We just received our issue of GD USA featuring the American Package Design Awards Sponsored by our friends at Neenah Paper, and are still humbled by how well received our work has been. This issue showcases the best of package design in various categories ranging from health + beauty packaging, food + beverage packaging, to luxury packaging and everything in between.
HOW magazine's May issue features a curated collection of custom packaging designs in their "Package Deal - 10 to Remember" article written by Bryn Mooth and Andrew Gibbs (editor of TheDieline.com). This month HOW wanted to "spotlight 10 projects featuring eye-catching paper choices and distinctive production techniques.
Lady Gaga's Workshop invitation for Barney's New York was featured as one of the top ten. Some of the key production techniques used were debossing, foil-stamping, spot gloss varnish and 5-color offset printing.
Fashion week season is over, and the paparazzi-studded streets, glamorous parties, and champagne have all but subsided. Designers are back at their ateliers sketching and preparing for the next wave of fashion insanity. This year, the retail fashion industry focused on what's haute for autumn/winter 2012. If you weren't able to make it, or watch the streaming shows, here's a few shots from New York Fashion Week behind the scenes, celebrities and athletes like Snookie (yes we know she's not an athlete), and even some retail packaging design!
Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) has named the winners of its annual American Package Design Awards.
Scottsdale Arizona's Design Packaging and LuxCrux creative team are honored to receive 2 GDUSA American Packaging Design Awards for their work on the Barney's Lady Gaga Pop-up Invitation, and the Auberge du Soleil truffle packaging.
For nearly five decades, Graphic Design USA has sponsored design competitions that spotlight areas of excellence and opportunity for creative professionals. Of these, the American Package Design Awards is the fastest growing. The reason is simple but profound: marketers are challenged as never before to convey their message. Package design — along with the related disciplines of point-of-purchase and instore graphics — is increasingly the difference maker in the purchasing decision.
Behind the scenes process photos.
Annually, Design Packaging redesigns our Intro Kit to showcase an essential element of forward-looking packaging including innovative production processes, luxurious materials, and distinctive treatments. By focusing on the craftsmanship and paying close attention to every detail of the unveiling process, our introduction is elevated to a true collectable piece of art. We are confident our 2012 edition will not disappoint.
This year we focused on the design process itself by drawing back the figurative curtain to reveal the inner workings of our methodology - taking you from brief, through mock-ups, to the finished product; a masterpiece you will soon be able to hold in your very hands. Look for it on your desk Spring 12.
Having conquered the pop music scene, Lady Gaga has moved on to more fashionable endeavors by infiltrating Barneys New York’s Madison Avenue flagship store. The unpredictable songstress has converted the space into Gaga’s Workshop, her avant-garde interpretation of Santa’s workshop and a wonderland of eccentricities. Though all are invited to see the spectacle, only a select few will be granted VIP admittance with the coveted golden ticket – an extraordinary invitation conceptualized and produced by Design Packaging, Inc.
Approached by Barneys New York, Design Packaging, Inc. was challenged with the impossible: deliver a show-stopping invitation worthy of bearing the Barneys name while enticing Lady Gaga fans in just 8 short weeks.
As enthusiasts for high-fashion, design, and packaging design, The W Hotel in Scottsdale, AZ was the place to be for all of the above. Betsey Johnson's 2011 Fall Line was exhibited last week in a full-blown runway fashion show. The runway stretched along the W's rooftop pool in an L shape. With the obvious Betsey fans in in the audience sporting their fluffiest BJ party dress; the majority of the crowd was mid-aged, desperate housewives of Scottsdale (is that a show yet?). The crowd seemed perky and buzzed with excited for another one of The W's annual fashion event presented by Steve Levine Entertainment.
Design Packaging playing tourist in New York City
Since 1984, Design Packaging Inc. has continued to grow by establishing relationships with luxury retailers globally. As part of this growth, we've expanded our creative department, updated our showroom, and launched a new look online.
Design Packaging's revamped site reflects our design philosophy: true luxury is simple. Carried through the site's aesthetic and functionality is a simplistic styling which is authenticated with minimal copy and transparency in information. There you can view our packaging gallery, review our logistics offerings, and discover how our design studio luxcrux can serve as your own creative department or become an extension of your existing team.
