What can put you in a better mood today than to look at a few creative packaging designs for kids? We all know that food tastes better, camping is safer, and tissues are stronger with cartoon-themed packages.

This packaging design concept for Birdy-Juice comes from Jeksel. Don’t really know much about it other than it comes in 3 different flavors, is not out yet, and has very creative custom packaging.

Packaging for kid-friendly animal tissue boxes. Paco the parrot, Fredo the turtle and Teo the tiger will be launched early September 2010 in the Eastern European market, under the ZEWA brand. The package design idea is intended to make a tissue box more attractive for children- maybe to encourage them to go to the tissue box rather than use their clothes.

International Design Consultancy P&W has designed a new range of Kids’ cereals.  Cookie Bites, Cocoa Sharks, and Apple & Cinnamon Smiles are free of artificial colorings and flavors and contain less sugar than many of the mainstream brands. Bright colors and cute cartoon characters encompass the packaging hoping to catch the attention of children from the cereal shelves in the grocery store. We all know that there is FIERCE competition.

Beautiful packaging design concept and illustrations by Sutasinee C. Seitz. The idea was to design a promotional piece to encourage family bonding through camping. The pieces are based on campfire activities- an over-sized matchbox, owl lantern, bear s’mores, bird harmonica, and fire fox fire starters make up the camping kit.

Digitally printed packaging is an emerging market that is expected to grow from $580 million in 2005 to $6 billion by 2015. There is good reasoning for this forecasted growth. When compared to conventional package printing technologies, digital printing delivers competitive, cost, and environmental advantages. It is also well suited for many packaging applications.

Digital printing can use just-in-time and print-on-demand approaches with shortened setup requirements. Digital press printing also allows for short run jobs for less expensive prices. Variable data printing capabilities also bring great value to businesses looking to add customization and personalization to their package printing.

The environmental advantages are also worth noting in regards to digital printing. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), packaging accounts for one-third of solid waste in US landfills. As sustainable packaging is expected to grow monumentally in the coming years, it could be a key driver of digital package printing growth. So what are the environmental advantages of digital printing?

On-demand production- Digital printing allows for specification on precise quantities needed in production, eliminating waste and reducing warehousing costs and energy requirements.

Electronic job ordering and submission, paperless workflow, and soft proofing- These processes reduce paper usage and boost efficiency.

Green paper- Recycled paper or paper with chain-of-custody certification that promotes responsible forestry practices works excellent with digital printing and in some cases, can sell for more.

No varnish- Varnish is required for offset printing while adding cost and environmental hazards. Offset inks take 24 hours to dry and harden so it needs a coat of varnish to seal the surface of inks. Digitally printed pieces have a dry and hard surface immediately with low risk of scratching.

Non-toxic glues- These are available for most binding techniques and eliminate the need for ventilation of toxic fumes and waste management issues.

Distribute-then-print- Digital printing lends itself to the least environmentally disruptive delivery because files can be distributed to your print center or partner electronically.

With these environmental advantages along with cost and competitive advantages, it is easy to see why the projected growth for digital printing is so positive. It definitely caters to our fast pace “need it now” business culture.

For more information on digital printing contact Sunrise Packaging!

Wine packaging is the focus today. Why? Because wineries are getting more and more creative with their custom packaging (and because it’s so tasty). Packaging plays such an important role in selling and differentiation, especially in the wine industry. In a previous post from a few weeks back, we saw the wine label that could be folded out into a poster rubber-banded to the bottle rather than glued. Packaging for these four wines below are all similar in that they’re so unique.

Francis Coppola Reserve label focuses on being memorable and eye catching while showcasing distinctive vineyards from Sonoma’s renowned appellations.

Revelry wines from Washington State are sold in patent-pending REVELution cask. The innovative boxed design holds almost twice the amount of wine that a bottle holds, isn’t susceptible to cork taint and keeps wine fresh for several weeks after opening. It also features recyclable packaging.

Paco & Lola from Spain takes a very unconventional approach to bottling their wines giving prestige to their modern and dynamic varieties.

Vancouver Island design company, Hired Guns Creative has designed beautiful packaging for Venturi Schulze Vineyards. The design of their wine bottles needed to convey that their wines were something special; a typical wine label just wouldn’t do. A silk-screened bottle concept was created with a design that matches the quality of the wines and works with each of the 10-15 types of wine that they release each year.

