Adobe Creative Suite 4
image via Adobe
Adobe has announced the newest incarnation of their suite of industry-standard design software. CS4 is scheduled to launch in early November, a tidy 18 months after CS3 hit the market.
The packaging designs for CS4 are a clear departure from previous versions, this time using an ultra-simple, colour-based system to differentiate product, suites, and versions. But is it too simple? More images after the jump!
Clearly, Adobe is in the business of providing us tools for creativity. And in the past, we've seen some lovely and award-winning packaging designs on their products. CS2 featured fine art x-ray photography, and CS3 gave us psychedelic swirly colours. But CS4 is remarkable plain by comparison.
Adobe CS3 - Design Suite Premium. image via TheDieline
Adobe CS4 - Design Suite Premium. image via CD Harrison
We can see that the intricacy of past editions have been swapped for the rather utilitarian approach of CS4. A colour-only system of identification is undeniable in it's function, but somehow fails to wow. Individual products are packaged in solid-colour boxes, suites are given white or black faces (depending on their "premium" status), and the Master Collection stands alone with a silver package.
Beauty in simplicity or an easy way out? Chime in with your comments.
See more images on CD Harrison's Flick Set »
images via Packaging World and Tri-Tech Computers
I have to note that I've already spotted some inconsistency in this series, with products like Lightroom and Acrobat breaking the trend and sporting swirls and swooshes and other forms of packaging art. Yes, these products aren't as tightly bound into the Creative Suite, but should they not be designed in the same style?
Also note that since these products haven't been released yet, I assume that these images are all renderings and not actual photographs. I haven't found any information on the actual construction of the packaging or materials involved. Looking forward to seeing these up close in the next few weeks.
