Packaging Examples

Along with designing my own net and box I had a look around the house to find other examples of packaging to see how they are formed.
I didn't take the packages fully apart as they were still in use.

A good example, this scales box makes good use of slots and tabs to hold itself together. It does use one strip of glue to hold the center section together which I think could be replaced by a slot and tab that is used on the top and bottom of the box.
The inside tray holds the scales tight and it made from recycled material which was a good find.

Even the glasses at MacDonald's make good use of packaging with a small amount of materials and no glue. It simply holds itself together with one slot and the glass pushing in the opposite direction to hold it tighter, simple but effective.

The next one I looked at was a controller package, the center piece was made purely of folds which needed no glue which was good. The main box used just tabs and one bit of glue, shame it didn't use fully tabs.

I quite like this box design but it has a heavy amount of glue used it does make it quite un-green so it wouldn't be very appropriate.

A simple box design that uses folds and glue, it could do the same if it used tabs instead of glue.

My last little example was a pencil box, again this uses tabs and slots to hold itself together but still uses one bit of glue, so many of these are nearly 100% cardboard.

Looking at all of these packaging designs made me think of how simple a strong piece of packaging can be, like with the coke glass, its held together by a single piece of card which uses the objects weight to hold it together.
For my piece of packaging I would like to make it simplistic whilst being strong as it is required that it carries two ale bottles and a condiment bottle. Further research and designs will be carried out to find a suitable solution.

Early POC's

Taking forward my window box design I took it and formed a net based upon my original drawings and the sizes of the ale bottles and condiment.

I designed it so that it would hold the bottles quite snugly together to avoid them clattering around and risks of any breakages. 

It holds together by a line of slots down the sides of the box, the tabs slide into the these and hold the box together, this avoids any need of glue.

A small slot and a few tabs go together next to the handle at the top of the box to hold it all together more securely, if these are slotted tightly together, the box is not coming apart easily.

I made the box's net to be to scale so that I could see how well it works when fully put together.

This was the original drawing of the net along with all of the measurements.

 

By using a box the previously held an acoustic guitar I measured out and drew the net onto it. It became a little bit of an issue when my design edged onto some of the creases of its original folded shape.

This was my net fully cut out, a little rough around the edges but I thought it was looking good. 

After a while of scoring, folding and slotting I managed to get the net together and form my box.
It came out a little rough but unfortunately the cardboard I was using was a bit resistant at times and a few creases appeared which gave me a hard time when getting the tabs into the slots.
Another problem that I found from this was that i didn't give it enough extra centimeters of space for the inside space, this meant that my tester bottle was squeezing the box open at the top a little, I will remember this for future nets.

After getting it together I tested the bottle inside the box.
It held it well and didn't allow it to move (although a little to cramped) and prevented it from falling over. Having three bottles inside would be possible and I feel this prototype has been quite successful. 

Packaging Nets and Tests

Looking through nets during the lecture gave me a better idea of how i was going to approach making a net for one of my designs. I have yet to definitely decide upon which design i will take forward into a prototype net but i am tempted with either my W-Box Design or my window box design.

Below is the net that I completed

1, What sort of product do you think could use a package like this? Do you think the item would fit straight off or would it need extra padding maybe?

I think for this particular piece of packaging it would to suitable to have a small bottle/circular item that would sit inside the holes, this would stop it from falling out. 

As for extra padding it may need some on the bottom of the packaging if the item is fragile, if you put it down to hard/quickly it could break

Do you think that you could improve on this net design? If “yes” then explain in what way[s].

It works quite well but one improvement i think i would add is an extra tab that when the net is completed it sticks out of the top of the box, this would allow the package to hang and not have to rely on sitting on the ground.

 

Wine Carrier Packaging

3, Does your chosen package use glue to keep it together? If “yes” then does it use it in abundance or in a minimal way? Can you suggest a way that [if glued] this pack might be put together without glue and using ‘locking’ tabs instead? Please note down your thoughts.

This package did use use glue and it did use a fair bit of it. It lined down one of its side that could have been done with far less glue and still would have securely held the package together.

If the side that had glue plastered down it had two tabs at the top and bottom, they could easily slot into the package and hold it tightly together.

4, What sort of material is your chosen package made from – card, plastic etc? Is this material ‘virgin’ stock or is it re-used in some way or marked as ‘environmentally friendly’ in some way? Do you think it’s an effective material.

This packaging  is made from recycled cardboard but I am not definite. The packaging is marked with a recyclable material mark so it can be re-used repeatably. I think it is a very effective material and if the amount of glue was reduced and replaced with folds and tabs it can be 100% recyclable which people want to see.

Initial Ideas

After looking through my research I began to design some ideas that fit in with the brief, are practical and get across the key points of the company.

Idea Number 1 - Window Box


My first design was based on a package design that i had previously seen in my research, its a simple box construction that's sturdy and functional.
I like the idea of using the brewery's initials as part of the design and not just leaving it up to the logo to show who it is. I may also include Legges's name at the bottom as well as their logo to show the connection between the two companies.
For its design i would have the box made out of cardboard and all of the inks will be vegetable inks.
From a couple examples in my research i found and quite liked the idea of having windows in the box to show you whats inside, it tells you what your getting without you having to draw or describe it.
On parts of the box such as its sides it will say "Real Ale, Real Food" to emphasize the fact that what your getting it high quality and the combination of food and beer.
I think the colours that would be used would be shades of yellows that gives you a natural feel, like a field of barley, this is emphasized with a small image covering a section of the box.
Its use after selling is that it can be cut in half which is marked on the inside of the box, to form a flat board. This is marked with tiles and has cutout-able tokens that forms a game of draughts. This I feel would give it a bit of life after transporting the items and can be enjoyed by anyone.

