AA drink bottle animated

This is a redesign concept of the After Activity Drink Sportwater bottle, I added an animation element to it. This time a 2 frame animation of the sport icons AA drink uses on their normal bottle designs. I made 3 animation on it, a running, cycling and swimming icon.
I kept most of the original styling but I change the information area on the back. The original had a light background with dark text, I changed the background to have the same color as the rest of the bottle. And added the double AA as a watermark in the background.

Review / Yagua herbal tea

Today I caught my eye on something I saw in the store it was so shiny I had to pick it up and buy it. But something else I actually wanted to try what it would taste like. This unkown dutch company Yagua brought a set of health drinks in tetra pack in the supermarkets. Allot of different things for improving you health. Most of the packaging are not like these, but I like the looks of these two packaging, how ever both are not really showing what the products are.
Best part I liked are the shiny ink they used and the illustration they made. One is a bit like aboriginal art and other and Japanese or Chinese art.
Both packaging got a silver or chrome base colored cardboard and got transparent ink printed over to get the shine effect in other colors.

The tea isn't really bad, how ever not really something I would want to drink too much. Really explosion of taste cause it a mix of different herbal teas. But I am not if everyone would like the taste. I think most Asian people don't mind the taste of this though.

Bad part only on these packaging is that there is always allot left in these tetra package. You need to cut it open to get the last few drop out. The graphics is not really impressive or showing what it does. The aboriginal art could been a softdrink and Asian art could been just some Asian tasted tea. They should have tried to add something showing about purifying your body.

Packaging

Here is a vid showing the packaging process. However there are few point that are different from what we have at school. We have a different program to design the templates, we uses Esko graphics. And the plotting machine we have laser that can be moves onto the check marks.

Credits to: Ebsmedia for uploading it to Youtube.

Pusht ubes / How it's made

Here is a vid of how push tubes are made. However this is an old vid because nowadays we have plastic push tubes instead of metal. How they are still used and handy for use packaging designers to look into how they are made. You don't know, you might think of something useful for this packaging or a new idea for it.

Credits to: Girawheen for uploading it to Youtube.

Popcans / How its made?

A great vid from How do they do it? It's about the process how they make the popcans. It should be great for packaging designers to learn each process how things are made to understand how to design them. Will search for more of these vids and post them here.

Credits to: TimRiches for uploading it to Youtube.

Here is an other but from How its made?

Credits to: Gosale1 for uploading it to Youtube

Photography by Nik / Available

This is my entry for Photography by Nik. I made a the letter Nik by myself and added a realistic looking lens behind it. Because it looks odd when changing it into flat or black white I made those versions more simple. And also still keep the same kind of look between them.

Incentives Advisors / Available

This is my entry for Incentives Advisors. The original logo they had used a magnifying glass and I tried to revise the logo keeping bit of the original and changed to a different magnifying glass that would enlarge the initials IA partially.

Yakult bottle concept

Today painted the bottle , not really that satisfied with it though. I really need to buy better paint and brushed to paint small things. Or search if there are such a thing as shrink wrap sheets that you can print in a normal inject printer. I tried pasting normal sticker sheets on it but did not do the job.This is how it looked before I painted it. I sanded the clay to the correct shape. I first used rough sanding paper first to get the overall shape and then use a less rough one to get a shape smooth and at last use some water to clean off the dust.
Here I filled the sliceform with clay and used a heater to make it dry fast.

Micheal Lau IDN vid

Micheal Lau known as the creator of urban vinyl. Here is a great vid about him and interviewing him. The vids are in Cantonese but also got an English subtitle. I am a big fan of him, I knew about his work since he worked with LMF. However I am more a fan of his Crazy Children collection then the Gardners. What's the most coolest is his work has set a trend of designer toys or urban vinyl.

Part1


Part2


Credits to: Litfoo for uploading it on Youtube.

10 Easy Packaging Improvements For More Sales In 08

Well, we are into the New Year and everyone is making resolutions on how to improve in 08.

