Buffy Special Edition DVD Collector Set

Most of you have seen me carry an odd shaped trunk around. That will be the case for my packaging. Most of my progress has been structural so that I can have it to show on thursday for mini mock ups, so here's a similar but updated design of what I have in mind. 

The case will open and showcase some collector items (a brass cross, holy water, wooden stake, a potion by Willow) on both sides of the dvds. The seven seasons will each get a slimpack dvd case and contain two discs each. There will be a tray, that will lay them flat and hold the items in place. There will be a wrap that goes over the trunk which you throw away upon purchase.

The concept is to showcase one main character on each dvd cover. There will also be a pattern, associated color, a quote from the character.

Please give me some feedback and tell me what works and what needs work! 

Thanks!

Laura

Because Shortcuts are a Designer's Best Friend

Go to noble desktop's site to find key commands (mac and pc available) for all your design programs. Photoshop, Illustrator, Quark, Indesign, Dreamweaver. You got it all. Not up to date on software? Company stingy on upgrades? No worries! They have CS4, CS3, and older versions availabe. You can download them as pdfs to boot!

http://www.nobledesktop.com/shortcuts.html

-Laura

Periodic Table of Typefaces!

Compliments of:

http://www.squidspot.com/Periodic_Table_of_Typefaces/Periodic_Table_of_Typefaces_large.jpg

Need some inspiration over Spring Break? Just bored?

Because let's face it, design never sleeps, and neither can a student of it. 

A good pattern won't be hard to find with this book:

http://kapitza.com/shop/geometric-book

Take a break from the 2d and get inspired by this eclectic furniture:

http://www.atelierabigailahern.com/

Make some peeps:

http://www.twigandthistle.com/blog/2009/03/diy-marshmallow-peeps/

Design with a purpose. An amazing portfolio:

http://www.coroflot.com/public/individual_set.asp?individual_id=236737&set_id=269731&c=1&

How about jotting down design ideas in this lovely?

http://nubbytwiglet.com/blog/2008/12/21/moleskine-helvetica-edition/

MAGAZINES

Put the money you found spring cleaning your couches and jean pockets to good use, subscribe to a design mag (or at least check out their site):

Print Magazine:  www.printmag.com

CMYK: www.cmykmag.com

Communication Arts: www.commarts.com (or at least buy the 50th anniv ed at your local bookstore. It's worth it!)

Graphic Design USA: www.gdusa.com FREE if you put down your company *cough*

Layers: www.layersmagazine.com

This mag's are more about culture, socio-eco-awareness:

Colors: www.colorsmagazine.com

Art, not necessarily graphic design:

Juxtapoz: www.juxtapoz.com

Shepard Fairey's Mag: www.swindlemagazine.com

How: www.howmagazine.com

-Laura

Panel Discussion

Hey Guys!

This is a long due blog, as my hand was out of commission for two weeks.

I've been a SAGA and AIGA member since fall 2007, and in that time, I've attended each panel discussion. I would have to say, this panel was one of the best (Tying with last semester's)

Dominique Bregg:

Dominique had a great story. She worked freelance for a while and fell into a funk, and found out designing for clients that are friends doesn't always work out. She later landed a job for MTV-NICKOLODEON in glendale and is now doing something she loves. She is a design coordinator for the NEOPETS website. Which I found awesome! I was totally addicted to that site when I was 11, back when neotopia had less than 500 users.

Theresa Sheldon: 

Theresa works for NEURON SYNDICATE, a small but successful entertainment design agency. They work on a lot of CD packaging, but do other things as well. 

Max Shuester:

Max was hilarious! He's got this witty understated personality that made his presentation fun to listen to. He works at HAMAGAMI & CARROL. His slides were fun because he probably had the most diverse work portfolio. Video games, toys, logos, etc. He told us there were about 9-15 rounds for turn around, explained focus groups, and explained good design vs. what businesses find "good". Max talked about how often, what he thought was the best of his designs weren't even considered, and how new and innovative are terms taken lightly. He said freelance work helps him break this more generic design and lets him express more. 

And since everyone mentions the panel discussion food: this year we didn't have Panda's or Pizza, but we did have this AMAZING pasta. I wonder if Paula made it. 

-Laura 

NYC makeup

NYC Makeup Thumbnails

Please keep in mind that I am designing this for a teen audience when critiquing. Please use clear words to indicate which sketch you are talking about. Rather than "the one with lots of black" say "the bottom left" etc. Tell me which logos are going in the right direction as well. Thank you! 