Hi my name is Evelio and I am a paper folding addict.
Paper folding has always intrigued me so I’m fascinated by new techniques and love testing anything related to folding paper.
It’s obvious from my sketches that, if the concept allows me to organically incorporate folded paper into a concept, I will. Unfortunately, most of the time those concepts work their way out of the final piece due to pricing constraints or material limitations in the mass production environment. But, not this time…
Now that summer is in full swing, we thought it was the perfect time to share a gift card concept we'd been throwing around the studio for a while. The Wave Gift Card design was developed on a trip back to Laguna Beach in 2010, thinking of how we would be able to simplify gift card packaging with equally simple production methods. This concept lived in a sketchbook for nearly a year, until Industrial Design intern John Turner had the time to take a few sketched concepts and give them life in a 3D environment this summer.
Well, not artisan in the sense of food (though we found it pretty yummy), but artisan in the sense of packaging design. "The Snack Artist" is Safeway's store-brand of snacks that feature clever names and doodles on the food packaging. Frankly, we think it's brilliant.
We're excited to announce that Design Packaging has been awarded three GDUSA (Graphic Design USA) awards: Our DPI Luxe Kit for Luxury Packaging, the 2010 Chateau Ste Michelle Artist Meritage Series wine box for Wine & Liquor, and the Julia Baker Confections chocolate box for Food & Beverage.
The sleek black & white promotional piece is given to prospective clients, or, anyone interested in our company. The look is modern and contemporary, featuring two main pieces: the sleeve and the a rigid box that houses information. The white patent leather sleeve highlights the elegant subtleness of the debossing pattern while the interior is lined with rich faux suede, giving it an exceptional look and feel. The rigid box is detailed with a spot varnish pattern and nestled inside are loose-leaf pages highlighting our packaging, and a business card. The book-like construction allows the receiver to store it on a desk, personal library, or anywhere else.
…Again. The first time luxury fashion house Yves Saint Laurent came out with their own brand of cigarettes was back in 1985 amidst a flurry of controversy. Now, with even stronger evidence of health risks and numerous anti-smoking groups, it's sure to stir up even more controversy.
It's actually nothing new. Other luxury brands such as Versace, Pierre Cardin, and Cartier have also added nicotine to their line. Though they themselves may not actually produce them, they more than likely licensed out their names to tobacco companies. These "luxury" cigarettes marketed and sold mainly in areas like Asia and Russia, are also easily purchased online.
Recently Design Packaging was extended an invitation to the Wells Fargo ball park via a large promotional piece. Measuring a whopping 9" x 9" x 6.5" the matte laminated, CMYK printed, and all over embossed invite made quite an impression. Once opened, it reveals three small items: a baseball, a pedestal, and a sensor that plays Take Me Out to the Ballgame. We began taking out the layers of foam to see what else the box contained, but found nothing. "All that for a baseball with stand?"
In this day and age, there is such a thing as over packaging something, especially marketing pieces that will normally find their way to a landfill with the rest of the junk mail. With this amount of foam and board, this was definitely not the most eco-friendly choice to make. Packaging should be smart and sexy without unnecessary bulk. Now if we can just figure out how to turn off the sensor so that it doesn't go off every time we come near it.
Last night Hello Kitty, took over Sephora in Soho. Yuko Yamaguchi made a special appearance autographing cosmetics and accessories from the new line.
We met Hello Kitty and her posse outside where they were decked in ruffles, bows and satin sashes giving away freebies and posing for photos with Kitty fans. Sephora's makeup experts were inside recreating that signature Hello Kitty look on eager clients.
Every year fashion's finest show off the latest trends on illuminated runways, but to get in to their shows, you have to be invited. We thought we'd use Mercedes-Benz fashion week as an excuse to show you some of our favorite picks for 2011 runway shows. Images via Refinery29.
This one isn't from 2011, but still a neat invite as far as packaging design goes. The Air Plant enclosed in the pyramid doesn't need soil since it doesn't grow roots. The runway show took place at the Horticultural Society of New York.