In fact I just provided some easy packaging resolutions that you CAN keep. It’s time to seriously think about your product and it’s packaging too. Just like we do with our mental, emotional and physical aspects of our lives at this time of year, think about improving, updating or changing your product packaging. You want it to mesh with your consumer wants and needs. Consumers are a moving target and what worked last year may not work in the years to come or something may have changed externally that might influence the consumer such as the move to green and environmentally friendly product packaging.

Here are 10 simple things you can do to ensure your product packaging is on target and delivers the right message to the right audience. Read the rest of the article by clicking full post.

1) Take an honest look at your product packaging. Is it working to your product’s best advantage? Are there changes that you have put off making due to lack of time or money? Implement a plan to review one product at a time or a family of products if they are interrelated. An important factor to consider when making any changes is the continuity of the brand. Don’t change for change’s sake. That only serves to alienate the customer. Keep in mind that old established brands need refreshing too.

2) Give your product packaging to an outsider to review. Ask someone who knows nothing about your product and your packaging to evaluate it. Ask for an honest opinion of what they like or don’t like and ask what they think might be missing. Ask them to be objective and honest. Many times product developers get caught up in their own opinions and it’s good to get grounded with an outside consumer perspective. NOTE: Be objective about negative opinions. Delve in to the actual reason someone may not like your packaging. Best case scenario hire an expert one who understands packaging and branding intimately.

3) Go to at least five different retail outlets and look for comparable or competitive products and assess their shelf appeal. Is there a particular characteristic that appeals to you? It could be color shape, innovative design. Determine if you think their packaging is better than yours. What stood out in your mind about that particular package? NOTE: You don’t want your product packaging to mimic the competition. INSIDERS TIP: Play dumb and ask another shopper to make a decision about which product they like best. Then ask them why they chose that package. Keep in mind you won’t satisfy everyone no matter what you do.

4) Step back from your product on the shelf at least five feet. Does your product stand out among the competition or is it awash in a sea of sameness? Is it difficult to distinguish one product from another? Is there a USP (unique selling proposition) that makes your product more interesting or more consumer friendly? Note: Many private label brands trade on brand recognition from the branded product. If your packaging goes that route, make sure you are not copying or infringing on someone else’s design or trademarked product packaging. You can’t be too careful in this arena as the CPG companies are loosing share to private label products they will be watching for look alikes or copycat packaging.

5) Walk the isles out side your product category. Look for crossover innovations that can be utilized in your existing product. Look for new ways of dispensing a product such as the stick gum that moved into a larger number of pieces and a convenient carry cup holder. An innovative packaging concept that changes what people buy is what you are trying to capture. Think of past innovations that have revolutionized the industry such as reclosable zippers or pre-washed ready to eat produce. Entire markets have been built around these innovations
6) Review trends and predictions for your industry. Is your product packaging in line with where the industry is going? Is your market moving in a new direction or are outside influences driving what is happening to product packaging? A good example is the current movement toward “green” product packaging. Will this fit your product and where your business is moving? Are you so specialized or in such a small niche that you may be alienating many potential market opportunities?

7) Read from cover to cover at least two industry publications. Pay special attention to marketing case studies or product makeovers. Look for new innovations or ideas that you can incorporate into your existing product packaging. Read the ads too. They always showcase the latest industry innovation. Several publications specialize in telling the story of how companies improved their product packaging. Take their lessons to heart.

8) Subscribe to the industry blogs, e-zines and newsletters relevant to your product. Don’t subscribe . . . read them. Pick one or two that you like or that provide pertinent information and discard the rest. There is such a thing as too much information that can either confuse you or make it impossible to make a decision because there is always a new and a better package out on the market. I’m always onthe lookout for good packaging blogs so if you uncover one be sure and drop me a line.

9) Plan to attend at least one industry trade show or conference. There are lots to choose from. If you are looking for packaging insights and innovation sustainability, please be sure to attend Best Practices in Sustainability - Top Trends, Tips and Takeaways from Thought leaders in green retailing. Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 6:30-9:30 am – Embassy Suites, Rogers, ARI will be presenting Sustainable Packaging - From ‘Green’ to ‘Great’.

