Packaging Design

I've been taking a packaging design course the past month and it's been going very well. It has been A LOT of work, but it's worth it because I'm learning so much and I know I will have awesome portfolio pieces.

The most challenging part of my projects have been the thumbnail sketches. When I first started off in graphic design, I was taught that thumbnail sketches were rough and they could just be elements of a design, not necessarily the whole design. Basically, thumbnails were for the designer's benefit. At AiPOD, they teach us that thumbnails are for the client. In regards to packaging design, the design elements need to be applied to a sketch/template of the package so that the client can get an idea of placement. Why don't all schools teach this? It makes much more sense since we are designing for clients, not ourselves. My thumbnails have improved tremendously over the last 4 weeks and anyone who looks at them can see the direction I am taking.

My first project was a cylinder container with a continuous label; meaning no front, back or sides. The product had to be something that wasn't typically packaged in a cylinder. I chose elbow macaroni noodles. This proved a little more difficult than I thought because I had to break away from the traditional concept of packaging (front, back and sides) and think outside the box. My solution: Repetition. No matter which which way the container was put on the shelf, you would still be able to distinguish important information. I've uploaded a few photos of my cylinder container under Packaging Design.

Our final project is a multi-unit paperboard carrier with clear bottles. Again, the product had to be something that wasn't typically packaged in multi-units. Since I had never designed anything in health & beauty, I chose women's foaming bubble bath and bath salt soak. Before I started designing, I did product profile research on women's bath products based on R.Birds Product Profile. Once I gathered all of my information, I found bottles and created labels. I am currently working on the paperboard carrier, which should be completed in a few days. I will upload photos once the entire project is completed.

I am extremely proud of the work I have produced in this class. Even my professor was impressed by the quality of my work. This has been the hardest course I've had to take in graphic design, but it has been the most rewarding.