- 5 examples of websites/blogs. that will help you to define information & way-finding design.
- 5 examples of websites/blogs. that will help you to define product & packaging design.
- 5 examples of websites/blogs. that will help you to define branding & identity design.
- 5 examples of websites/blogs. that will help you to define editorial and publishing design.
- 5 examples of websites/blogs. that will help you to define retail and & promotion.
- Write a brief statement defining your understanding of each of the design areas
- Identify 10 examples of each discipline and 'categories' them by genre, audience, content, sector, budget and/or any appropriate method as discussed in your groups.
- Comment on the effectiveness of the examples with regards to content, format, function and media.
The role of product and packaging design is to grab an audience's attention, and persuade and promote something to them. Although they need to be of a good design, they also need to be practical because of mass-production and how it is a universal part of design - everyone needs to understand it.
Dieline. com
Joco Coffee Cup
This coffee cup packaging has been made out of recyclable material which can be reused, to hold a reusable glass coffee cup. The modern, clean design removes the stigma that reusing packaging/bags is cheap and uncool. The material it is printed on, and the textured logo has an authentic diy feel to it, which relates to the nature of the product.
Lebkuchen Tin
These luxury limited edition Lebkuchen tins have illustrated scenes of New York around them, as Lebkuchen originated from there. The metal tin is an expensive material, and the rich colours and script font suggest the luxury and cost of the item. People are more inclined to buy seasonal items for a higher price because it is a one-off time and special.
Packaging of the World
Knee Deep Wine
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Content
The name of the wine 'Knee Deep' relates to the illustration on the back on the wine bottle, as there is a woman in the bath with the water covering her knees. This gives a sense of relaxation, suggesting that if you drink a glass of this wine, it will make you feel like when you have a relaxing bath.
The Dapper Dog
These are luxury dog grooming products, and the traditional barber style design mixed with the sophisticated bath product feel suggest they are aimed at dog owners who take a lot of pride in their pets. Even though they are for dogs, the packaging is aimed at the owner as they are the ones buying it, therefore the design has been humanised to appeal to people, for example using tins for dog biscuits in, instead of a bag, and a traditional tops for the bottles instead of a pump or push-pull cap.
Pentawards
Nescafe
This range of Nescafe Coffee was introduced in South Korea, where it is a very recent product. The range works well together, as the only thing that changes is the colour of the cup, depending on the different flavour. There is a classy look to it as each cup is on a black background, and there is a slight gradient to each colour. As the design is on a black background, they stand out dramatically.
Betty Crocker
These cookie mix packaging have a friendly, inviting tone to them, as the colours used are very warm, and there are no harsh, straight lines anywhere - the font is rounded, the logo is a round spoon, and the photographs are also round cookies. The photographs look inviting and encourage you to want to buy it so that you can bake cookies that look as good as that, and make you feel good.
Underconsideration
Bekko Candy Label
These lollipops were created as a fundraiser for Japan when the tsunami hit, and all proceeds go there. The blue signifies peace and calm for Japan, and the circle represents the shape of the lollipop. It was designed the night after the tragedy, and printed the day after that ready to sell. It is a very simple design, with the information about the cause on the back, which is the main message.
Original Beans
These three chocolate bars are wrapped in french paper, which has an authentic feel to it, and was produced in a facility that runs on 100% wind power. Every time a bar is purchased, the farmer plants a cocoa tree, to give back to the world. It is aimed at people who care about the environment, and have the budget to spend on organic products, which could be why the packaging is sophisticated.
Lovely Package
Honey Hunter
Character
Bears have always been associated with honey, and these 'honey hunter' bears love the honey so much they will do anything to protect it, hence the sinister looking illustrations. Character is used here to convey how good the honey is, as it is coveted.
HELT
Here is another honey packaging, in a completely different direction - each flavour of honey has different illustrations of the packaging, in honeycomb shapes.The colours and illustrations grab your attention and make you want to look at them. I think that the illustrations have a traditional, homely feel and encourage you to buy it so you have something comforting in your cupboard.
