PROJECT ONE RATIONALE - BLOG POST #9
PROJECT ONE RATIONALE - BLOG POST #9
Project 1 - Environmental Redesign Rationale
ARTG371 - Sara Holmes
Product: Tsubazo Pairing Knife
Project Description: For this project, the goal was to find an overly packaged item and redesign it to create something more environmentally friendly. We were allowed to choose anything we deemed to be overpackaged, even if the packaging seemed alright. My goal was to create a package that could be used again, either as individual components or as one piece. I wanted to make sure that any waste from the project was one hundred percent recyclable. I also wanted to create a package that turned a simple pairing knife into a beautiful gift to be opened.
Environmental Considerations: When walking down the aisle of any store, it is unlikely that you will see more than a couple of packages with no plastic involved. Since the invention of plastic, it has been involved in packaging whether that has been as a plastic sleeve, bubble wrap, slips of plastic, etc. Even if it is made reusable (hard plastic), most of it ends up at the dump where it will take hundreds of years to break down completely.
I wanted to create a simple enough package that could be completely reused, and if the person has no interest in reusing it, it could decompose naturally. For this project, I used the following:
Scrap Wood - 13 years to decompose.
Wood Glue - 1-3 years. Breaks down over a period of time when exposed to moisture.
Cloth - 1-5 months to decompose.
Thread - 3-4 months to decompose.
Tracing paper - 1-4 weeks to decompose, could also be reused to wrap a gift, jot down notes, or even as tracing paper!
Recycled paper - 2-6 weeks to decompose.
While a bit more effort is put into the packaging because of this, my audience could comfortably buy this product without worry of what to do with the package upon opening. The box could be reused to hold paint brushes, pencils, another gift, or even the knife.
Design Concept and Solutions:
My goal was to create a package for the product that could do a better job of representing the product inside. I wanted to completely eradicate the use of plastic, make a package that created less of an impact on the environment and was beautiful for the user to look at as well as. The original package that was cardboard and plastic and I did not think that it matched the quality of the product inside, a Japanese pairing knife.
The purpose of the item inside is to be used as an everyday knife for cutting up vegetables and fruit. My goal was to create a package that reflected the rich culture and heritage of the country that it was made in. I wanted to wow the user and make something that they would be inclined to reuse and if not, know with certainty that they could recycle it.
I began by looking at Japanese knives, the beautiful simplicity to the hilt matched with the rich texture of the blade. So much beauty deserved something more. I remembered reading about Japanese joinery a while ago and after reading up about it again, the idea came to me that I should make a box for the blade and use no nails. It would be better for the environment and would reflect Japan.
I decided that I wanted my audience to be a culinary student or a professional in the industry. I wanted to create something that would give that person absolute joy to open. The idea was that I wanted the person opening it to have the same emotion a design student down when opening their MacBook packaging up for the first time. That feeling of excitement while opening up the layers of the box to reveal the item inside is what I wanted to promote.
Considerations:
Heritage - Japan has a very rich heritage and I wanted to make sure that the design was to that standard.
Environmental - The package should be simple but elegant, easily recycled.
Colour - Japan’s flag is a beautiful shade of red and the initial packaging makes attempts at that.
Typography - Japanese design loves geometrical sans-serifs.
Experience - This should be an exceptional experience for a culinary student.
Using these considerations, I applied myself to this redesign and my goal, which never changed during the entirety of this redesign.
I was planning to seal the box closed with a wax seal to give a sense of elegance. However, someone pointed out to me that this would leave a stain on the box. I also realized as I stood there with it in my hands, that a wax seal was too much, which is why I decided to wrap it in tracing paper instead. A great thing about the tracing paper is the auditory sensation of unwrapping it and the relation it has to actually receive a gift from someone. Suddenly, without me having to nudge anyone into thinking so, the package actually did look like a gift while keeping the box below visible.
I also considered placing a seal anyway on the paper wrap but decided I loved the simple elegance of the wrap alone. Sometimes, even if you think you have a concrete plan, when it comes to the creation side they fall to the wayside. That is why creating a prototype is so important.
Initially, I also had lofty plans for painting a beautiful scene on the lid of the box. However, during our feedback week, I had a lot of the students tell me that they loved how simple the box was, that the concept even reminded them of home. One of the girls told me that she was studying in Canada because she wanted to buy and sell products and she would definitely want to sell my product in Japan!
I was pretty attached to the idea of painting, but you learn a lot in design as you go through and build products, that sometimes it’s best to kill your darlings. Getting attached to one concept is a bad idea.
