Initial Research

Before getting started on any designs for the packaging I began to look a bit more into Wye Valley Brewery and Legges, some others companies that are considered to be a competition and some existing packaging that they and others have made.

Legges of Bromyard - http://www.leggesofbromyard.com/

Some images were collected of their products and I have placed them in the previous post. Their bottle design really does give you a feel of local produce, it looks fresh and of high quality. I think I will use one of this along with two drinks that compliment each other in terms of the food that goes well together.
I have collected several quotes from their website that I feel sums up their business and what they stand for quite well and these will be points that I'll be trying to show through my packaging.

"We're a farming family, and we're passionate about farming and food. On this website you'll find lots of wonderful food from our own family farm, or from many other farms and producers in Herefordshire and neighbouring counties."

"Reared on our doorstep, delivered to yours"

"Now, what can we do for you today?"

Anthony Legge

Wye Valley Brewery - http://www.wyevalleybrewery.co.uk/

Like with Legges I have placed some images of Wye Valley Brewery and its products in the previous post.

"We're a friendly, family-run brewery that cares about real ales, real pubs and real people."

This quote from their website really hits the key points of what they are and who their target is and using this as a basis I aim to create packaging that compliments their company and what it stands for. They have some really nice pieces of packaging that have been previously used and it was great to see the original cover for the bottle, it shows how it has progressed. Even seeing the hop bags was useful, it makes you feel the traditional methods that go into their production and this is something that may be built upon in the designs.

Competition

Hall and Woodhouse - http://www.hall-woodhouse.co.uk/index.asp

"For many years Hall & Woodhouse have been brewing and marketing traditional bottled and cask ales."

"Along with the well renowned 'Badger Sett' we also produce many seasonal beers to capture the moment." http://www.hall-woodhouse.co.uk/beers/badgerales/index.asp

Here's a few examples of their packaging that I collected, their some really good pieces of packaging that clearly show they have re-using, recyclable materials in mind. Using wood makes sure the content is safe and dependent on the thickness you use you can still keep it lightweight, like the first image. I like how it just uses a simple slide on lid, this can keep it just as securely shut as when you first by it and it would make a great extra storage space.
The second image is a great piece of packaging, much larger than what our packaging will need to be but still highly practical (although rather heavy), great for storing future purchased bottles and all recyclable materials.
Its clear that this business really wants to get across the high quality of its product and that re-useable packaging is an important consideration.


Fullers - http://www.fullers.co.uk/rte.asp?id=3

"What makes Fuller's beers so special? Insisting on the best malt and hops perhaps. Or maybe it's our unique yeast. But more than these, it takes skill, patience, long years of experience, and a fierce pride in being the best."

These are some examples of Fuller's ale packaging that i collected of their website. I find their boxes to be a nice, almost simplistic design, it gives you you the straight facts and gets colour coded for which drink it is. With this though I don't think it tells you enough about the company which is why I don't think this would be as suitable for the Wye Valley Brewery as a design that really emphasized on what the company stands for.
The third design I think is really nice, it goes perfectly with the type of drink it is and shows people that they have a made a high quality drink that a lot of care has gone into.


Hook Norton - http://www.hooknortonbrewery.co.uk/buy_beer_online.html

"The Hook Norton Brewery produces a fabulous range of award winning real ales and bottled beers. To make our real ale requires the art, craft and skill of the brewer, the finest raw materials and water drawn from deep wells beneath our North Oxfordshire Brewery."

I managed to find an example of Hook Norton's packaging but any others proved a challenge. A good box design which tells you something about the company but without seeing other examples i can't tell how far they go in their packaging to really tell customers about them.



Other Examples of Packaging

After looking at the main competitors I had a quick look around the internet to see other examples of good packaging.

This first design I found for Purity is, I think really well made, no glue, just cardboard with folds and a low amount of ink used for the design but still enough. This is a good example of the direction I think our designs will be heading in-terms of materials but I will see if I can come up with some ideas not focused on a box.

Another example I found was this for British Ale's, a nice design but i don't think as effective as the previous example and as it looks look it has a plastic handle I think the design could be pushed further to make it a little more re-usable, such as a rope handle.

After looking at all of these packaging pieces I will work on everything I have learned and draft up my own designs.