It’s the release of one of the most successful movies in history, Avatar. Some industry analysts think this movie will push Blu-ray sales in the same fashion that The Matrix pushed DVD sales. You can imagine how quickly the Blu-ray version has been flying off of stores shelves since its April 20th release. As sales have been through the roof, a little controversy has surfaced regarding the Avatar Blu-ray release.

1. The Packaging: Part of Avatar’s focus has been on environmental awareness. Choosing its release on Earth Day (April 20) the creators hoped to drive the message further. Even the film’s director James Cameron has been on Capital Hill recently talking about how his movie is a “Call to action” to protect the planet. Many bloggers and writers are finding the irony of Avatar’s Blu-ray and DVD releases not featuring  eco-friendly packaging.

Further, there are two additional releases of the film scheduled on Blu-ray in the next year. One coming up during the holiday season that will be loaded with extras and  special features and a 3-D version slated for early 2011. Critics are citing the waste that these three different versions will produce.

2. Required firmware updates: Avatar is not playing in every Blu-ray player. Why? The player needs a firmware update. So don’t run back to the store for a disc exchange. It’s actually quite common. According to a Best Buy service rep, the Avatar Blu-ray version would not work in 70% of the in-store Blu-ray players before the update.

So how are consumers reacting? Well, many are annoyed. After all of the anticipation, consumers brought their new disc home to realize that it wasn’t as simple as popping it in and pressing play. Some Sony Vaio®  computer customers are experiencing the annoyance to a greater degree. Not only was the disc not playing, there was no update at the time so the customer had to wait it out. Sony released this statement back in April:

It has been discovered that the movie “AVATAR” in Blu-ray Disc™ format cannot be played on certain VAIO® computers. The issue is caused by an incompatibility between the WinDVD BD application by the Corel Corporation and the BD Plus encryption technology used on the AVATAR Blu-ray Disc™. We are actively working on a solution and apologize for any inconvenience. Please check back soon

Meet earBudeez™ Jay D and friends. So cool you wouldn’t even want to open them.

The fun new packaging of earbuds from JDA, Inc. packs a lot of personality, literally. JDA developed the earBudeez™ personalities with the earbuds as eyes in different positions to convey various attitudes and emotions. The innovative design of the earBudeez™ connects the product with various consumers to influence their buying behavior.

The design concept came from  research done  by Audiovox. They found that people were choosing their earbuds like a fashion accessory for their iPods and mp3 players. The research also showed that packaging played a key role in consumer decision making.

To no surprise, the earBudeez design won a 2009 Gold Pentaward- Congratulations to JDA, inc!

A clamshell, in packaging, is more than just something that Venus stood upon.  Clamshells are formed clear plastic packages that have one or more hinges, and may include a hanger tab so that the product can be displayed from store hanging pegs.  All sorts of items use clamshell packaging, from electronics to toys, medical supplies, and even sports equipment.

Although clamshells can be made different ways, the fact that it has the option of multiple hinges may give the final distributor more display options.  If desired, retailers can even stand multiple-hinged packages flat so that it can be easily displayed on store shelves without pegs, on counters, or in windows.

Sometimes difficult to open, clamshells are popular for retailers because of the increased security of the package.  They are popular partly because they are so difficult to open in the store!  Clamshells also offer an attractive, functional look, where the product inside and surrounding literature can be easily viewed.

Although clamshell’s are not the only packaging option out there, they are extraordinarily popular and easily recognized.

After much anticipation over 2010′s color of the year the winner is Turquoise as announced by Pantone Color Institute.  It is said to be both an inviting and luminous hue.    This color shies away from the vibrant yellow of last year.  In case you are wondering how these experts choose the color of the year, they say that it is chosen based off of years of research from word-association studies.

This is what Pantone’s executive director had to say about the color turquoise.  “It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. … we also find that Turquoise represents an escape to many – taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy.”

Some of the most beautiful items in the world are turquoise, including the turquoise color of a Caribbean sea, and turquoise jewelry made by master craftsmen. And if anyone is an expert in color, you can bet it’s Pantone!

For more information visit:

Pantone

The loved and occasionally loathed packaging shell, commonly called clamshell, is a product with a lot of positive as well as negative reviews. Manufacturers and store owners appreciate the perfectly protected shell around precious products.  Customers reach for that new flashdrive, phone charger or other shelled item appreciating the fact that it sits where it is supposed to, untampered with.  However, the appreciation of knowing it’ll make it home safely sometimes fades to the frustration experienced when trying to open it.