10) Last but not least think about ways to improve your product packaging. Make it easier for the consumer to use, find, carry, store, open, consume or find important information about your product. Some of the simplest innovations can revolutionize an industry though innovative product packaging. Innovation drives the industry with new product offerings and a better way to package existing products.
Whether you can accomplish all ten tasks or just a few, the most important issue is that you decide to move forward one packaging step at a time. Let’s face it. Consumers are a fickle bunch. It doesn’t take much to turn them off. In fact, you only have 2.6 seconds to turn them on. That is how long you have to persuade them to buy your product and the only way to do that is through compelling packaging. Make some easy improvements this year to increase your sales. Remember, your package is your number one salesperson and once you have lost the opportunity you may never get it back.

Credits to: http://packagingdiva.com

Logo Trends 2008

Logos are the ultimate mark of distinction and everyone loves them. We see logos everyday - on the highways, on consumer goods, on the Web and in the institutions and organizations we support. Read about the different types of logo designs here and learn what principles and techniques are used to create them. Check out what’s hot next in logo design at Logoorange.

Credits: Designed.nu

Websites for packaging design research

Normal packaging design research are done by going into the fields ( I mean going to the stores). However it would be odd to be wondering around in a store with your camera and a notepad, looking like a spy and copying their layout or store prices for concurring companies. So you rather would be sitting comfortably at home behind your computer.

Also you want to look into the packaging, however you need to have a big budget to do that or you are a real gadget freak and already bought everything.

So here are few website that are handy to do your research with.

Unboxing Gearlive - This website got most up to date news and also got great videos and pictures of unboxing gadgets. This is very handy website and cost nothing for you to look into those packaging. Real handy to look at boxed or packaging of gadgets.

The dieline - This is a great website showing various packaging and new designs. Mostly handy to see a bit of what trend and new kinds of packaging style there is.

Junk Food Blog - Ok this doesn't sound or look like something that have anything to do with packaging. But this website does show all new snack or fast food plus they show the picture of them still in their package. So these are handy for research on fast food packaging and the graphics on them.

PingMag - This site got various view on Japanese trends and also sometimes got news on Japanese packaging which is very handy, because Japan is the most innovative land in the world.

Another thing to be looking at online are the companies who designs the packaging. Cause there are too much to sum up, you should try to look for them.

Installation arts

Very inspiring installations with many different materials. Here above you see an installation with the use of paper and colored lighting to give a special effect. Check more of his work on his Flickr page.

Credits to: Paul Hayes

Lot voor Leven

Lot voor Leven means ticket for life. This is a charity lottery that is organized for the KWF Kankerbestrijding. All profit of this charity will be given to the KWF Kankerbestrijding. The organizers of this charity lottery ask me to make a logo for them and I am glad to help them.

Be sure to help this charity lottery to help KWF Kankerbestrijding to help people who got cancer. The price for each ticket will be 2 euro, it is little but it can do allot for the people with cancer. The link is http://www.lotvoorleven.nl.

Anibizcard color testing

Made an easy name to call these cards instead of calling it Animated Business cards which is a mouthfull, I now will call them Anibizcards. I've been trying to test what colors are good to work with and if full color is possible. Found out full color is too hard to get in it too work. And a black raster actually removes the colors making the animation gray scaled. The colors to be avoided are light colors , this animation seem to be really made for good use of dark light contrast. On these cards I have putted the logo of Red Dot awards which is an award for designs.

I think I can use maximum 2 colors plus extra a black color and the most depends on which colored raster I would be using. Also now I know the rasters blend or actually filters the colors means allot of color combinations do not work correct with certain colored rasters.

Check the video after the break.


Related post
Animated business card

ScouthPath / Available

This is my entry for ScouthPath a boy scout site. The logo consist of a button like illustration with Web2.0 gloss. With a kind of Yin Yang or a kind of path. And a S stuffed in a corner.

Red Rock / Available

This is my entry for Red Rock systems. The logo exist of double lowercase r or one capital R with in a cube shape.

