A Rant
I sometimes get frustrated when I tell people what I do. When asked, I tell people that I'm a graphic designer, which leads to the question “Wow! So what do you design?”
“Packaging.” I reply.
And that’s when people get confused (don’t ask me why) and ask something along the lines of “Oh, so you make boxes then?”
If I ever develop a facial tick, it will be because of this question.
It sounds so boring when you say it like that! When in fact, coming up with good packaging is this amazing process!
Think about it. When you are walking down one of the many aisles at the store, on either side of you are rows upon rows of EVERYTHING! Lets say Cereal.
Kids boxes are colourful and covered with games and animals.
Adult cereal boxes scream how healthy they are for you and how regular they will make you!
And then you see…
something different!
But what about it makes you look? Is it the colours? The logo? The complete lack of health promises and cartoon creatures?
In school we are told that our success in our chosen field all comes down to .925 seconds. That’s how long the average eye passes over images. So when you are in that aisle of cereal, you are looking at each box for less than a second. The success is in the ability to communicate how awesome my product is in that passing moment, and hopefully, to make you look twice.
This is what packaging design is. It is not boring. It is not mundane. A good designer can make you freeze that hand reaching for cheerios and instead go for a new and unheard of brand. In less than a second damnit.
Now for your viewing pleasure, some awesome packaging
“Packaging.” I reply.
And that’s when people get confused (don’t ask me why) and ask something along the lines of “Oh, so you make boxes then?”
If I ever develop a facial tick, it will be because of this question.
It sounds so boring when you say it like that! When in fact, coming up with good packaging is this amazing process!
Think about it. When you are walking down one of the many aisles at the store, on either side of you are rows upon rows of EVERYTHING! Lets say Cereal.
Kids boxes are colourful and covered with games and animals.
Adult cereal boxes scream how healthy they are for you and how regular they will make you!
And then you see…
something different!But what about it makes you look? Is it the colours? The logo? The complete lack of health promises and cartoon creatures?
In school we are told that our success in our chosen field all comes down to .925 seconds. That’s how long the average eye passes over images. So when you are in that aisle of cereal, you are looking at each box for less than a second. The success is in the ability to communicate how awesome my product is in that passing moment, and hopefully, to make you look twice.
This is what packaging design is. It is not boring. It is not mundane. A good designer can make you freeze that hand reaching for cheerios and instead go for a new and unheard of brand. In less than a second damnit.
Now for your viewing pleasure, some awesome packaging
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