Unlike other packaging titles, which simply provIde templates to copy, this book enables designers of all packaging types to create 3-D packaging forms that are specific to their needs rather than based ...
Walking through the recent International Home + Housewares Show at Chicago's McCormick Center was a revelatory wonderland of clothes steamers, vacuums, coffee makers, silverware, glassware, tools, cleaning products, and a plethora of much more besides. With 2000+ exhibitors from over 30 countries and over 7000 buyers from all over the continent, one thing is for sure: Economical industrial design is trumping good package design.
It is astounding how dull, on average, houseware package designs have become. Except for a few standouts (and frankly, even those were hard to find), the show itself provided more to get excited about from the perspective that there is much design work to be done out there.
Similar standouts
Thankfully, OXO and Bodum were two standout brands who consistently have a strong point of view that is reflected no matter what the price point of their range of products is. Ironically, OXO and Bodum have similar color palettes yet drastically different approaches. What is especially memorable about Bodum's new black packaging for its 141 SKUs (it used to be all white) is that the product is the hero center stage. With beautiful product photography that is true-to-size, there is no mistaking what is inside the box.
As marketing and product development manager Melissa Romaine pointed out, if it was up to the founder's son Jorgen Bodum, he would have no text on any of his packages. This would be music to a graphic designer's ears. With minimal copy to get in the way and the red badge with knocked out logo type, the Bodum name stands alone as a beacon of identity reflecting the unmistakable quality of the product on the box.
On the other hand, OXO makes each of its products the hero in a very different way-the product is almost always easily engaged with. Oxo's recognizable red, black, and white cardboard headers frame the products that are attached on displays. The message is simple-good quality. Oxo uses the product name to get the quality image across succintly, whether with the "Works" in SoftWorks or the "Good" in the Good Grips series. What better way to showcase a well designed, ergonomically tooled kitchen utensil.
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