I found instead that I could create a colour pop by taking the wine red from the Japanese flag on the paper wrap and matching it to a fabric, which I then sewed into a handkerchief with the help of my mother and sister. I proudly did the inside seam and ironed it, but when the time came to sew the top, my sister, with her costuming diploma, stepped in for me.
The end result is a beautiful, simple yet elegant gift. When opening, the user has to first slide off the paper wrap, open the tracing paper, slide back the lid and then finally unfold the handkerchief to reveal the blade inside, safely nestled within the fabric to keep it from moving while in transit.
More Posts from Saraholmesdesign and Others
Rough Rationales Blog Post #5A
Project Title: The Nav
The Challenge:
A new visual identity for an 8 issue annual student magazine that should have a new energy but must be recognizable as The Nav.
Should appeal to and embody the whole student body.
Need to be able to leave the magazine layout to the design team with the confidence that they can do it.
Redesigning my own design from the previous year.
The Approach:
Pull it back and give it a cleaner look from the previous year while still maintaining the personality within.
New set of standards and styles
What I did:
Art director
delegated layout, gave standards and rules
Initial design and layout of mag
coordinated a new printer and rules for mag layout
Notes:
Figure out which Nav to focus on, most likely most recent.
Highlight the leadership role.
Project Title: Balanced
The Challenge:
Overwork is a social stigma that promotes an unhealthy lifestyle.
I wanted to change the way that people thought of overworking and give them tools to change their relationship with work/life balance.
Create something usable that could be integrated easily into a busy lifestyle.
The Approach:
Not trying to be a fix-all but guide the user to make healthier choices by offering an integrated scheduling system.
An ecosystem that learns about the user through use.
What I did:
I created a web app, mobile app, smart speaker (ish), smart watch ecosystem that could be applied to all aspects of life.
Ish - an ai that learns about the user through conversation and gives helpful tips on a healthier work/life balance.
Brand identity.
Research.
Art Direction
Notes:
Clarity!
Explain this project to someone who has never seen it outside of class.
Project Title: Fox & Koi
The Challenge:
Last year, I realized that I needed a way to reconnect with my passion for graphic design and push myself to create outside of class work. I’ve always loved enamel pins and so along with a business partner, I began an enamel pin shop.
The Approach:
A pin business is a lot more than just drawing pins, there’s a lot that goes into it including the business side of it, like speaking to manufacturers and suppliers, understanding costs, creating a website and a presence in the online world and community.
What I Did:
I run the business side of fox & koi. I speak to the manufacturers, find new manufacturers, coordinate locations and markets for selling the pins, create the websites, package the pins, do the marketing and I also design pins, stickers and prints.
Notes:
Put focus on leadership roles.
Explain more about the pin process?
Portfolio Progress #2
What a time to be alive, a worldwide virus has put most of the world on hold at this time but that doesn’t mean we’re any less busy. We’re finishing this term remotely and it looks like my part-time job will be unavailable for the time being so I guess the silver lining here is more time to work on my portfolio?
Accomplished:
Figured out the Nav bar
Have got a footer going
more pages have been made
a hover feature has been added
project pages are slowly being built
To Do:
nav photoshoot with the latest issue
bilk out project pages
reduce image file sizes
about me page
lightboxes for photography and sketch page
Frame Your Design Challenge
What is the problem you’re trying to solve? The problem that we are trying to solve is that making coffee at home can be a messy process due to the current packaging for coffee or the tools used to brew it.
Frame it as a design question What can we do to streamline the brewing process for a better at-home coffee experience? State the ultimate impact you’re trying to have. To make at home brewing the chosen method of coffee drinking.
What are some possible solutions?
Redesign coffee packaging
Redesign the brewer (hassle-free load option)
Design a scoop with a lid that you can flick closed.
Write down context and constraints that you’re facing
Time constraint of >1 month.
Small budget
Perhaps context is bagged coffee + using a scoop.
The reason that coffee is bagged as it is:
Coffee bags have that little valve on them for a reason “A Degassing Valve: Sealed bags without a valve usually inflate and can even explode. A degassing valve allows the carbon dioxide that roasted coffee releases to escape the sealed bags. It's a one-way valve: carbon dioxide goes out, but oxygen doesn't come in.”
There has also been a few different neat redesigns of coffee bag to solve the sustainability and mess issues!
“Tchibo created a new kind of coffee package for its Caffe Crema Vollmundig coffee beans. The bag looks standard at first glance - side gussets and a one-way valve - but upon further inspection, a capped plastic spout is discovered inside the top of one of the side gussets. When the consumer desires to open the bag, they push down and unscrew the cap, cutting a hole in the film. They can then pour out their beans with greater control and reseal the screw the cap, eliminating the need for other reclosure systems.“
Day One - Blog Post #1
I knew that class would be good today when we walked in and there was a picture of an egg on the powerpoint. I thought we were probably going to talk abt how an egg is a naturally good package, I didn’t think that we were going to have the opportunity to try and design a safe package for an egg in 20 minutes!
