Packaging & Merchandising Design - Task 3: Innovative Packaging Project

  - 1 Nov. 2024

1/11/24 - 25/11/24 / Week 6 - Week 10

Lin Chenyi / 0367008

Packaging & Merchandising Design / Bachelor of Creative Media Design (Honours) 

 Exercises

1.LECTURE

Week 6

Project Introduction: Collagen Drink Packaging Design

In this project, we worked with the team from the School of Biotechnology to design the outer packaging for a collagen drink. Our design team consisted of three members. We paired up with the team from the School of Biology and after many communications and negotiations, we gained a deep understanding of the product's background and market demand. Through these discussions, we identified the key elements of packaging design and designed a packaging solution for the drink that was both in line with the product positioning and environmentally friendly and modern.

Design process

Market research: We conducted a market research on berry collagen drinks, analyzed the current packaging trends and consumer preferences in the market, and ensured that our design was both in line with the trend and unique. We found some packaging available on the market for reference.

Material selection: According to environmental protection requirements, we selected recyclable environmentally friendly materials to ensure that the packaging is not only beautiful but also in line with the concept of sustainable development.

Concept design and feedback: After the other team watched the reference visual map, we selected 2 types of beverage packaging. Based on the selected packaging, we made a preliminary design sketch display. After discussing with the team of the School of Biotechnology, we further optimized the design to make it more in line with the functional requirements and brand image of the product.

SBS students came up with the brand name "Procoloco" for GlowBerry Collagen Kefir.

My classmates and I picked the font and color scheme.

Fig 1.1 Initial color scheme

We placed a visual reference of what we were looking for in miro:

Fig 1.2 visual reference diagram, pdf

https://miro.com/welcomeonboard/Y05MYVhITWRYMFc1WGNaOFhLeTVjRC9XTW9mQUd1cnBFOWsrdjFzVk9qRVByK00vTFR2dXc4QXpudTB3eXhPc3hKcWlLTXNNa1dxd256UCszSHJvMURrUnNrMENPVlZqWDl0eHFiY29sb09zbUNUdndLc1NEeEtxY3phcU8rWk8hZQ==?share_link_id=474825047395

After looking for visual references, I tried to make a preliminary sketch to record my ideas for the packaging. Several key stages and improvements in the process of designing the bottle sticker.

Phase 1 Design Draft

At the beginning, we used a double-sided sticker design, which was pasted on the front and back of the bottle. This design has a certain sense of visual segmentation. Later we found that the font was not prominent enough and blended too much with the bottle background, affecting the readability of the information.

Fig 1.3 design process in ai

Fig 1.4 Draft 1, jpg

Fig 1.5 Draft 2, jpg

Fig 1.6 Draft 3, jpg

Fig 1.7 Draft 4, jpg

Fig 1.8  Draft 5, jpg

Phase 2

Then, we switched to a one-sided sticker design, wrapping the bottle with a whole sticker. We made some adjustments to enhance the visual effect.

• Change the font to make it more integrated.
• Place the ingredient list on both sides of the main body and increase the font size to make the content clearer.
• Added pictures of real fruits to the ingredient list on the right to enhance the realism and appeal of the packaging.

Fig 1.9 First version PPT, pdf

 Final optimization

Based on this, we further refined the design:

• Separate the text and fruit patterns to make the overall layout neater and more orderly.
•  In order to show the internal structure of the fruit, I hand-painted the cut strawberry and cranberry patterns to increase the beauty of details.
• Adjust the layout and move the theme display to the right, which is more in line with visual logic.

Fig 1.10 Final design sticker plan

Fig 1.11 The final 3D model is a solid picture, front jpg

Fig 1.12 The final 3D model is a solid picture, side jpg

Final Submission

Fig 1.13 Design, side jpg

Fig 1.14 Presentation Slides, side, pdf

EXERCISE 

Final Project:Merchandise and Promotional Strategy

This project is a continuation of Project 2 and needs to be a derivative. The product design must reflect the brand and packaging design in Project 2. We need to make 8 products, including a display stand.

Our merchandise ideas are: canvas bags, packing bags, standees, poster boards, paper cup holders, T-shirts, tradestand, exhibition area (we also wanted to make stickers, but Ms. Vitlyaa forbade that)

We chose these products because they are closely related to our drinks:

1. Paper bags, which can be used as bags to package drinks.

2. Stands and poster boards, which can be used as media to promote brands.

3. Tradestand, used to display products.

4. Coasters, used to hold drinks.

5. T-shirts and canvas bags, as product peripherals.

Finalized beverage packaging design：

Fig 1.1 Final design drawing

Fig 1.2 Final design drawing，pdf

These items also fit in with the idea of ​​sustainability, here are some visual references.

Fig 1.3 Visual reference

Below is the product design we designed.

Fig 2.1 Cup holders

Fig 2.2 Signboard

Fig 2.3 Mini Store Booth

Fig 2.4 Packing paper bags

Fig 2.5 Canvas bag

Fig 2.6 T-shirt

Fig 2.8 Exhibits Area

Final product display in the exhibition area.