So why does packaging that sometimes leaves you frustrated continue to find it’s way onto our shelves? The simple answer is because it looks nice and it works.  Does a shoplifter really want to experience all of that? Of course not, simply put, these shells reduce theft while at the same time showing customers the benefits of the product they are about to purchase.

Additionally, your product was also able to make the journey from one area of the world to your house or business without injury which is something that isn’t always easily attainable in other packaging designs.

For more information or to purchase packaging products, please visit our website:

Sunrise Packaging

Have you ever seen a box or an advertisement that is covered with so many words, that you don’t know what to pay attention to?

An advertisement, or a package that has too many words may detract from sales.  Most people make a decision to buy something extremely quickly.  If a product, advertisement or package looks ‘too complicated’ it’s possible to lose buyers.

Words in advertising and in packaging should be short, to the point, and engaging.  A great example of this is the following:

This is a good example of wording because it tells the potential buyer, what it is, and what it does with a minimum amount of words.  It allows a buyer to make a quick decision.  There is nothing in this design that would make someone struggle to understand what the product is.

As you’re planning your next foray into design, consider using your words as minimally as possible for the greatest impact.

It could be argued that color is one of the most important choices one makes when choosing a packaging design.  Whether it’s done well or poorly, color evokes emotions.

It’s known that serving diners food on a blue plate will encourage them to eat less, while serving food on and orange or yellow plate will encourage them to eat more.  Colors like dark navy, hunter green, burgundy or black can evoke tradition, respect, or even somberness, and deeper purples can evoke royalty, status or class.  Pastel colors can often be associated with children, while reds can evoke desire, passion, authority, happiness, or conversely fear.

Color can be used well or poorly.  One opinion of color used poorly is below.

Of course, poor color choice is selective, but why was this design chosen specifically?

Green is a good color to promote a feeling of nature, or a feeling of money (especially in the US).  It is also a good color to be used to catch someone’s attention.  On the other hand, once their attention is caught, what part do we pay attention to?  Do we really see the apps over the overwhelming green of the background?

it is one writer’s opinion that if the above color was on packaging for a product, the packaging would not work.  While it does have a ‘wow’ factor, the green of the packaging, like the green in this picture, would seem to shout louder than the product.

However, it would be interesting to notice that if the same picture was in a different color, such as a similar color like teal, how the message of the product or applications might have stood out over the packaging.

Using Apple as an example, here is another example of color choices.

Both packages pictured above use colors to emphasize and brighten without overpowering.  The ‘natural’ and the ‘white’ state traditional while caring about the environment, while the colors used in the center add balance, freshness, and ‘likability.’  Although they don’t scream “Look at me” like the above example, they do say, “I’m trustworthy.”

The pink ribbon is becoming one of our newest most recognized symbols.  Breast cancer awareness campaigns are spreading through the country, and products from soups to cement trucks are taking up the message.

Soups?

Cement trucks?

Spongebob?

Nonprofits, like the ones that support Breast Cancer Awareness, are increasingly using the powerful impact of images to keep the message in front of potential donors minds.  And it appears to be working.  For a symbol that less than 10 years ago few would have associated with anything except for a little girl’s hair, breast cancer awareness nonprofits have been using branding, including packaging, to get their message out in an extremely positive way.

As more nonprofits realize the power of branding and packaging, maybe our society will use branding to bring the most important message of all.

That of compassion.

(Pictures from http://whipitoutcomedy.com)

With the ever increasing popularity of USB flash drives, also known as jump drives or thumb drives, companies are coming up with more and more creative designs for these devices. Here are some that we found at Gadget4all:

Care for a flash memory shot?

This one is a mp3 player, voice recorder, AND a flash memory stick:

Like to eat/cook? There are plenty of creative food designs:

Don’t go without protecting these valuable devices. When you need to package all of your creative USB flash drives, give Sunrise a call. We can help create a custom package to go with your unique devices that can help prevent them from being lost/damaged.

(All pictures from gadget4all.com)

In September, a new compilation of digitally remastered Beatles Albums will be available. The people at BoxOfVistion, LLC have come up with a great box to hold the new discs.

The Box of Vision (BoV) itself is beautifully covered in linen with a picture of the band and a silver foil Beatles logo and accents. The graphic on one side look like a stack of LPs giving the box a great retro look.

Inside are three books chronicling the band and their albums and a unique storage system to hold 32 Beatles Albums on CD. The system is built specifically to store the 32 CDs and CD booklets that comprise THE BEATLES core album catalog, from PLEASE PLEASE ME through LOVE. There are five beautiful art adorned page spreads where CD booklets can be stored in one-to-one correspondence with their accompanying CDs.

As you can see, custom packaging can add value or even be a stand alone product. You can read more or order the BoV at boxofvision.com