More Packaging

This is some more packaging that I managed to lay my hands on. In a earlier post I talked about how there is all this interesting packaging out there but it's never available in your big chain supermarkets. Also got a couple of cutlery holders from revolution. I've been drinking a lot in there recently and I just like simple design that compliments the product material and shape.






First up is this packaging for Pepsi raw. Nothing much to write home about in terms of the drink, but I like the packaging. I am pretty much into all this eco stock and I don't think it looks played out just yet. This is Pepsi's attempt and I think it works. I am very much into nice typography too and appreciate the type used here, although I think the 'raw' type could be more visually representative of the meaning. The can looks just as cool, if only that was as ethically conscientious in terms of its packaging materials. I think most people's perception would be to think this is crappy due to the size and dominance of the company, and go 'oh no not another way which Pepsi can exploit us' by claiming they are looking after the world and us. I am reserved on my opinion of the company but I just thought this stood out in the soft drink section at Tesco.

On first impressions I was unsure about what print method was used on this because the raw logos are clearly white, however the stock is a natural source (or so I thought). It turns out the stock is white but is printed with inks which leave us to believe the stock is natural brown texture. Only when I opened it did I see that the stock is actually white on the glue tabs. With that in mind I now think that this is a 3 spot colour print job, 1 of which is a metallic ink. Obviously having 3 spot colour plates produced is a lot cheaper thank having the 4 process plates plus an extra one for the metallic ink. I believe a litho web printing process was used, due to the high level of output and the speed at which the packaging would be required.

As for the cans they would have almost certainly been produced using the flexo process just because it is the most common process when it comes to printing packaging of this type, whether it be tin cans, foil packaging or plastic. It would not be as cost effective for use on card templates such as the one below though, as it is quite an expensive process, much like rotogravure.

This is some packaging from M&S which I didn't buy but spotted in the Kitchen and nabbed. Again its an example of letting the product and packaging breath without filling our heads with how good it is. Again, the westernised typography just does it for me. Serifs always add character to a typeface and can help lift a piece when chosen carefully. The colour scheme fits nicely with the product because of its origin and it's just appealing. Too bad 98% of the shoppers at M&S would not care what it looks like, or maybe they would not conscientiously think its appealing, but what made someone in my family buy it..?

The print process used in the production of this packaging would have probably been litho printing. Again, I'm unsure of how many colours but I would imagine the red, orange and black are 3 spot colours. Again, much like the pepsi packaging, it would not be cost effective to set up 4 plates with cmyk if you could achieve the same effective with three spot colours. Of course, this could be achieved using 2 colours (red and black) and the orange could be a tint. The stock is a textured white card with a nice quality feel to it, which one would expect at a supermarket such as Marks & Spencer's.

The last bit of packaging are these delightful, yes delightful, cutlery holders. These are from two separate advertising campaigns rolled out by revolution vodka bars. The new white one appeals to me for its simplicity. The statement appeals to me who is a regular there now, and the choice of typeface is safe, it is not overwhelming nor too bland. There is no need for imagery accompaniment because the type does what you want it too. The tracking and leading is spot on, and the words flow nicely. No need for complications which is something I believe in, and lets just eat. That's what it says to me anyway. The black one although it seems free flowing and very original, I can only think this idea for the fruit and vegetables in the shape of a heart is an idea that has been forced through without thinking. I might be wrong, but the bar serves burgers and stuff so why have 'love food' and a load of fruit. It works in the sense that they use fresh products but it just does not quite work for me.

My guess on the black packaging is that this is a full 4 colour process job with a clear varnish sealant to protect against greasy hands or food spillages. The second one looks like a two colour job again with a low glare varnish sealant applied. The stock is a white card and therefore I believe is probably another litho job, this time probably sheet fed due to the weight of the substrate. If this was a lighter plastic stock it would probably be produced using flexo printing.