Branding and Identity
The branding and identity of a company is the visual look and feel across the full range of products, campaign or service that provide a tone of voice and image to an audience.
Anagrama
El Montero
This branding of a restaurant also includes the interior design, and it uses traditional decor, earthly materials and hand drawn animal illustrations to reflect the locally sourced, homemade food and use materials from the region.
Pladis
Pladis is an architectural company, and a lot of their work is based on structure and organisation, therefore the branding reflects that considerably, using grid systems as part of the finished design, giving the brand a systematic, efficient and logical approach.
Face
Ollie
Ollie is a IT Comsulting company, and to put across its friendly appeal, a rounded lowercase font is used for 'ollie' and a simple illustration of a bird is its logo to represent 'migration to a better technology world'. The simple use of warm colour in the logos suggest a friendliness and happy environment. It is carried throughout the brand, to create an effective finish. The bodycopy is a typwriter font, which reflects the technological side of the company.
Folio
Continuity
The layout of this magazine is very fluid, and bold. It is laid out very clearly, with big, bold headers, overlapping photographs and flush left text, creating a really understandable and legible zine. This is seen on every page, on all the issues, so it is easy to recognise.
Irving and Co.
The Fine Cheese Co.
This product is different fruit spreads for jam, and the natural hand-drawn illustrations, paired with the elegant serifs create a notion of class. This is supported by the types of fruit that are used (fig, gooseberries - which seem to be seen as 'posh': 'Few summer fruits rival the goosegog when it comes to complexity, depth and sheer zesty oomph.' - Guardian)
Matches
These bags for high end retailer Matches have an incredibly striking marbled pattern, created by Annie Muir. They are designed to be as opulent as the clothes themselves inside the bags and boxes.
Studio MPLS
Neve
The product labels, brochures and logo are very visual, and the crisp photography emphasizes the nature aspect of the brand. By using the photographs on most of the components in the brand, and having pages of photography, featuring none of the clothes, suggest that the brand have a high budget.
Re-Branding
The Island of Bahamas Ministry of Tourism wanted to set themselves apart from other beach resorts, and this branding does that by using a lot of photography, and pictograms for the different activities that you can do there. The shapes are used in every part of the identity, creating a flow between the products.
Icodesign
Dolphin House
Dolphin House is a set of hotel apartments in Westminster, appealing to an elite set of people. The brand wanted to portray the quality of the hotel through range of assets including laundry bag, stationary, brochure, do not disturb signs, luggage tags and a launch invitation. A deep purple is used across the identity, which has connotations with class and opulence. Mixed with the grey, it creates a calming feel, and the photography of the interior/exterior would encourage people to visit.
Karaway
Traditional
Karaway is a bread bakery, which makes bread in the traditional way. This is reflected through the identity, as red is associated with Russia, the pattern used reflects Slavic artwork and the typeface used was designed by a Russian typographer. This attention to detail is very subtle, but proves how well thought out the design decisions were. The brown paper bags, tags etc show an authentic, natural side of the brand.
Information and Way-finding
Information graphics is the visualization of displaying data, statistics and any other form of information. It is to inform an audience of different topics, in a clear and visual way.
Visual.ly
Christmas Banquet
This is a Christmas infographic about the amount of food the world consumes over christmas including calories, traditional meals, amount bought etc. It is different to what you would expect because it isn't in traditional Christmas colours, and the illustrations look dull and unfestive. All though the content is interesting and very seasonal, you wouldn't think of Christmas as soon as you looked at it.
Hellmann's Short Film
This uses film and stop motion to show a table with food on, then text, audio and image have been added afterwards to create an infographic which is really effective because it is different to just an image of kinetic typography that we see. Because it is fast-paced and incredibly visual, it is engaging.
Feltron
Feltron Annual Report 2008
The designer Nicholas Feltron, creates an annual report of his life each year in the form of extensive, intricate infographics. This one from 2008 uses different sized triangles to represent the different ways he traveled over the year. Throughout the rest, large numbers are accompanied by a small serif saying what they stand for. It is a very clean design, and even though I don't know this person, the infographic makes me want to know more because of how well designed it is.
