NEW!
Wrap your CD or DVD in bio-degradable overwrapIt looks exactly like plastic overwrap, but it won't be living in a landfill a million years from now. MMS now offers overwrap for your jewel box, DigiPak™, or EcoSleeve packaging that is made from bio-degradable material, at no extra charge.Your wrap will come printed with a small notice stating that it is completely bio-degradable, unless you would prefer not to include that information. You can also choose to custom print your overwrap, for an extra plating fee.NEW!100% Recycled Cardboard Eco-SleeveIntroducing the new MMS EcoSleeve series of environmentally friendly cardboard packaging, available in a wide range of designs, with ready-to-use downloadable templates.
Best of all, the new MMS EcoSleeve with 100% recycled board is available at exactly the same price as a regular board sleeve.
http://www.musicmanufacturing.com/green.php#overwrap
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Overpackaging
By Mary Kuhl
Special to The Christian Science Monitor
Here.
The tiny present wrapped inside a slightly larger box, put into a yet-bigger box, and so on, may be a good joke for a birthday or Christmas – but the packaging of many household goods is almost as bad.
One-third of American garbage is packaging materials, according to the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington. And there's not necessarily a good reason for it. Many companies are simply following convention and haven't looked into better ways to package their products, says Terry Grist of the EPA.Overcrowded landfills are not the only problem associated with excessive packaging. Simply manufacturing the packaging uses energy and creates pollutants, says Mr. Grist.Not only is minimal packaging better for the environment, it also costs less to produce. "Companies can save a lot of money when they reduce packaging," Grist says. But to keep excessive packaging from clogging landfills, consumers also need to be alert when they buy products. Here are a few ways to reduce packaging waste:
• Avoid snacks and other foods wrapped in individual serving sizes. Instead, buy bigger bags of the snacks and put smaller servings in paper bags.• Instead of putting a juice box in your child's lunch bag, buy juice concentrate, mix it in a reusable container, and send a thermos with the lunch.
• Make your own "lunchables." Rather than purchasing the prepackaged version, buy a block of cheese, some sandwich meat, and crackers.
• Buy personal hygiene and home-cleaning products in bulk when possible.• Buy cereal in bags instead of boxes, which usually contain bags inside.
• Buy loose fruits and vegetables instead of those packaged in Styrofoam trays and shrink-wrap. Fix your own fresh-fruit cups instead of buying cut-up fruit in plastic containers.
• Avoid buying products packaged in blister packs (molded plastic attached to cardboard.) Although sometimes blister packs serve a hygienic purpose (making sure cosmetics or medicines aren't tampered with, for instance), they are often unnecessary.
• When you buy clothing in a department store or boutique, ask that the clerk not wrap the garments in tissue paper.
• Ask for loose stamps at the post office instead of prepackaged books.
• Buy concentrates when possible. Many juices, soups, and cleaning agents are available in concentrate.• Use fewer individual serving-size bottles of water and juices.
• Buy milk and juice in glass or plastic containers, which can be recycled. Some of the waxed cardboard containers with plastic spouts cannot be recycled.
.
Special to The Christian Science Monitor
Here.
The tiny present wrapped inside a slightly larger box, put into a yet-bigger box, and so on, may be a good joke for a birthday or Christmas – but the packaging of many household goods is almost as bad.
One-third of American garbage is packaging materials, according to the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington. And there's not necessarily a good reason for it. Many companies are simply following convention and haven't looked into better ways to package their products, says Terry Grist of the EPA.Overcrowded landfills are not the only problem associated with excessive packaging. Simply manufacturing the packaging uses energy and creates pollutants, says Mr. Grist.Not only is minimal packaging better for the environment, it also costs less to produce. "Companies can save a lot of money when they reduce packaging," Grist says. But to keep excessive packaging from clogging landfills, consumers also need to be alert when they buy products. Here are a few ways to reduce packaging waste:
• Avoid snacks and other foods wrapped in individual serving sizes. Instead, buy bigger bags of the snacks and put smaller servings in paper bags.• Instead of putting a juice box in your child's lunch bag, buy juice concentrate, mix it in a reusable container, and send a thermos with the lunch.