-Laura

Comps

Round One of comps for the Ben and Jerry's FroYo packaging! Keep in mind while commenting that these are single-serve portions and not full size containers. And there will not be any type on curves..that was my attempt to show some sort of dimension. I'm hoping the image quality isn't too bad, last time I had compression issues and fullsizing issues for the thumbs. The scriptive handwriting says "Jimmy Eat Swirl", that is one of the flavors. The other flavors will be very similar: they just use different colors to distinguish the flavors. I was also wondering if it wouldn't be too cheesy to write/caption the cow saying "Cowabunga". I almost can't help myself.

Please use the number system when critiquing so I understand which one you are commenting on! Ex: b1,b2,b3,a1,a2,a3

-Laura

Ben and Jerrys Thumbnails

The Basic Sketch

The Finished Sketch

I'm sorry the numbers are scattered, the bottom sketch is numbered to match the top sketches. Sometimes it's easier to see what something looks like package-wise before it has the design on it. 

It was very important for me to design strictly cardboard to meet Ben and Jerry's eco-promise to their customers. I also needed a wider mouth to keep all your toppings inside the cup. These are individual sizes much like the smaller pints you see at the grocery store. I also needed to keep a basically rounded carton to make it easy to scoop with your spoon. And, true to their nature, I kept the designs whimsical. :)

The sketches are as follows:

1) The top is slightly sloped. The swirls make a "tidal wave" for the surfing cow.

2) Cow print lid, solid bottom. 

3) Traditional carton with tear off strip

4) 8-sided carton with a construction sort of theme. Black lid. White background.

5) Beveled top, circles contain different information and elements.

6) 6-sided carton that would be insane to comp but super fun! Side "panels" have enlarged fruit. The middle panel has the classic Ben and Jerry's cow. 

-Laura

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

The Bad

Kiehl's Beauty Products

Kiehl's is a well known brand. It is featured in several magazines from Seventeen to Bazaar. Kiehl's users boast wonders, but their beautifying products have ugly packaging! As a consumer, I would care less about the product because the labels and bottles seem so generic. It looks like someone created the labels in word, bought bottles from the dollar store, and are trying to sell bootleg.

Sellars Shop Towels

The towels are tough againsts gruff and grime, but the packaging is also tough to read! The type wraps too wide and makes it harder to read. The design has no visual impact, and the packaging is lopsided which makes it look cheap.

Imusa - Tortilla Press

Imusa's busy photographic background is distracting. While it does work up the desire for a fiesta, it takes away from important elements. Firstly, it makes it difficult to read the white and colored type. Secondly, it takes away from the actual product. It takes the consumer a couple seconds to register the image of the press as the selling product amongst the set up. Also, the natural tendency for English reading Americans is to read left to right, and to examine naturally left to right. They placed their logo to the right which makes the brand harder to find in a crowd of similar boxes. Because their products are for mexican food, I don't quite understand the whole poorly-traced knight they have for the logo.

The Good

Tropicana Orange Juice

Tropicana's new orange juice bottles are not only ergonomic, making it easier to pour, they are also stylish. The exclamation-like labels are visually appealing and simple, making them easy to read. Different colors help distinguish different options like "With pulp". The bottles look curvaceous and lean, making the product appear healthy, and by using transparent bottles the consumer is able to see what they're getting.

Axe Styling Pomade

Axe takes the cake for appealing designs aimed for men. The packaging looks sporty, modern, and attractive. The unusual shape makes it interesting and easier to ship as well as stack on shelves. They're hoping the stacking feature will entice you take advantage of all their styling options: "Messy", "Spiked", "Clean", and "Shaggy", for your own totem of good looking hair.

Beauty Engineered Forever - Cleaning Products

These cleaning products show spunk with creative typography. Their clean (no pun intended) look is appealing, not generic. Their witty sayings will win any consumer over a smiling cartoon scrub. Their clear products give a sense of purity, which is important because Beauty Engineered Forever products are enviromentally friendly.

-Laura

Entry Numero Uno

Considering I know less Spanish than an avid Dora the Explorer toddler, my title is adventurous.

This blog is started as part of my assignment for a packaging design class I am enrolled in, but I do hope it will push me to personally contribute my ideas and findings as well as find the blog design community.

-Laura