It's been the topic of debate for a while now: to buy a gift or grab a gift card? Let's face it, not all of us are psychic or professional shoppers. On one hand they're an easy choice, just grab the card and go. You won't have to risk disappointment or a return. On the other hand, it can be impersonal and, well, just plain unthoughtful. We wanted to put an end to that, so we developed a distinctive packaging design concept that not only looks great, but is functional as well.
Packaging gets us excited. That's why when we heard of a packaging museum chock full of over 12,000 retro and vintage items, we became intrigued. Located in London, The Museum of Brands, Packaging, and Advertising features "all aspects of daily life - toys, magazines, travel, souvenirs, fashion, and design." Robert Opie, the founder, curator and collector opened the quaint museum in 1984 and has been a source of inspiration and nostalgia ever since. The museum sponsors include Kellogg's, Cadbury, and Europe's Vodafone.
Photos by Louison And So On Blog
There are many sweet creations made during the holiday season, but none is more traditional and spectacular than a Bûche de Neol (or Yule Log, as we say here in the states). Pierre Hermé, a french purveyor of luxury sweet treats, created his rendition using three sectioned layers of the "log", chocolate ganache from Venezuela, bark made of almond paste, and an axe to top it off. And for 120 Euros, it will be perfect for your next fete (that's "celebration" in french).
Win this set of limited edition, award winning lip balms by Jack Black grooming products! Just in time for the winter holidays, this set includes: Natural Mint & Shea Butter, Black Tea & Blackberry, and Grapefruit & Ginger. And with an SPF of 25 not only will your lips be soft, it'll keep them healthy and protected all winter long.
Package design developed by the Design Packaging team, and printed on silver mylar with a hand-drawn herringbone pattern.
How do I enter?
Twelve Days is at it again this year, these Heirloom rigid gift boxes designed in collaboration with Design Packaging are once again available online.
The Phoenix Design Week 2010 Shelved Exhibit, whose focus was Phoenix package design, is a conference hosting 30 national and local speakers, ADOBE training, exhibits, and receptions.
Being featured at the Shelved Exhibit was a unique way for Design Packaging to connect with the area’s design community including advertising agencies, design studios, and packaging aficionados. Our featured items included Juicy Couture's Bible box (also showcased in Lurzer's Archive's 200 Best Packaging), Scottsdale Chocolatier Julia Baker's truffle boxes, Chateau Ste Michelle Artist Series Wine display box, Bulgari's collapsible rigid box with ribbon closure, and Crate & Barrel’s cut & sew linen cases.
Packaging
mockumentary makes a point to reuse/recycle shopping bags in a message to heal
the bay. You can do your part in reducing the use plastics bags with reusable
shopping bags, or upcycling your plastic bags.
Lurzer's Archive, the go-to guide for a collection of the world's best in advertising, photography, and illustration, comes out with their latest edition of "200 Best" (a publication printed only once every two years). This year they focused on packaging, making it "200 Best Packaging Design Worldwide" for 2010/2011.
Design Packaging is honored to have one of it's pieces included on the top 200 list: The Juicy Couture Men's Book Box. Some of the notable judges included: Michael Weinzetti, Editor in Chief of Lurzer's Archive; Mitch Nash, founder and owner of cult giftware producer and design company Blue Q, USA; Shingo Miyoshi, president and publisher for Pie Books, Japan; and Dr. Christoph Haberle, dean of studies, Packaging, Design & Marketing at Hochschule der Medien, Germany.
Through their Artist Series Meritage wines, Chateau Ste Michelle pays tribute to the work of one renowned artist each year. A feast for the eyes and palate, the collection celebrates the passion of each artisan, the winemaker and the artist, offering vintage wines in a beautifully crafted case.
This year’s series utilized a unique design and featured work from the late T.L. Lange whose use of vivid colors paired with abstract shapes offered us endless design inspiration. Hinged together, the box opens to unveil three triangular compartments each displaying a bottle of wine and portions of Lange’s creation. The collapsible design allows for minimal retail shelf space when closed, but still creates an impressive display piece when opened.