• Make your own "lunchables." Rather than purchasing the prepackaged version, buy a block of cheese, some sandwich meat, and crackers.
• Buy personal hygiene and home-cleaning products in bulk when possible.• Buy cereal in bags instead of boxes, which usually contain bags inside.
• Buy loose fruits and vegetables instead of those packaged in Styrofoam trays and shrink-wrap. Fix your own fresh-fruit cups instead of buying cut-up fruit in plastic containers.
• Avoid buying products packaged in blister packs (molded plastic attached to cardboard.) Although sometimes blister packs serve a hygienic purpose (making sure cosmetics or medicines aren't tampered with, for instance), they are often unnecessary.
• When you buy clothing in a department store or boutique, ask that the clerk not wrap the garments in tissue paper.
• Ask for loose stamps at the post office instead of prepackaged books.
• Buy concentrates when possible. Many juices, soups, and cleaning agents are available in concentrate.• Use fewer individual serving-size bottles of water and juices.
• Buy milk and juice in glass or plastic containers, which can be recycled. Some of the waxed cardboard containers with plastic spouts cannot be recycled.
.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Interesting article
ATLANTA, Ga.—Packaging is essential in the marketing and sales of almost every product. Not only does it protect the integrity of the item inside, it also promotes the brand and attracts customers. The average grocery store logs between 35,000 and 40,000 SKUs and nearly 70 percent of in-store purchases are impulse buys. With so many products vying for consumers’ attention, the typical retail environment has turned into a product battlefield. While sustainability is currently top-of-mind for all Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies, shelf impact remains a high priority. Read article.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Project #4 ::: Eco-friendly package redesign
A continuation and exploration of image and type as unifying graphic design elements in a 3D point of purchase environment.
THE ASSIGNMENT
Redesign an existing consumer product packet which is already on the market.
The choice of the product is crucial to the final presentation. Choose something which will inspire, encourage and initiate lofty creative design ideas for this 3D project. I would suggest you choose a product which is in dire need of redesign instead of those packages which are already successful from their point of purchase delivery.
Your final project will be presented on 11 x 17 inches board (flat) AND another version will be presented in 3D (the working prototype).
You must think about the entire construction of the assignment (graphics that run from front to back, top to bottom) The necessary information from the existing "found and redesigned" package/product should still accompany your final design. (logo, ingedients, ISBN# scan, manufacturer, etc)
THE OPTIONS
You might wish to change the logo, copywriting, or even the shape of the "original"consumer product you have chosen to redesign. This is only an option; however, you may wish to stick to the basic information from your chosen productand redesign it. Stay focused on your original concept. Simplicity.
THE STARTING POINTS
A. Do a walkthrough of a supermarket/retail store/speciality shops/hardware stores/shopping malls, etc.
B. Make a selection of several products that you feel might be better designed for public consumption.
- Consider shelf space and interaction between the product and consumer;
- What does it look like from the front, from the side and when it is stacked alongside itself?
- Do some individual testing for yourself. RESEARCH.
C. Think about the point of puchase (POP) approach in advertisement/marketing.
D. What is the proper hierarchy for type on a three-dimensional form?
E. How does color and size of type work along with your images?
F. Is your product necessary, frivolous, important, healthy, comical to our society? Who is your market?
THE SPECIFICS
PRODUCT: You may choose any consumer package which you will redesign.
RESEARCH: Sketches and mock ups must accompany this project.
SIZE: The size is required by the product you redesign (what is inside the package). You are allowed to create another shape or size of the product ONLY if the material inside is comfortable within its new home.