We weren’t given a lot of direction other than to make the package, so my group wondered if we were supposed to focus on appearance, function or perhaps both. We decided to go for both and used two rolls of duck tape to encase the egg, paper to cushion it and then we wrapped it in foam. We also gave our package a little bit of decoration in the form of a pipecleaner bow and an origami butterfly.
I think we focused too much on the appearance of the package instead of putting as much focus on the function. Our package was poorly taped and when Nancy shoved it off the table, unfortunately, the package burst a bit and the eggshell got a crack in it.
It was really fun to do something so fast and right away and got our brains thinking for the rest of the day!
We learned how to score paper using a bone tool and tried it out ourselves on a box shape. So far, I’m really enjoying how hands on this class is.
Our assignment for this next week is to take a package that we were given in class and reproduce it three times, let’s see how it turns out!
Something to reflect on: We’re always wanting to think of the environment as graphic designers but when it comes to packaging and brand, brand needs to come first for a corporation. I think that makes it the graphic designer’s job, to provide a sustainable design for the company in question from the get-go. When redesigning for a brand, however, and working for someone like coca-cola who uses tons and tons of plastic each year but is so iconic, how much room does a designer have to play and is it that designer’s duty to do what they can to help the environment even if it means deviating from brand standards? Is it possible to stick to brand standards with the environment in mind?
DAY ELEVEN - BLOG POST #13
Today we met with our client for the first time since our initial meeting two weeks ago! We also had a visit from Gord Wright, a Hemlock Printer rep. He had a lot to tell us about the printing process and he was very informative.
With that though, I realized that the seed paper that I was so attached to might not be the right way to go. The problem with seed paper is how moisture effects it. Grocery stores and the Goodlife Juice store may not be a great environment moisture-wise for that. Then, there’s also the seeds that are used and whether or not they are native to BC. If the seed in the paper is an invasive species, that would not be great for our environment.
Oh well, kill your darlings.
My client liked the box with the pour spout best out of the ideas I showed her but then we realized that the granola will probably be packaged inside a plastic bag inside the box to keep it dry. I’m wondering if I can come up with a solution for this, like a tearaway that’s attached to the bag and box so that when you pull the spout out, the bag is torn open. I’m not sure how this will work, but I’d like to give it a try.
If that doesn’t work, I’m also thinking of just cutting a corner of the top of the box out so that when it’s on the shelf, the bag can be seen. The user can then just tear the bag open without even having to open the box and reseal it with a clip.
I guess I’ll have to try both of these things.
Brand Statement
Hi, my name is Sara. I am a graphic design graduate. When I’m not designing, I’m running my small enamel pin business or slinging coffee at White rabbit Coffee Co. No matter what the task, I put my all into it with gusto. I work bright and fast. I want to create real, positive change through my work, no matter how small.
Brand Promise
I’ll always do better than before. (WIP)
Pushing the limits on every project. (possibility?)
Client Survey
General Company Info
What is the name of your company? Place
What is your business/what do you do? Place provides a single location for a range of events in Nanaimo’s downtown core. It can be a pop-up market, a venue for a reception, an intimate concert, a wedding, a dance, an art class, the possibilities are endless.
How old is your company? The company has yet to exist.
What is the size of your company? A small core of people involved in bettering downtown Nanaimo. two people leading a small team of 5-6.
Are there specific dates the project needs to be completed? No.
Your budget dictates how much time can be spent on your project. What is the budget? Open
Describe your business in one sentence. No matter what event you are hosting, this is the place for it.
Describe your business in two words? Convenient, Reliable
Describe your business in one word? Perfect
What doesn’t your business do, or do well? Does not host large concerts, or sporting events.
What differentiates your business from competitors? Ease of access, Place’s main interest isn’t how much money can be made but in creating a place for the community to use without burning a hole in people’s wallets.
Is there a story that is unique to your company? When searching for a location for a grad show, Sara realized that there really wasn't’ anywhere in the downtown core that was appropriately sized or available for a small reception.
Or perhaps a unique story to the company name? Every city should have a place, somewhere that you can go that would be good for a range of events, but also a safe please for youth to hang out and host community events.
What are your business objectives? To create a beautiful place to host events that can host a range of things from shows, events, receptions, to tourist attractions in the summer months like a large market or informational sessions.
