Novelty packaging

Chocolate Pills

30 chocolate pills packaged in typical tablet push out trays

Source: prezzybox.com

Healthy food packaging

A series of food packaging to encourage people to change their bad habits.

Source: toxel.com

Print seminar 1

The four types of printing are:

• Rotary
• Digital
• Screen
• Pad

Rotary

Image printing plates are wrapped around a cylinder and can be printed on various substrates which can then be further modified if required. The 3 main types of rotary printing are:

1) Offset lithography (planography)

An inked image is transferred or 'offset' from an etched aluminium plate, to a rubber blanket and then to the print surface. The planographic image carrier (plate) obtains ink from the ink rollers where the image is while the non-printing areas attracts a water-based film keeping these ink-free.

2) Gravure (Intaglio)

Copper plate transfer ink directly to the print surface, usually on rolls. They are the fastest and more durable of all the printing processes therefore are usually used for high volume products. Photo gravure is high quality but expensive.

3) Felxography (Relief)

A positive, mirror image rubber polymer plate on a cylinder, transfers 'sticky ink' directly onto the print surface. It can be used for printing on almost any type of substrate including plastic, cellophane and paper. Examples of products are crisp packets and bottle labels.

Digital printing

Direct from a computer to a material without an intermdiate physical process and is ideally suited for short runs (longer runs use the more traditional printing methods). An advised process would be:

1) Test print - Inspect colours, spelling, spacing and size

2) Refinement - Another mock up

3) Choose which stock you wish to use

Screen printing

It uses a woven mesh to support an ink blocking stencil. A roller or squeegee is moved across the screen, forcing the ink through the open areas and onto the substrate. This is then repeated if necessary to achieve multiple colours.

Inspecting prints

Task - Packaging & Promotion

All About Tea

The designer has used a stripped-back aesthetic by using a monochrome colour scheme with mechanical type, typical of 'warehouse' packaging. The designer explains: "This (font choice) reflects the uniform spacing of the mark as well as referencing the utilitarian infographics associated with import and export. The typeface strengthens the ideas behind the metronomic process of the company’s offer."

Source: http://fontsinuse.com/all-about-tea/

Waitrose food packaging

Despite the unappetising product, the aesthetic connotes the opposite - in effect, it does what it says on the tin. The uniform nature of the photography reflects the minimal, sans-serif type.

Source: swiss-miss.com

Saxton Cider

This packaging for Saxton Cider has a clear focus on the core ingredients - apples and pears. The labels give the impression the fruit is inside the bottle, referencing the fact the produce is fresh. This is reinforced by the clean, sans-serif type and the minimal aesthetic.

Source: supply.net.nz

Task - Information & Wayfinding

Global Footprint Network

This hand-held annual report encompasses colourful infographics, powerful messages and thought-provoking photography. Since many companies are now publishing their content online, it is refreshing to see this in printed form.

McDonalds - Billboards

Innovative billboard design by McDonalds to 'help' consumers find their nearest restaurant. 

Maps of Manchester city centre

Maps for Manchester city centre combining a vivid colour scheme with illustration and type. 

Source: weshallsee.co.uk

Task - Publishing & Editorial

100 best places to stuff your faces

This pocket sized culinary review uses hand-rendered illustrations

Source: underconsideration.com

The Manual

The Manual simply looks at and anaylses web, through print. The people behind this project have took a unique approach by collaborating with industry web professionals, and collating all their knowledge and information in one source. The cover is personalised for each recipient therefore it feels like a 'one of a kind'.

Source: alwaysreadthemanual.com

PYONGYANG

A striking yet limited colour scheme combined with minimal, black and white photography has created a unique aesthetic. By alternating large scale photographs and pages of text, the information is easy to 'digest' and is reinforced by the use of rounded, sans-serif type with large spacing and leading.

Source: amandajanejones.com

Parklife Festival - Tour diary

James Kape created the following book as part of the print merchandise for Parklife - one of Australia's largest festival with over 13000 attending every year. The composition is minimal in order to adapt to the variety of information found in the book such as maps, images, infographics, lists and general information - this is reflected in the use of white stock.

Source: jameskape.com

Print Handbook

I bought this print handbook as research for the Speaking from Experience brief in the 1st year. It covers areas/subjects such as colours on different stocks, dpi, line weight, font choices, tints, point sizes and so on providing an extensive resource in such a small booklet. The basis of the publication is print itself therefore the stock, type and colours vary throughout in order to give an in depth view on what digital print methods are available.