This is an eco-friendly project so you must consider:
1. The amount of paper you are going to use in each package.
2. How packages behave when transported (optimize shape and size)
3. Encourage recycling by adding the recycling symbol in the package.
4. This is a glue free, tape free, sticker free (etc) project, so think of alternative ways to close your package.
October 27 Bring in 3 packages that you are considering to redesign
October 29 Bring in redesign sketches + Work in class
November 3 Work in class
November 5 Work in class
November 10 Work in class & discussion about product's brochure (Project #5)
November 12 Work in class - In progress critique
November 17 Work in class
November 19 Final Critique
* These dates are subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.
.
THE ASSIGNMENT
Redesign an existing consumer product packet which is already on the market.
The choice of the product is crucial to the final presentation. Choose something which will inspire, encourage and initiate lofty creative design ideas for this 3D project. I would suggest you choose a product which is in dire need of redesign instead of those packages which are already successful from their point of purchase delivery.
Your final project will be presented on 11 x 17 inches board (flat) AND another version will be presented in 3D (the working prototype).
You must think about the entire construction of the assignment (graphics that run from front to back, top to bottom) The necessary information from the existing "found and redesigned" package/product should still accompany your final design. (logo, ingedients, ISBN# scan, manufacturer, etc)
THE OPTIONS
You might wish to change the logo, copywriting, or even the shape of the "original"consumer product you have chosen to redesign. This is only an option; however, you may wish to stick to the basic information from your chosen productand redesign it. Stay focused on your original concept. Simplicity.
THE STARTING POINTS
A. Do a walkthrough of a supermarket/retail store/speciality shops/hardware stores/shopping malls, etc.
B. Make a selection of several products that you feel might be better designed for public consumption.
- Consider shelf space and interaction between the product and consumer;
- What does it look like from the front, from the side and when it is stacked alongside itself?
- Do some individual testing for yourself. RESEARCH.
C. Think about the point of puchase (POP) approach in advertisement/marketing.
D. What is the proper hierarchy for type on a three-dimensional form?
E. How does color and size of type work along with your images?
F. Is your product necessary, frivolous, important, healthy, comical to our society? Who is your market?
THE SPECIFICS
PRODUCT: You may choose any consumer package which you will redesign.
RESEARCH: Sketches and mock ups must accompany this project.
SIZE: The size is required by the product you redesign (what is inside the package). You are allowed to create another shape or size of the product ONLY if the material inside is comfortable within its new home.
This is an eco-friendly project so you must consider:
1. The amount of paper you are going to use in each package.
2. How packages behave when transported (optimize shape and size)
3. Encourage recycling by adding the recycling symbol in the package.
4. This is a glue free, tape free, sticker free (etc) project, so think of alternative ways to close your package.
October 27 Bring in 3 packages that you are considering to redesign
October 29 Bring in redesign sketches + Work in class
November 3 Work in class
November 5 Work in class
November 10 Work in class & discussion about product's brochure (Project #5)
November 12 Work in class - In progress critique
November 17 Work in class
November 19 Final Critique
* These dates are subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.
.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
how do you want to use your lab fee money?
Hey class,
On Monday you're going to tell me how you want to spend your lab fee money, so here's the list of things you can choose from:
1. Design books from Amazon
2. Mounting Boards and spray mount for each student
3. Printing in CMC lab
4. Print paper for students
5. Thumb Drives
6. Linda.com tutorials or DVD's to share in the class
7. Miscellaneous design supplies
8. Printed books from Blurb.com
9. DVD's or CD's for students
* Just remember that, whatever you guys choose, everybody will get the same exact material. No exceptions.
.
On Monday you're going to tell me how you want to spend your lab fee money, so here's the list of things you can choose from:
1. Design books from Amazon
2. Mounting Boards and spray mount for each student
3. Printing in CMC lab
4. Print paper for students
5. Thumb Drives
6. Linda.com tutorials or DVD's to share in the class
7. Miscellaneous design supplies
8. Printed books from Blurb.com
9. DVD's or CD's for students
* Just remember that, whatever you guys choose, everybody will get the same exact material. No exceptions.
.
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