Good web practices

This is a logo I made for Good web practices. Good web practise is about information on good ways of doing business online. They will be writing articles which give information and discuss online marketing, web trends (like web 2.0), return on investment online, search engine optimisation and web design. They're interested in meeting targets and giving advice (consulting).
The logo represents a check mark for good, but the check mark also is a marketing rate arrow going up. And practices are done to help your web marketing and get good web rates, that why the figure is pushing the arrow up for helping to increase the rates.
Flat version
Black white version

Sliceform prototype Yakult bottle

I made this for a Packaging Design project for school. This is a prototype of the shape for the redesign of a Yakult bottle. I learned this technique myself using 3D studio Max and Illustrator. With this I can make the shape very fast and also get correct feel of the shape fast. I will cover this with clay or fillers to make a final prototype that looks more like a real bottle. It is a easy way if you can't make good clay models by hand. Also a technique you can use to make things pop up in a pop-up card, because I can fold this shape flat by pushing it to one side. I will make a tutorial for this very soon.

Analog presentation guide

We know presenting is tough and sometimes real fun to do, but you always need to present stuff for school or for work, to convince others that your work is the best.

This will be a guide about analog presentation. "What is a analog presentation?" you might ask. Not every office or school have fancy expensive equipment and beamers available to present your work. If they do have it, it would have been a digital presentation.

Click the full post button to read the rest of the guide.

Important question
Always ask the important question if there is a beamer available, never presume they will and never presume they won't. Why should you not do a analog presentation while you can do it digital. Digital alway have a upper hand because it is a big screen and help you better.

Always ask how it would be presented and what things are available. A table, stand, a white board or anything that can help.

Equipment and tools
To prepare a analog presentation you need to have various things which can help you.

A3 or A4 printer
Scanner
Foam board / cardboard A3 sized
Standard or feet
Poster Buddies
Binders

Printing and scanning
Always scan all your work for back up and to print in different sizes. Even if it is a sketch you should scan it and print it, to show it in a presentation on A3 paper and print on a a4 paper to show the judges.

Don't use glossy paper even if it looks better, you only be spending way too much money. Also they can reflect too much light and make the judges see the shine and don't see what is on the picture.

Foam board
Nothing is more irritating than to see is a person holding sheets of paper in the air. Use sturdy foam boards or cardboard to show the presentation. Paste an A3 picture on it or two A4 sheets of 1 picture. Paste a feet or a standard on it, so it can stand on a table on it own. Use poster buddies so you can re-use the board over and over. I see allot using glue and making that to have a big pile of used presentation board while I just got pile of loose pictures and one presentation board.

Binders
To make sure the judges can see the works better, print them in A4 and put them in binders. This make sure the judges can follow the presentation better and can read and see everything correct. This would make it more clear for the judges, because you might be standing to far so that they can't see it correct.

Different presentation, different methods
If you are presenting behind a table to people or judges that are walking by fast you need to show everything fast. Make various standing board with picture on them in a logical order so you could tell them fast and present it.

If they are not in a hurry. And you are presenting only or your team is presenting make one single standing board with the final picture. And place the other board in front of it. Each time you are done with one part remove the front picture to show the other one. This would make the judges look at one single picture. Instead of 10 which makes it very busy and sometimes makes it harder to tell which picture you meant.
Something special to download
Some of you might know where to buy those special feet's or standards but being a packaging designer I know they cost much more then the materials. So here is a template you can download and print out. Paste it on good cardboard recommend cereal cardboard or gray cardboard. And cut them out. Grey are fold lines and black are for cutting. This might come in handy if you don't know where to buy them or you are in the last minute and had no time to go buying it.
Download the tempate here.

Animated Businesscards

This is my animated businesscard, I designed it after receiving a special book called magic moving images. I learned how to design it myself and developed a special way to make this. The card exist of a outer sleeve with vertical raster and the animated pictures are made in a special way.

I made it with a thought to catch more attention then the standard business cards, and ad a bit more interaction between the receiver. Instead of just strict graphic and information, I added a play element because you kind of play with it and make it move. This will catch more attention and make the receiver remember the card better and stand out from the others.

To see more picture and also the video look at the full post.

And here is the video first showing an old businesscard to compare and showing the animated cards..


Related post
Anibizcard color testing