Feltron Annual Report 2010
Here is another one from 2010, and it is quite impressive that an infographic about himself, can be so popular and interesting as it isn't designed to an audience because it only communicates his life, which isn't what Graphic Design is usually about.
We Love Infographics
Coffee Chart
The key thing about infograpics is to portray information visually, but still retain a high level of data. This infographic does that well by using a layout starting from the grinders and types of coffee, and all the base ingredients, to what coffee they all make. Rather than saying 'mixing 4oz of steamed milk and 1 shot of espresso makes a latte' it is done visually for you, which is more interesting.
3x4 Grid
This infographic has hundreds of different ways you can partition a 3x4 grid, therefore aimed at designers. It is a useful reference, and is made using mathematical decisions.
Onformative
Max Planck
This is a touchscreen installation demonstrating the way that Max Planck research networks interact with each other. The size of the circles show the amount of publications each institute has published, and the lines connecting them show which ones were published between the institutes together. It is a very extensive infographic, and Onformative had to analyse 94,000 publications to get all of the information.
Traffic
This installation was created for a studio wall, and it is a map of Berlin, with lights moving along the roads where the traffic is. It is mesmerizing, and proves that infographics don't have to be a static thing, they can be installations as well. Because it is just light, on a plain background, it is very clear, and understandable what it is, as that is how we know maps to look like.
Infographic List
Christmas Spending By The Numbers
Seasonal
Although this infographic looks very seasonal because of the colours used, which are associated with Christmas, and it includes illustrations such as Christmas trees and presents, the overall finish isn't very professional. The layout of the bodycopy isn't thought out very well, as it doesn't seem to flow well with the space it is in. Also the choice of font isn't very festive, and although bodycopy is supposed to be readable, it just doesn't fit the theme very well. Also, the header font for each section should be a bit more noticeable, perhaps like the title font, because it is the same as the bodycopy so doesn't make it stand out very much.
Business Nirvana
Elegant
There has been a lot more consideration put into the type of this infographic, and the serifs and script fonts create an elegant feel. The colour scheme is quite neutral, with soft colours on the illustrations, and works well with the classy fonts. Although the topic is quite boring, the different sections of information are split into different layouts which makes the appearance of it more engaging.
Editorial and Publishing
Editorial and publishing design is associated with the book and magazine industry, with bodycopy, grid and layout being important principles of this area of design. It is mainly design for print.
Identity Print
Heron Tower
Purple is an elegant colour, and associated with richness and luxury, which is reflected here in the brand for the new commercial tower Heron Tower, in London. The typography on the book is in foil, and the stock is metallic which suggest that the company must be high-quality and high budget because of the finish on this book. It uses full colour on every page as well, which contributes to the fact that the company had a high budget for this.
Tom Flach
Stock
As the intention of this book is to showcase Flach's photography, a satin stock was chosen to enhance the images, because the shine produces a high quality finish to photographs, unlike matte, which turns black into a dull colour.
Gridness
Because Studio
Tilt are a very unique interior design company, creating rooms which are stripped to the basics including wheelbarrows which are used as chairs, concrete floors and unpainted ceilings. The website, and identity, reflect this by using a very simple grid system, bodycopy and colour scheme, creating a very modernist tone.
Nachmann Rechtsanwalte Stationary
This branding was for a law firm, and there was a lot of products created which had to have the same identity. By keeping the design clean, with sophisticated colour scheme, the identity is fluid throughout the products. There is a lot of printed material here, including envelopes, letterheads, business cards, brochures, pencils and a bag. They all appear to be printed on the same/similar stock which create a matching look and feel.
Studio8 Design
Elephant Magazine Issue No. 1
Target Audience
This is a visual culture and arts magazine, and it is aimed at people interested in the arts and visual communication. The layout and design reflect this by including a lot of images, and type as image, because visual people are interested in visual aspects more than writing. Sometimes a whole word or illustration will take up a page, and that is not normally seen in gossip or hobbies magazines.
