Dutch Packaging Design

An entirely new brand called ‘Via Organica’ launched a complete new range of organic pet food. Focus of Via Organica is primarily on the Dutch retail channel and secondly the Bio-supermarkets. Stepfive created a new packaging design with a fresh and modern illustrative look. There are several strong color variations for each different categorie and every one of them has its own typical illustration. For now Via Organica only involves organic chicken food, the next step will be food for all kind of pets.

Packaging design always had to look slick on the shelves, be functional, protective and attractive, not too heavy and most important: at a prominent place in stores, dying to be bought. But what remains from all of this when we’re shopping online? Do we choose only the products nowadays, or is there still an important role left for packaging design?
Shikatani Lacroix’ Design Lounge did an interesting study on this theme.
Want to know the answers? Go here.

Food companies have five years to implement the mandatory nutrition labelling rules of the European Union’s Food Information to Consumers Regulation published today, said international policy experts EAS (Strategic advice on nutritional products).
Xavier Lavigne, Food Law Manager at EAS, said that the clock starts ticking towards the five-year deadline for nutrition labelling requirements from 20 days after publication, therefore from 13 December 2011.
”The regulation introduces a minimum font size of 1.2mm for all mandatory label information, and 0.9mm for products whose packaging has a largest surface of less than 80cm2.”
More information on the EAS website.

An entertaining and yet educative app for the iPhone and iPad is launched by ‘Plastics Make it Possible‘. The name? Bin It! A fun and addictive new game that challenges you to recycle your packaging and other stuff in a fun way! Bin It is a free game. Download it in the app store.

Stepfive created this packaging design for Maître Paul’s Cupcakes. The goal was to create a visually appealing and festive package which could be presented like, as it were, a real gift. Maître Paul’s Cupcakes are the perfect treat for those special little moments. They are nice to give and fun to get!  There are three cupcakes per package and you can choose from two different cupcake styles: New York Cupcakes and Los Angeles Cupcakes.

Ryan Partnership Chicago, a leading expert in marketing campaigns for emerging and established consumer brands, did a huge research project on health and eco-consumers. One conclusion: consumers prefer a single green score on packs.

”We know that consumer commitment to earth-friendly products is increasing,” says Christine Nardi Diette, president of Ryan Partnership Chicago. ”But all of the green messaging is creating more confusion than confidence. Consumers are challenging manufacturers and retailers to be clear about their commitment to sustainability.”

More? Check: www.onegreenscore.com

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

Stepfive created several design concepts for the toys including the ones you can see here. White, combined with a strong primary colour or colours gives a stronger result than white with weakened pastels, because that makes it look old fashioned and dirty. In contrary, white gives the designs a fresh and modern look with yet a responsable touch at the same time. Therefore we choose to work mainly with white combined with fresh and bright colours. The design above are shown as 3D view, as separate packaging and as separate packaging on a plastic display stand.

A fine example of what pakaging can do besides just containing and/or selling a product, given by Designworks Melbourne. These air-instruments are part of a ‘Play Air Campagne’, a campaign which helped raise money for an organisation called The Song Room. The Song Room is a charitable organisation who help ensure that underprivileged schools can allow their students to partake in creativity. Deservedly nominated for a Cannes Lions award for Promo & Activation.