for this project to be possible. I don't agree with the factory farming meat industry, but I do agree that there is a tremendous amount of wasted material generated by it that could be put to use.

-Emily