What do you want the design/redesign to do for your company? I want it to give the company a modern look and feel that is also welcoming to the community.
General Image of Company
If you company/brand was a person who would it be? Why? I don’t know if it would be a person so much as a representation or even an animal. Place should be able to represent Nanaimo and the future of Nanaimo and its community. If anything, I’d say that I’d want it to be represented by the Orca because of its sense of community and ties to the Salish sea.
Is there an important object, building or person for your business? The building for this business is what makes the business and it would be located right downtown, on the water.
How do you want the public to perceive your image? A meeting hall, a place that represents Nanaimo, a sense of place for Nanaimo. It should feel like home but also fresh.
What do you want to be famous for? Being the place that people go to when they need a place.
What words should the general public associate your business with? Name at least 3. Modern, Inviting, Perfect
How do you want your image to be seen in 2 years? 10 years? Comfortable, familiar, renowned
Competitors
Who are your competitors? Vancouver Island Conference Center, Port Theatre
How are they better/worse than your product/service? Vancouver Island Conference Center has a larger space to host larger events, Port theatre has better space for theatrical events.
Who might you compete with in the future? More developments.
The Target Audience
Who is your customer? Describe in detail. My customer is anyone who is looking to use a space but is having trouble finding a good venue for it. A lot of people in Nanaimo have to settle for a venue that isn’t necessarily ideal and we are lacking a community spot.
What do they do? Live in Nanaimo and actively work towards bettering the downtown community via productions or events.
What do they watch? Community productions, local musicians, short plays, open mics.
Who is the ideal customer? Someone who perhaps wants to bring more culture to the city but lacks the funding/space.
How old is your ideal customer? 20-60
How do they find out about you? Through advertisements downtown, facebook, Nanaimo’s website
What do they want from you? A place to host an event.
What customers do you not want to attract? People who want to host an extremely large event or have the money to do so elsewhere. (Large corporate events that exceed capacity)
What do you offer your customers that your competition does not? A place that can be molded easily to fit their needs. The place isn’t designed a certain way to format one specific thing so it means its a space that can be used for a variety of things without many spacial issues.
Current identity
Do you have an identity? No
What are two identities or logos that you like? Dislike? I like the CBC logo and the CNR logo. I don’t like the Nanaimo Chamber logo
What colours do you like? Dislike? I like sunset colours and when you just use multiple shades. I don’t like intense greens or dull colours.
Anything else?
What did we not ask that you want us to understand? The Place isn’t like anything that’s already in Nanaimo because it isn’t held back by a small size or a regular business, it isn’t meant to make money from events, just enough to cover expenses. It’s meant to be somewhere rentable that people can use to host a variety of events and promote community within Nanaimo.
Final Portfolio Response
First of all, here’s my portfolio website!
I’m pretty proud of my portfolio overall. I remember starting this class and not being able to fathom at all how I could self-brand myself. It has been a period of self-reflection these last few months and while i’m glad to be through it, I know it’s never ever. Despite having the base of my website, there are a few things that I’d like to fix.
So learning Semplice has been a trial and a half. If you want my honest review, if you already don’t know how to use wordpress and you on’t have time to learn a whole new system, do not choose semplice for your first go. Just be a friend to yourself and choose a squarespace or wix template and then try semplice later. I’m saving you a lot of pain by saying this. Still, I’m glad I’ve put in the work and I vaguely get it now.
That being said, there’s some weird spacing that I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how to deal with. Semplice prides itself on how easy it is to edit but unless you already know how to use it, it’s really not. So I guess I’m going to figure out how to deal with the big gap between the footer and my information in my about page somehow.
Otherwise all I really want to do is update some of my images in my project pages. For example, my balanced. project page could use a mockup of the booklet or a shoot of the booklet. I’ll try to get that when the print shop opens again.
I’d also like to eventually add light boxes to my photography and illustrations page.
Other than those items, I’m pleased with it.
Day Four - Blog Post #5
Today was the end of activity two!
Although I’m not 100% happy with my outcome, I’m proud of the work I’ve done. I learned a lot about packaging through this activity. The biggest thing was having the proper measurements to work with and having the original package and mock-up made by my partner to show me what was important.
Every little thing about a package has to be considered. For example, my package had little cut-outs on the bottom flap, and a cut-out on the top flap to make it easier to open. Two of my folded in flaps were also shorter than the other two by a mere millimetre! It was cool to understand this and figure out the best way to adjust for this.
My takeaway from this project is that it’s important to look at the small stuff and to sweat it when it comes to designing a package!
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saraholmesdesign reblogged this · 6 years ago