If employed, branding can play a key role in packaging. Incorporating brands into custom packaging creates an extension of the product itself adding distinct character and personality. Here’s a great example of branded packaging using a very subtle approach to add elegance but also let the product stand out.

Theurel & Thomas is the first pâtisserie in Mexico specialized in French macarons, the most popular dessert of the French pastries. For this project it was very important for their packaging to create an imposing brand that would emphasize the unique value, elegance and detail of this delicate dessert.

White was the primary tool for design. As a result of this the attention was fully oriented to the colorful macarons. Two lines were placed into the design; cyan and magenta. This was to show relation with the modern French flag. Didot typeface, a French typography, was selected to present the brand with sophistication.

More info:
Anagrama

What is clamshell packaging? If you don’t know it by name, it is almost certain that you’ve seen it. It’s the clear plastic packaging that showcases an array of products from retail, food, medical, etc. The word clamshell indicates that the formed plastic package has one or more hinges. A single hinged clamshell usually includes a hanger tab so the product can hang from store pegs. Multi-hinged clamshells allow for the packaging to have a flat base so the product stand upright.

There are many benefits of clamshell packaging. It’s a wonderful way to showcase a product while being very cost effective. The clear plastic packaging provides great visibility for the consumer to see the product as it sits protected inside the clamshell. The header card can be printed and placed inside the clamshell to provide more information for the consumer to make a purchasing decision. Clamshells also allow for great display versatility. They can be hung from pegs or sat upright on a store shelf giving great flexibility for retailers to position the products to sell.

Clamshells are plastic and cause some concern about the environment. Manufacturers are using different types of plastics to overcome this. PETG is a type of PET plastic that is fully recyclable after its use. RPET is previously recycled PET plastic. Both types can work together to promote the global recycling effort.

More info:
Ask Sunrise about clamshell packaging

Most companies instinctively know that good design makes good business sense. However, companies are at a loss on how to quantify its effectiveness. Without measurable data, package design will always be seen as an expense rather than an investment.

It is so important to understand the impact packaging can have on a product in order to justify it. To understand the impact we need to know what role packaging design is going to play in a particular instance.

The primary role of packaging design of course is a brand identifier. For new brands, packaging is a link to other symbolic associations, playing more of an educational role. By accepting design as a link to brand meaning rather than the brand meaning itself, it becomes easier to specify the quantifiable measures that packaging and design can be evaluated on.

Effective packaging will have a direct impact on the growth of a brand. This can be measured in volume or value of sales. Consumers are driven by emotions and purchase instinctively. Packaging can be a heavily persuasive influence on a consumer if it stands out and link’s to a consumer’s positive perception. With established brands, if packaging changes, you have sales figures to measure against that help identify the impact that design can have on growth.

Margin is another measurable factor that package design has on a product. A brand’s margin is affected by the prices it sells and the costs related to producing the product. Packaging design will directly influence the retail price of a brand. If a product is packaged effectively it will send strong triggers of its brand’s world, reinforcing consumer links to the product. At that point, the purchase will be made no matter the price. Elements in package design that initiate those triggers give their brands opportunities to generate higher margins.

So while packaging design is an expense for a company, it should also be looked at as an investment. Seeking influential package design should be based on what type of role that the packaging will play. If done effectively, packaging certainly contributes meaningfully to a company’s bottom line.

More info:
Brand Packaging

It is so imaginative when packaging features a practical purpose beyond protecting and identifying the product itself. Take this cologne bottle developed by Lebedev Studio. Strangely enough, the scent is designed for a carpenters and labor workers alike. The Levelus eau de toilette is a blend of calabriane bergamot, rosemary, and clementine oil, which go along with wood notes of birch, cedar (this is a nod to the profession, indeed) and sweet iris root and cardamom.

Going beyond the fragrance, the bottle actually works perfectly as a tool for indicating whether or not a surface is level. For frequent use, you can buy replacement perfume containers that slide back into the frame of the design.

Packaging is important. It serves as protection to a product as well as a tool to inform a consumer as to what’s inside. Some consumers consider packaging to be a waste of resources and materials. The challenge today for a packaging companies and designers is to be innovative and create custom packaging that is not perceived as wasteful. Most of the time that means sustainable or eco-friendly packaging. But in cases like this Levelus spirit level perfume bottle, adding packaging practicality so it can function as something beyond its primary purpose is innovative and looked at as resourceful.   