New York Times Magzine
Each front cover has the same grid and layout, the but change in photography whether it fills the frame, overlaps the title or has a border keeps it fresh and engaging. Inside, there are different layout and grid systems, but they keep the same in each issue, creating a consistency within the magazine, but still looks up to date.
Acne Paper
Acne Paper
Stock
The stock this magazine is printed on gives the photography a really authentic look. Because the paper finish is not glossy, the blacks aren't as striking, which I think works well with the colour of the 'paper' as that stands out a lot more.
Saul Leiter
What I like about this layout is that it isn't cramped - there is a lot of space for the bodycopy, header and image, keeping it clean and simple. I just think the text looks really clean and crisp on its own, without any images on the same page.
Demian Conran
DCD Brochure
The images are laid out in a really clean and simple way here, filling up the entire double page spread. The white borders around each image help keep the design from looking too overcrowded, and the monochrome also helps with being able to focus on the imagery, rather than be overwhelmed with it.
LUFF Catalogue '11
The layout of this index is incredibly readable, with numerical bullet points, flushed left text and each column isn't too cramped together, making it more legible. Everything looks equally spaced, and all of the information fits into a square so it looks organised and structured.
Retail and Promotion
Retail and promotion design is focused at advertisements for products, and in the retail industry looking at bag, environmental and promotional design.
Communication Arts
Central Market Print Campaign
The use of photography and typography here works really well, and creates an honest, enticing image of what you could have if you went there. Because the background is blank, the type and imagery stand out really well.
Olukai
This product is aimed at laid-back surfers and people who spend time at the beach and do watersports. To target these people, photographs that showcase the best aspects of these activities are used, such as the sand, a surfer and the sea. By doing this, and showing how their product, these sandals and flip-flops, work well in the environment it encourages people to buy them.
Kling
Website
Audience
This clothing range is aimed at women, and the brand does by using pink in their designs, as that is highly associated with girls and femininity. Pink type is used, the models are wearing pink clothes and the photographers has used pink lighting on the studio shots. The script font used is also associated with femininity and elegance.
Rubystar Magazine
The magazine for the same brand is in a similar style, with the online version having a pink background, and there is a childish element to it, especially on this page. The coloured type on the left is boldly coloured, and at slightly different angles, giving it a playful feel. The image on the right is almost a collage, with raindrop shapes cut out and stuck on top of the image, creating a diy, flirtatious feel.
Wanken Blog
Hello Couture
These poster designs mix type, photography and fashion. The type works well with the imagery, because they relate to each other. The words 'show it off' relate to the model because she is revealing more of her skin where her top should be. Part of the 'w' is cut off the border, so concealing some of the type, and the imagery does that as well, because the model's eyes are cropped out.
Braun Brochure
These brochures for Braun are so simple, and each product has a different backing lighting making them engaging to look at. The image takes up most of the page, with a simple white border around it, and text at the top right describing what they are. It gives the audience all the information that they need to know, without complicating the design.
NubbyTwiglet
J Crew
Colour is the most prominent and striking colour in this advertisement, and immediately catches the viewers attention. This shade of red is romantic and classy, and fits in with the Winter theme. The contrast between the red title and everything else on the cover which is light, signifies the brand name, and is one of the first things that you look at.
Playtype Posters
The colours on these screenprinted posters contrast highly with bright and dull, making certain letters stand out distinctively.
Another Example
Levi's Vintage Reproduction
These clothing tags for a new Levi's range Vintage Reproduction, have elements of vintage on the tag to reflect the clothes. The texture, and worn out effect on the tag is associated with vintage, because it means old and re-used. The script writing 'vintage' is written in can almost be seen as boutique, as vintage clothing is unique.
Levi's Made & Crafted
These Levi's tags differ from the last example, and the denim used relates to the whole brand, as Levi's specalise in denim. Because it is stitched, and made out of fabric, it relates to this particular line which is 'made and crafted'.