Idea Number 2 - Carry Case


My second idea was again based upon the simple box design but with and alteration of the lid. The lid will be attached to the boxed by a small piece of string that can be untied and retied as many times as needed. The box will also have a piece of rope to serve as its handle, i think this is much more appropriate that having a plastic handle as this means it can stay fully recyclable. As well the box will be made from cardboard to keep it as recyclable as possible.
Again I have used the initials of the brewery as a title but with this one they would be cut out to form a window to the items behind, not as clear as the full window but I think it will still be effective.
I'm sticking with the idea of have it say "Real Ale, Real Food" as i think this is one of the key points of the companies, they make high quality produce that's fresh and made using good ingredients. This is also included in the fact that it has "Made from high quality local ingredients" written on it, just to make sure customers know it has been locally made.
Both logo's will be included, less attention is shown towards Legges but the combination of the products/companies will be shown
The after use for this box is that It can be used for transport or storage afterwards, the inside sections can be removed so that items other than bottles can be transported/stored.

Idea Number 3 - W-Box


My next design varied from the box shape and i went for something more aimed at the name. For the first word in their name being Wye i made the box to be a W, its full name will be printed on top.
For its material i went with the idea of wood. In my research it has an example from badger beers that uses thin pieces of wood with a slide on lid which i think is sleek and stylish. My design is similar but the lid would be taken off upwards and when it is placed on it just slots into the bottom half.
I am unsure whether to have holes in the top to show the product or to leave it sealed, i will come back to this after i have received some feedback.
The lid will have both logo's and mini facts about it such as Real Ale, Real Food, Locally farmed ingredients and 100% recyclable packaging.
Its other use would be that beneath the bottles would be a list of recipe's/menu's/food and beer combinations that can be done using the specific drinks/condiments that are within the package.


Idea Number 4 - Roll up bottle holder

The roll up bottle idea is one that i think is quite unique, when rolled up they can be easily transported around by the handle and when at home that can be safely rolled out and taken out of their holders.
I came up with the idea after looking at my collected images and thinking could you hold that many bottles but with less space and materials. Having them roll up together means they use as much space as they can, they are perfectly safe in their holders and are even easier to transport. This makes me think of a tool belt that you carry around with you and when you need something you just quickly roll it out and grab what you need, convenient.
I used green as a colour as it is a universal colour for being environmentally friendly, clean and safe. This will be done using vegetable inks.
I have stuck with using just the initials of the brewery but using both logo's of them and Legges to show the connection.
The box will have "Real Ale, Real Food" written on it in several places to make sure people notice it. The packaging will also emphasize its the points of it being made from local producers/farmers and that it uses fresh ingredients that have not traveled a long way.
The other use for this design is the same as the previous design. Behind each of the bottles will be a small list of recipe's/menu's/combinations of beers and foods that go well together.


Idea Number 5 - Bottle Bucket

My last design that i came up with was more of a random inspiration when thinking about the farms that the ingredients come from. I also thought of how bottles of wine are sometimes served in a bucket of ice, not really appropriate for this but still inspirational.
It will be made from aluminium which means it can be recycled and it is strong enough to carry a good amount of weight.
The inside will have a smaller ring with holes in it, the bottles sit in these holes to keep them stable and from moving and breaking. This ring can be taken out afterwards if necessary so it can be filled with other items.
The brewery and Legges will have their logo's added and be shown equally on the outside, so that the co-operation of the two companies is obvious and the connection of food and beer is obvious.
Like all of my previous designs it will emphasize heavily on it being a Real Ale and Legges producing Real high quality food and that they have been made locally by family business's that work hard to give you fantastic products.
The after use would be, a free bucket which could be used for future bottle storage or even use in the garden for any bucket related tasks.

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.

Legges and Wye Valley Brewery Visit

Getting to look around the clients base of work was something new for me and and a thoroughly enjoyable and useful experience.

While looking around Legges I could really see the quality of their produce and all of it made locally with fine ingredients (I taste tested this just to be sure). You could feel the message that they were trying to portray of themselves, their a family business and work together as a team to give you the best quality food and products.

Visiting the brewery was not only useful in me getting a better feel of he company that we are working for but it also enlightened me on the process of making their ale, before this I had no knowledge of how alcohol was actually made. Again like Legges they want to keep with getting all of their ingredients from local growers to keep it from traveling long distances, this is something that I think should really be highlighted in the packaging as a key point.
Looking at some of their previous and current packaging started my thought process on designing a new, more re-useable piece of packaging, the main focus was thinking of alternate uses that it could have, something unique or just an extra practical use (glass holder etc.)

After looking at the two companies I think it would look nice to have 2 types of drinks and 1 condiment but this may change when I begin designing.

Post Legges and Wye Valley Visit & Q+A - Ben

Hi Ben - could you pop up some initial thinking post client visits etc here.. Some folks have also popped-up some useful pics as well - perfect for blogs etc.. Trying to get all to treat their blogs as a 'journal' with a x-section of refs etc - sent a similar post to others too just prompting them to put up initial thinking/refs etc too.

Ta,

Andy