Self Manifesto

GIFT: Product Design

 I wrote a list of the products i'd sourced so I could work on there product design packaging.

Looking at the different products I had selected I went through and considered how they could be changed to aid the customers use. I draw on inspiration from other product design and there features on resolving the problems these gift products face.

Wrapping paper: 

Tearable feature and flat card on top and bottom to stop the ends getting bent/ripped

String/Cord:

string tidy that the string threads through to keep the end visible

Ribbon wheel:

a feature that keep the ribbon end out and stuck, like a measuring tape it can be released and pulled to desired length, then a slanted tearable row of teeth to cut across like celotape holder

Confetti:

a sealable lid to keep them contained with a filter hole within the top of the jar so it filters it out slowly like a salt and pepper shaker

Celotape:

Clear celotape is given a paper edge to show where it begin but from then on it's difficult to find the edge. The side of the celotape will have perforated card sectioned into strips like roach tips which they can then apply to the edge for next time.

Gift Boxes:

gift boxes can be bulky to carry around and there not very good to store in the house for last minute needs, a flatpack box can be easy to transport and store at home for a quick gift wrapping resolution

I took inspiration from the food boxes from the cinema:

Tissue Paper:

tissue paper is easily crinkled and ruined so my suggest is to wrap it around a piece of thin card like shirts brought in packs are to keep it sturdy. To make more use of the excess packaging the card will be perforated with tag shapes so they can pop out a tag to use with the tissue paper

These features make the products and brand unique against similar products because of there features. This creates brand loyalty which was key in the brief to the start up range.

GIFT: Confetti

I thought about confetti and analysed the problems with it. It's messy, small and gets everywhere. The problem with it is you either get sold a set amount in small quantities or you got a lot but when you try to get  a small amount lots come out. I looked at how it is sold and what formats it's held.

This keeps it sealed and safe however if you were to tip some out you could get more than you want

Again this is tightly sealed but tilting wouldn't be an option, however pinching some out could. It's quite a large container though.

I like the ideas of these bags put it doesn't give it a security seal for selling

One time only storage, it couldn't be reused

Very small quantity 

I like the little phrases on these cotton bags - friendly and conversational tone

Only able to use one time and can be difficult to tear open without them flying everywhere 

This gives an area for branding/information and a way of displaying it in store however again it's a one time use packaging

GIFT: Products

I looked online for different products and how there already displayed.

 This cord string is on a cog wheel but hasn't got anything that gives it detail

 I don't think this would be a product for it could come in handy for making boxes or other products

 This packing paper would be good as tissue paper

 This string isn't in a mass amount but in just 3m. It's wrapped around a card plate with a die cut top to slot onto a rail.

 Confetti is something I hadn't considered but with the icons idea I could incorporate this into the range.

 Raffia seems to be wrapped in the same way with a thick band wrapped around a bulk.

This is a different amount of ribbon sold instead of a cog wheel of it. It's wrapped around a plastic base and held in place with a branded belly band.

 This linen ribbon would be perfect for a minimal amount instead of a cog roll.

 These bags could be good to package items in or sell as gift bags for small presents such as jewerelly

 This cotton ribbon would also be good for a 3m amount of ribbon for a one off wrap.

 These bags could be good to package the luggage tags

 Easily modified towards the range 

Suitable for gift bags

GIFT: Stock

This is the stock I had based my sketches on. It has a foggy translucent look but however is two thin to be sturdy enough to use as my packaging. Ideally I would like to find stock like this but in a heavier weight.

 As I was certain I wasn't making it up and had seen the stock before I enquired with Amber about GF Smith supplies.

I also looked online but struggled to find what I was after particularly in a format bigger than A4.

I looked on the GF Smith website myself and in there 'specials' range came across this which sounded exactly what I was after.

GF Smith

There for I used there sample service to message them personally with a request for a sample of the Transclear.

Message:

Hi,

I'm in my third year of Leeds College of Art Graphic Design and am in the hunt for some semi translucent stock for one of my briefs. Your Transclear stock sounds exactly what I am after as I would like the appearance of tracing paper but with a heavier weight so it is more sturdy. I was wondering if you could send me a sample of the stock so I can see and feel if it would be appropriate for my packaging project. Any other suggestions or guidance from you would be much appreciated as your the experts!

Look forward to hearing from you, 

Imogen

Response:

GIFT: Paperchase

I went into Paperchase as this was one of the locations that the range stated they were going to be sold in. I wanted to look at how they currently display ranges and how I can improve on this in making Gift's range stand out and ooze quality.

Window Display: This is particularly boring and plain, no where near engaging or exiting in actually attracting customers to the range but just placed on shelves. This is an element I could improve in introducing the range to the stores.

Ranges: There bulked together with the same pattern and colours applied across a mass of different products. It's almost a bit much to figure out because they've not been separated in space. Obviously it's not necessarily practical to have very spaced out products because the stores can't afford the space with the stock that they sell. However it could enhance my choice of products as well as placement and the level in which elements are displayed in making the most of the space.

There are either rolls or sheets of wrapping paper sold. The sheets are mixes of different styles set up in rows and the rolls are bulked in boring boxes separated by colour. The boxes are a far cry from quality and the products can get easily damaged in this storage method.

In terms of other items of gifting there grouped together in what they actually are rather than the style of them. This could be how my range stands out and is different as the style is collected together instead of separated amongst a mass of other styles and sets.

Tissue paper is typical packaged in the same way, folded and inside a plastic wrap. Tissue paper is extremely delicate due to it's thin nature and therefore is easy to crease. My idea of using thin card inside to wrap around would add stability and increase the feel of quality.

Straw filing is also similar packaged. Maybe I could play around with using a box or another method that enthuse more quality and expense.

The belly band for these pages and envelopes add a sense of quality even though it is wrapped in plastic which make other products seem cheap looking. I'm going to look into using simple and cheaper techniques like this to add quality.

Simple, plain brown stock range of stationary - could be extensions of the gift range

Transparent range printed on
As this is a similar stock to the one I plan to be using I thought i'd capture it for process as I will need to consider how I will print onto it.

Paperchase uses a simple labelling technique for there brown card stationary with bellybands and sometimes shrink wrap. Using a very stripped aesthetic in the sans serif typeface and limited copy.

The shape of this with the die cut slot to hang could be very useful for some of the products i've sketched out such as the tissue paper.

I like this sweet box with greeting cards tied with string. Similar products and style for the range.

Also like this thick stock box and window which provides a range of cards for different occasions. As my range is all about being practical and aiding the buyer this idea could be good for creating a collection of greeting cards.