Folio

One of the most prominent factors I have noticed in the designs for Folio is that the majority of them are very understated. The designs are quite simple prints but tick every box for cover design. Even those that have deep patterns are not so elaborate that they overrun the cover or story.


I have tried my designs in-keeping with this trend, using Folio and House of Illustration work as inspiration. There are only few colour per design and the colours are shared between each.  I have used Camus' symbolism heavily for my designs, using colour in particular to highlight this.

Body Butter

 

One of the products to be redesigned for the Body Shop is the Body Butter tub. This is going to be difficult to beat because it is a very suitable product design.

It stacks easily

Looks good

Transports well

Easy to use for the customer

Is recognisable to the customer

Displays well

The label offers interchangeable design for different promotions, seasons, etc

The main focus will be on the products sustainability and how it relates to the Body Shop principles.

2010 Christmas Cards

SNWCNT

I came across a snow blog, SNWCNT, who have produced their own zine of their blog and snow news. It has been difficult researching books and zines that are different to the mainstream magazines found in WHSmiths so it was good to find something new. Although the design is quite simple there is still a definite snowboarding feel to it that I have found in other snowsports magazines. They all have a rebellious, non conformist attitude which is one that I would like to take forward in my design so that it appeals to my target audience.

A2591 - Minimal Design

A2591 is a design consultancy who give themselves the definition of "A dose of minimalism and efforts for changing the perception."

On their blog they have a piece about minimalist branding showing how each brand could redesign for minimal feeling. The concept and design is simple on each product and shows the stages of simplifying.

I agree that some of the branding looks better when it is more minimal but if they were all to design this way the shelves would look quite boring and the designs wouldn't be selling themselves as they try to now. No product would jump out from the shelf asking to be bought. Also, products such as Mr Muscle above have a history and a style suited to them. Sometimes the design is more humorous than inspiring but many who buy the product remember and relate to the adverts.

However, products such as Lindt seen above could benefit from the minimalist design. The chocolate with the cleanest design above looks like a much more luxurious product.

This piece in the A2591 is an interesting example of the effects of branding and minimalist design.

Cosy

This is such a nice ad which allows the Natural Gas company to be a much more homely name rather than the corporate looking and sounding Scottish Power, British Gas, NPower, etc.

The idea of it being softer than other gas combined with the handmade/kitsch/homey knitting gives it a much more appealing approach.  The advert will be noticed by more of all ages - not realising that it is for a gas company until the end.

Original Source

As part of research for the Body Shop packaging brief I am looking at Original Source packaging, after getting a bottle in my stocking. 


I was expecting to find that their packaging very 'green' but I am still unsure about the extent. There is little information on the website. The design for the new Original Source packaging were by Alloy who focused on the colours and shape of the packaging ensuring that it resonated nature.


I have found on the bottle that it is 100% recyclable, including the cap, but I thought that the environment would be much higher in their priorities. Through research for my Report I found that many authors writing about the environment say that recycling is like a 'get out of jail free card'. It allows for continual consumption but offers an aspirin to hide the pain.


I will look more at Original Source and other brands as part of my research for The Body Shop.