The Final Box

Everything has now been illustrated and designed so all that was left was to print and put it together.

This is the finished package before twine has attached the sides together.

The twine sides were put in and successfully prevent the bottles from falling out. 

The new larger handle can now easily hold more weight without fear of ripping like the previous prototype. 

I am very happy with the decision to keep the cardboard colour showing through, not only does it cut cost on ink and make it less green it also flows with the text and rustic style.

The final box

I am extremely happy with the final outcome of my packaging, and I feel it meets the requirements of the brief. Its strong enough to hold the bottles and its snug enough to stop them rattling around. It conveys the message of telling people about Wye Valley Brewery and Legges of Bromyard and what they stand for, they create real ales and delicious food that's of the highest quality and its all done with the resources locally to them.

Illustrated Package Design - Recipe

Using the newly chosen typeface Handwriting - Dakota I created a recipe example that will accompany each specific ale.

This will be placed on the back of the box and will be directly in-line with the drafts board so that when it is removed from the box it can be a game board and one side and a recipe that can be placed in the kitchen on the other.

The example recipe used can be found here -
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/8326/serious-steak-and-ale-pie

Illustrated Package Design - Final Text in use

This is the text that will cover the front of my packaging in the newly chosen typeface of Handwriting - Dakota.

Illustrated Package Design - Text

After looking through my collected research I began looking through a variety of typefaces that have potential usability for my packaging.

These included -

Real Ale Real Food – chalkduster

Real Ale Real Food – 

Cracked

I went for types that had a rough look to them and if possible look hand done.

The chalkduster makes me think of the small advertising boards that small shops have outside, just a simple advert, hand done instead of a flashy digitally made advert.

The cracked typeface gives the more weathered look that reminds me of the hop sack from WVB, its something used in the physical labour and the type shows this.

The last type I found was Handwriting - Dakoto, I liked this even though it didn't show the roughness of cracked, it gives a more personal hand done look. It makes me think of a company making the product and signing it to give it a personal touch and as well almost showing how proud they are of their product, its locally made with high quality ingredients, their going to want people to know this.

After having another look at the Legges site I realised that with their tagline and other pieces of text they actually use a form of Handwriting - Dakoto.

This further proves my thoughts about this typeface and for my next step I will see how this will look on my packaging. 

http://www.leggesofbromyard.com/

Beer and Food Matching Research

As one of my packaging's alternate uses will be to give information regarding a specific recipe or a general good combination of beer and food, I had a look online to see what people have already discovered works well together.

The site of interest that I came across was the campaign for real ale site. This had a section (linked below) that was dedicated to looking at what types of ale go best with each specific food.
Using this would mean the potential idea of having a variety of different recipe's on each of WVB's ales, which would then allow the consumer to collect a vast amount of knowledge of combining the ales they buy with their everyday meals. Of course this is just a potential and not plausible for this brief as it would require many different designs for each individual ale.

Using this information now allows me to find a tried and tested food recipe that will go great with a specific ale. The packaging will be dedicated to the specific ale instead of a general this can go OK with any ale recipe

http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=282021
Edit - Recently the site has prevented me from viewing its pages and i believe this is to do with making an account with them first as I don't think this was around previously.

Whilst looking back at WVB's site I found that already their dropping hints about some good ale and food combinations. Their beer of the month which is "Christmas Whiskers" has extra information about how it goes well with Game, Plum Pudding and Mince Pies, perfect for the winter weather.

http://www.wyevalleybrewery.co.uk/beers/index.html

New Twine, New Look

Following further feedback regarding my twine use I invested in a more natural and rustic looking twine.

One trip to Homebase and I now have a more natural looking twine that is also compostable, making the packaging even greener.

Using the new weaving pattern I used my previous prototype as a tester for the twin to see how it works and looks.
Unlike the previous twine it goes with the packaging far better and almost blends into it, instead of sticking out as it was white. The texture of the twine is also slighter rougher which again helps with this rustic look that the packaging portrays.
I think this is a large improvement over the previous twine and the overall packaging benefits from the new look and texture.

Research into Rustic

From feedback received a more rustic feel from the typeface would be more suitable for my packaging.

From taking the word rustic sort of feel that I get from my research is a handcrafted almost rough look. Its a look that's been done by hand, its unpolished and has a personalized look that looks like its come from somewhere local and natural.
For an actual package design if made from wood, this would be quite a good technique to use as it gives a real rustic/handcrafted look but wouldn't be as affective at meeting the brief and generally being as plausible as cardboard.

http://www.nicecarvings.com/home/how-to-tutorials/distressed-wood-tutorial

A fantastic example of the sort of type I will go for was shown from the brewery itself. This is one of the hop sacks they used which is on display in the brewery. The text used is the style I require for my packaging, it has the hand done, rough look to make the text and packaging go together and suit the style of the brewery.

As well after looking through this style of design I have also decided to stick with keeping the packaging to its basic cardboard colour. This means that there will be a huge amount less ink needed, which is helping towards its cost and how green it is and I feel it will go with the rustic theme that I will attempt to implement. All together though I feel they will all tie in together and the packaging will have continuity.