Dutch Packaging Design

Wondering how far you can push your packaging design to the limit? Designer Ewan Yap presents his ”Big Brand Theory” on Behance with some major and iconic brands (think Heineken, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Red Bull etc.). His beautiful work is an experiment in brand aesthetics, and also informs us on the cropability of  logos in terms of image cropability.
Check out the cropability of a brand (or the guts to leave things out).

An inspiring and interesting brand new book by Dutch publisher BIS Publishers out this month about ‘the essence of retail branding and design’.

”Retail mirrors society and as society is constantly changing, retail has to be able to anticipate these changes in order to maintain its right of existence. In short; act, react or suffer! This book covers all the facets of retail branding, holistic formula development and the essential one-to-one relationship with your customers.” -> Buy at BIS Publishers or view large and read at ISSUU

The more we consume, the bigger the pile of waste we leave behind. (…) Smart and edible packaging: the best examples. Read and see all of it in the first online international edition of ‘Food Inspiration Magazine’. Beautiful designed and loads of interesting stuff on food, packaging and everything else that connects with food one way or another.
Food Inspiration Magazine: Connecting through food.

The iF product design award was introduced in 1954. Each year the iF award attracts more than 2000 entries from 37 countries, which are then judged by experts in the respective fields. This Product and Material yearbook features the best in international product design, focusing on newly developed materials and the innovative use of existing materials.

Buy here, here or here.

An international roundup of contemporary packaging design by Taschen: On sale soon!
Packaging is a highly underrated art form. As the first thing a consumer sees when looking at a product, the packaging can make or break a sale. Every year, the Pentawards celebrate the art of the package by presenting awards to designs from around the world. Featuring a selection of over 400 works from 30 countries, this book brings together all the Pentawards winners from 2011 and 2012. This well of inspiration is not just aimed at design and marketing professionals but anyone with an interest in the creative process of packaging.
The editor: Pentawards is the first and only worldwide competition dedicated to packaging design in all its forms, open to anyone associated with its creation and/or marketing. Aside from prize-giving, Pentawards’ mission is the worldwide promotion of packaging design among companies, media, economic and political authorities, and the general public. Further information: www.pentawards.org

Many food labels are confusing (and some downright misleading) especially with regard to animal welfare claims. To help navigate the confusion, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) has released A Consumer’s Guide to Food Labels and Animal Welfare.

This new guide aims to help consumers who purchase meat, dairy and eggs interpret the meaning of label claims and locate products from animals who were humanely raised and handled.
More on ‘A Consumer’s Guide to Food Labels and Animal Welfare’ here.

A compilation of yearly design awards, this book features the best in communication and packaging design from around the world. The iF communication design awards have been conferred since 2004 by a panel of design experts from across the world. Showcased in this volume are the most outstanding examples of communication and packaging design. This yearbook presents trendsetting achievement in advertising, media, campaigns, packaging, and websites.

Read more here, or buy here.

Packaging products are designed to last as long as possible before recycling, where the vital process starts all over again. The importance of recyclable packaging is clearly recognised by all market sectors; either because the product itself is natural and eco-friendly or manufacturers wish to draw attention to the essence of the product. On the whole, awareness as regards the importance of recycled products is gradually increasing.

View pages and read more, or buy here.

Eating a pure experience of smell and taste? No longer. Nowadays it’s rather an effective agency to communicate and engage, an indication of cultural values, lifestyle, ispirations and imagination.
This showcase is complemented by fascinating insights in their forewords and case studies given by experts, entrepreneurs and practitioners, each distinct with regards to their experience in product, packaging, image-making, branding and interior design.

Buy here.
Read more

Again a wonderfull asset for our bookshelf, “packed” with inspiration: THE ART OF PACKAGE DESIGN. A recent assembly of international designers is creating highly outstanding and savvy designs to complement the nature and function of a product. Editor Wendy Xu included the Atelier LaDurance Japanese Denim packaging in the publication that is about innovative packaging designs that functions beyond ‘simply product wrappers’. A creative treasure published by Gingko Press: www.gingkopress.com