Thinking of Packaging!

With new assignments flying at me left right and centre, it was time to look for some new inspiration! One of our newest assignments is a package redesign, so I went out looking for new and exciting packaging design through the world wide web... these are just a few of the ones I found...

Whoever thought of this one is a genius! I love how simple this package, yet how effective it is. The second you look at it, you think of music, and then with a bit more observing you notice that the music note is made up of headphones!

Going along with the theme of genius! I absolutely love the reference to Elvis with this one. Honestly, who doesn't want Elvis's hair? Again, I love how this package is simple, but still so effective, you know right away this is a hair product, and immediately I was drawn in to the product, whether it would work or not, I would for sure pick it up.

And again, simplicity, effective, and so interesting to look at. Placing the bottom of these utensils in the 'soil' adds a beauty to the grain of the wood I wouldn't normally notice, but it makes them look more natural, and more interesting to look at. I like how all of the focus is on the natural feel of the soil, grass, and roots, and then up into the utensils. Leaving the full focus on the product.

The final package I found is different from the other three, as it doesn't play into what the product is, it plays with the juxtaposition of what the product is versus what it's in. I would never imagine salt and pepper in a battery, but it is interesting to look at, it drew me in right away with the little details, like the positive end as the shaker piece, to the open window showing the level of the 'battery'. Simplicity is still a factor in this one, simple elements used in an interesting way really draw me in. Again I would definitely pick these off the shelf!

source:www.dieline.com

MacLaren McCann, Toronto Designers!

With offices in Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto, MacLaren McCann is probably one of the most impressive agencies I have some across since I've started looking. This was one of the contacts I used for our Research assignment, and after scouring their website, I have fallen deeper and deeper in awe!

Check out their website, click on the link 'our work' to see some of the HUGE projects this firm has taken on lately!

MacLaren McCann... Enjoy!

Disaster Brings Inspiration?

When I think of the reason behind design, I think of ideas and concepts that change the way something is viewed; keeping this in mind, using current events to make something better, or to make something useful can become something beautiful, and even further - profitable. When Japan was stuck with the recent earthquake disaster, the product and marketing giant Muji took this world known event and made something everyone can keep near to make them feel safer - more prepared. "Itsumo, Moshimo". Whenever, Whatever, a line of emergency kits were released just in time, with the idea of being ready for any event that might come up is extremely prevalent in society. The thing that I like the most about these new survival kits is that they mix functional attributes with good design. Each kit is thought out so that they will fit into the space they are designed for without standing out, like clear plastic cases to use in an office environment, and cute kid sized backpacks complete with colouring books to keep in a house with young children. Before releasing the kits, Muji posted questions on Facebook and Twitter to receive crowd sourced feedback, looking for ideas on what people would find most useful in each situation, what to put in the kit, how much space should be left in each kit to allow for personalized items to be added to each kit. Asking these questions just sparked interest in the to-be-released emergency kits, a smart marketing direction for the company to take pre-release.
Take a look at some of the kits, and you can also visit the website (although its in Japanese, you can still navigate the links to see some more pictures).

source: http://www.japantrends.com/

Smart Urban Stage - Designers Working for a Sustainable Future

Design pioneers from urban city centres all around the world were asked to question the "urban status quo", and the results have been shared in a worldwide event series, the "Smart Urban Stage", featuring the ideas and solutions brought forth by these forward thinking designers. The questions were all based on how to make cities more sustainable and community-based. The contest was judged by trendy Lidewij Edelkoort, the founder of Apparatijk Magne Furuholmen, and designer Graham Hill and within each city, a winner is chosen.
The Amsterdam finalist was Christian Boer, a graphic designer who suffers from dyslexia. People with dyslexia think in pictures, so reading Western typefaces is extremely difficult, because the letterforms are so similar. (Did you know that dyslexia is less common in China then it is in Western countries? Chinese letterforms are pictograms, so it is harder to mix up one from the other!) He designed a new typeface for the project, a typeface with characters less similar to each other, which makes it easier for someone with dyslexia to read. This typeface was then put to the test by the University of Twente, and it was proven that this new font, named "Dyslexie" reduced the number of reading errors. Check out the video of designer Christian Boer after his award was presented to him!
Other cities included in this forward thinking contest are Frankfurt, Milan, Barcelona, Cologne, London, Brussels, Madrid, Paris, Zurich, Rome, and Berlin.
Seeing design based contests like this, with the full focus of the event being on making tomorrow a better world to be a part of makes working to that point seem so much more worthwhile. Designers, now I know, do more then just client work, they are an important piece to the puzzle of a sustainable future. The future is extremely important, and making sure that we all have a fair chance in succeeding, people with a voice like this should make it heard! 

You can also check out the video for the event to get an idea of the scope of this project!


source: http://www.smart-urban-stage.com/

Adding Depth to a Business Card?

Giving people a reason to hold your business card is a huge way to get them to actually read and remember the business you are trying to sell to them. Adding 'depth' to your card, giving it an eye-catching design, or in this case actual tactile texture can be just the thing to make them hold on to the card you're handing out.
Letterpress, although it adds a slight price increase, can add a lot more to the way someone views your business. Check out these examples...

Using a letterpress technique can add a high end and distinctive feel to the card you're handing out, giving you an impressive visual identity. Handing out a business card usually wraps up the first impression you give someone, so whether its a future client or employer, or someone with no other use then to add word of mouth praise to your work, use your new fancy cards to place a spotlight on what you have to offer!

source: http://designmodo.com/

Space Invaders take Coca Cola?


This crazy new can design draws from two influences, the first being the popular 1980's Japanese video game 'Space Invaders', where the main focus of the game was to shoot and destroy pixelated aliens. This was the earliest shooting game and caused a shortage of coins in Japan due to its popularity (who knew?!). The second influence shares the same name, Space Invaders is the code name for the urban pixel artist known for pasting Space Invaders inspired art in cities all over the word, the sneaky work of this artist catches the eye of unsuspecting tourists everyday! So, designer Erin McGuire has taken these two ideas and brought them together to create a new Coca Cola can design. These are just theoretical designs, but its ironic to consider the world wide impact of Coke, the video game, and now the street artist taking over cities all around the world, and how they all just seem to fit together. It looks like pixels are taking over. Now, if only I could tell this to my professors the next time I hand in a pixelated image...  


Check out the Space Invaders

source: www.behance.net