More information:
Lebedev Studio

Did you know that you link scents with memories?
A single smell can bring a flood of memories. We connect smells with people, places, and feelings, so it’s no wonder people are willing to pay up to $100 for 3.4 oz. of perfume. (Actually the most expensive bottle of perfume is a whopping $215,000!)

So why pay $100 for a few fluid ounces? It’s a combination of fragrance, brand, and you may have guessed it – packaging.

Why does it matter who makes the perfume or what bottle it comes in?
Because consumers buy perfume that reflect their personality. Daring, Classy, Flirty, Fun, Sweet, Sexy, Cute, High Class – all of it is said through the  fragrance and packaging. As Christian Dior said, ” A woman’s perfume tells more about her than her handwriting.”

Take Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue
Its packaging is simple, clean, chic. It catches a consumer’s eye because it looks classic.
Combine a timeless look with a trusted name and you have a best seller. Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue was introduced in 2001 and has been at the top of women’s perfumes best sellers lists since.

Another trend that has exploded since entering the market is celebrity fragrances.
Everyone from David Beckham to Avril Lavigne has a line named after them.

Although celebrity scents don’t necessarily have the longevity of classics like Chanel No. 5, celebrity scents sell very well. Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Hilary Duff, and Sarah Jessica Parker have experienced enormous success with their lines.

One of my personal favorites has probably caught your eye at the department store too. It has unique packaging you can’t pass up.

(Click to view larger image.)

Harajuku Lovers by Gwen Stefani, which carries five different scents in five doll-decanters. The cute bottles appeals to a young adult age group. Stefani also personalized it to appeal to her fans. (Her backup dancers are called Harajuku Girls.)  She made it more personal for each buyer by giving them the option of choosing the doll that reflects who they are. Stefani also launched the perfume in limited edition packaging called “Sunshine Cuties” and “Snow Bunnies.” Sunshine Cuties is set to release Spring 2010.

(Click to view larger images.)

Harajuku Lovers has only been on the shelves for two years but  it appears it has found a permanent place in buyers’ hearts.

Here are more perfume bottles for you to check out – maybe you’ll find your new signature scent. (Click to view larger images)

The following perfumes are:
(Row 1) With Love by Hilary Duff, Live Luxe by J.Lo., Can Can by Paris Hilton, Vera Wang Princess
(Row 2) Clive Christian No. 1 Imperial Majesty ( the $215,000 bottle of perfume), Daisy by Marc Jacobs, Flower Bomb by Viktor & Rolf,  and Be Delicious by DKNY.

Social Media and 3D technology. Both pop culture phenomenon’s of recent years/months that are being embraced by the packaging industry. While there are only a few examples today, you can probably expect to see it continuing into the future.

1. Social Media: It seems obvious in 2010 but not long ago people were wondering if social media was going to be a trend or a mirage. Last year, marketers began budgeting and writing social media applications into their marketing plans on a larger scale. Today, marketing websites and blogs are littered with information about social media and its relevance to business models. To take it a step further, Vitamin Water has put their Facebook logo on the label of their brand new flavor released this month. What’s the name of their new flavor? Connect. There’s also a full paragraph description on the label loaded with references to untagging, friend requests, and photo stalking. It’s black cherry-lime flavored, with caffeine and “eight key nutrients”.

2. 3D technology: 3D is making a comeback. Movies are frequently being released in 3D. Televisions are being made with 3D technology. And now LEGO is jumping into the 3D world by setting up its “Digital Box” on the store shelf (Glasses not required).  When a LEGO set  is held in front of its screen, the German-only (for now) Digital Box will scan the bar code and present an animated model of the completed set on its screen. The project was done by Metaio out of Germany who built this interactive terminal using a software program specifically developed for LEGO. 

See how the digital box works. Click here

Mr. Clean, the famous bald muscle man, is seen here featured on dumbbell packaging. How creative is this? Talk about taking branding a step further.

The whole communication of the “Mr. Clean” trademark has been based on strength and physical power. The idea behind the dumbbell packaging aside from the branding was to have a simple shape and give the product more visibility on the supermarket shelf.

Packaging reusability was another important feature as the empty bottle can easily be filled with water or sand and transformed into a colorful dumbbell for fitness. A fun exercise booklet comes inside of the cap for home training use.

Oh, and by the way, to be able to have the full set of dumbbells, you have to buy two….genius!

Design by Tommaso Ceschi