Fig 2.9 Final product display in the exhibition area.

Final Submission

Fig 3.1 PDF of the final product design

Final PPT：

Fig 3.2 PDF of the final 

FEEDBACK

Week 6:

- Concept the design with team members

- Understand the basic form of the brand before starting

- Contact other SBS teams to start the collagen drink packaging design project

Week 7:

- The drawn strawberry looks good, but the overall design has no focus

- Need to add some dark colors to highlight the whole design.

- You can try using images and vectors (Freepik) instead of drawing.

Week 8:

Independent learning week

Week 9:

- We need to discuss the color scheme of the design further

- We can try different directions of the design stickers for the drink design, horizontal or vertical.

- Need to change the composition content placement and graphic elements

- Create some derivative products.

Week 10:

- The final layout packaging design and mockup can be determined.

- Two-fold title, one dark and one light would be better. (We got some demo pictures)

- A layout that looks like a poster might be better, but another design will be used.

- Present the final product to SBS students next week

- Finish the stickers and product design

Week 11：

Ms. Vitlyaa told us what kind of product design we needed to make, and we confirmed the final beverage packaging design.

Week12：

Ms. Vitlyaa looked at our product design and she did not recommend us to make stickers and pins because she thought they had nothing to do with our drinks. She suggested we make paper bags and cup holders, and we also needed to put these products in an exhibition area for display.

REFLECTION 1

Experience

Through collaboration with the Biotech Institute, we successfully designed a collagen drink package that is both market-appealing and environmentally friendly. This project not only enhanced our professional capabilities in packaging design, but also enhanced our understanding of biotech products and broadened our design thinking in interdisciplinary collaboration.

This course has benefited me a lot. Before, I was always curious about how packaging design is achieved and how designers come up with attractive packaging concepts. Through this course, I was able to gain an in-depth understanding of the world of packaging design and answered some of my previous questions. This not only allowed me to learn the technical aspects of packaging design, but also allowed me to experience how the combination of creativity and strategy can affect the success or failure of packaging design.

Observation

Throughout the course, I was exposed to many inspirations that helped me gain a deeper understanding of the methodology behind packaging creation. Although the learning process was a bit difficult at first, especially when analyzing the packaging and understanding its construction, my design ability has been significantly improved as I dissected each design step by step and gradually discovered what made them effective and stand out in a subtle but powerful way. This process of observation and analysis has played a vital role in my growth.

Discovery

This course has been a lot of discovery for me. From lectures to actual design and form creation, every step has been very informative. I have learned the complexity of packaging design as well as the strategies and logic behind it, which has greatly broadened my horizons.

REFLECTION 2

Compared with Task 3, this final project was less stressful because I had accumulated previous design experience and information. This gave me a clear direction and clues when designing the products.

Design ideas

I thought about what kind of products could represent the brand, and finally chose coasters, tote bags, paper bags, clothes and standees. These items were not randomly selected, but centered around food. More importantly, these designs all echoed the brand's sustainable development values, such as choosing environmentally friendly materials and reusable design forms.

Use of visual elements

In the design, I created a pattern design that incorporates the core visual elements of the packaging in Project 2. These elements were recombined and arranged to give the products a consistent brand style, making the overall design look more cohesive.

Learning and reflection

Through this project, I gained experience in how to start from the core values ​​of the brand and choose products that match it. At the same time, I have a deeper understanding of how to maintain the unity of the design and extend the visual language to different media. This process gave me a new understanding of brand scalability and practical application design.

FURTHER READING

Sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging

Sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging refers to minimizing the negative impact on the environment during the design, production and use process, while achieving the recycling of resources. With the improvement of global environmental awareness, companies and designers are paying more and more attention to incorporating the concept of sustainable development into packaging design, thereby reducing waste, reducing carbon emissions, and encouraging the recyclable or renewable use of materials.

"Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things" - William McDonough and Michael Browngart

This book introduces how packaging design can not only serve product protection but also the sustainability of the earth's environment by selecting recyclable and renewable materials.

Elements of sustainable packaging design:

Material selection

The basis of sustainable packaging is the selection of environmentally friendly materials, such as recyclable, biodegradable, and renewable materials. These materials can be re-entered into the production system or natural environment after use without causing long-term pollution.

Reduce carbon footprint

In the packaging production process, reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions is the key to environmentally friendly packaging design. Choosing low-energy production processes and renewable energy can effectively reduce the burden of packaging on the environment.

Functionality and simplicity

Environmentally friendly packaging should not only consider materials and processes, but also focus on the functionality and simplicity of packaging. By optimizing the design, unnecessary material waste can be reduced, ensuring that the packaging achieves the best protection effect without increasing excessive costs.

Promote consumer environmental awareness

Environmentally friendly packaging should also educate consumers on the correct disposal of packaging waste, such as providing clear recycling guidelines, labeling recyclable materials, etc., to encourage consumers to participate in the circular economy.