From time to time you get amazed how good ideas seem to pop up simultaneously around the world…
I do not know the story behind this eye-catching product by Vivitas, but I remember a very similar idea that Isabel showed as a student project at the Anuga 2007 fair. Check it out below.
Further details can be found in my report from the Anuga 2007. This is how Isabels packaging idea looked like:
Filed under: Capturing new ideas, Design better packaging | Tags: packaging design, structural design
I see some confusion about the term “packaging design” so I have decided to dedicate a few lines here to my personal definition.
Packaging design consists of both design and engineering of the packaging as well as design of the graphics on the packaging.
In general most work referred to as packaging design is related to the graphic work. This part is controlled by the brand owners and advertising agencies. The graphic designers’ packaging design consists of finding the best – existing – packaging and adapt their new artwork to it. You will find excellent examples of this category even on these pages.
In the more rare cases the design work even includes design of the packaging itself. This is where industrial designers – as myself – typically enter.
The economic challenge here is much bigger, as a project normally includes heavy investments in new tooling for the manufacturing of the packaging. But the great advantage is the creation of unique design solutions which identifies the customers very specific needs and ideas. A great example of a company which enlives this attitude is ICI, now a part of Akzo Nobel. This packaging was developed as a co-work between ICI, Superfos and Tinhorse:
Another example is the further development of the SuperSeal packaging which I have been involved in.
SuperSeal offers the advantage of having a sealable and pealable packaging with re-closure but without the need for a sealing foil. An end-user test revealed that there was a need to improve the opening area to make it easier to understand how to open the pack.
The following images show how the corner opening has been transformed into a “curtain” grip, which is very easy to spot and which offers a good grip.
Design or design?
No need to say that customers also sometimes are confused, and have a hard time to find the right development partners.
The skills required to do these 2 kinds of packaging design are very different, but also several overlaps.
Both disciplines for instance call for extensive consumer empathy and behavoural insight.
In an ideal world the two parties would sit around the table when a new packaging design is drafted. This is however far from the case in real life!
I wonder why?
Filed under: Capturing new ideas
I urge you to visit www.storyofstuff.com to see the enthusiastic lecture about all the stuff around us.
The lecture gives a very refreshing view on how to replace the cradle-to-grave thinking with a cradle-to-cradle holistic view on our life as consumers. If you are into learning people about life cycle assessment I believe you will find great comfort in this presentation, as it takes the sometimes heavy and dull stuff into a very funny and easily understood level.
The amusing animations were created by Free Range Studios which is definitely worth a visit too. Check for instance their animation “The Meatrix” – the true picture of animal farming…
Filed under: Capturing new ideas | Tags: presentation technique visual story
A new great book has hit the shelves. It is not about packaging, but about how to present. I guess this is a matter that touches most of us. How do you upgrade your presentations and put full emphasis on the content?
Written by Nancy Duartes, principal of Duarte Design, the firm that created the presentation for Al Gore’s film “An Inconvenient Truth”, this book entitled “Slide:ology” is loaded with practical approaches to visual story development and presentation.
The book is written in a very clear language and the hints and exercises are for everybody to use.
Great book – go get it!
Filed under: Capturing new ideas
From India we are now emphasized to put our innovation process online. I personally prefer to meet in person during a brainstorming phase but later on it could maybe be an idea to vote and comment on the ideas?
Check for yourself at Idea Wicket http://www.ideawicket.com/index.
The link was spotted at Innovation Watch nr. 6.21 who gave it these comments: http://www.innovationwatch.com/iwnewsletter.2007-0621.htm
“An open innovation portal based in New Delhi, India. Submit ideas, product designs, industrial designs, process improvement techniques, service innovations, and business solutions. Mark content as ‘public’ (visible to all) or ‘private’ (accessible only to the people you choose). Suggest corporations that could benefit from the idea. Share ideas and innovations with friends. Comment on and rank innovations. Network with other site members“.
