Litl

"The Litl webbook packaging is simple, straightforward and designed to appeal to a wide range of ages, embodying Litl’s mission as technology for everyone. The entire package is made from recyclable paper with no plastics or foams used, and the packaging doubles as its own shipping box."

"The litl webbook is a collaborative project with fuseproject, pentagram, cooper, moto, and an amazing team of designers, developers, and idea shakers at litl."

Comments

[Paul]

I think the packaging is very pretty, but I don't see much of a connection to what's inside... especially in the shot with the remote.

[Jon]

"The entire package is made from recyclable paper with no plastics or foams used, and the packaging doubles as its own shipping box."

Big f**king deal. How recycled/recyclable is the web book itself ? Have they even attempted to produce a cradle to cradle design ? The word disingenuous comes to mind.


"... embodying Litl’s mission as technology for everyone."

Oh, how very generous of them. Yet more vacuous marketing bo***cks. So what exactly makes this 'technology for everyone' ? Is it free of charge to school children, the unemployed and third world countries ?


"... a collaborative project with fuseproject, pentagram, cooper, moto, and an amazing team of designers, developers, and idea shakers at litl."

And not an ounce of honour among them.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cradle_to_Cradle_Design

[Ali]

The packaging is simple and elegant. But if it will be used for shipping; it will have scuff marks, dents and what not.

[James]

It took ALL those people to create what looks like packaging for Whole Foods?

And how is not having foam padding a design feature? By the looks of it, if the UPS guy accidentally dropped another box on top of this one, my brand new laptop would be demolished.

And I have to agree with Jon. I don't like it when design is false. Leave that to the advertising industry.

[observing]

The webbook has no hard drive, optical drive, extra non-needed connections... so its actually much more green than any other laptop out there.... less parts, less emissions, less energy needs. Everything is stored in the cloud (another name for the internet)

As to the packaging, the protection is built inside... hence this box is shipped inside another box the same size, but not a larger box taking up a larger footprint and more materials.

Foam is not used because its an incredibly bad material for the environment. Any packaging using foam or plastic is extremely bad... This is all recycled paper. incredibly carbon friendly

Also inside are reusable containers.... these containers inside act as the cushioning needed for shipping.. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

[Gabrielle]

Pretty, but most definitely fails for all the reasons Jon stated. I too especially hate that "for everyone" notion when in fact most people are designing for a select demographic and the result remains totally inaccessible to and inconsiderate of everyone else. I'd expect much more from a project involving Pentagram.

[Jon]

@ observing

You say ... "The webbook has no hard drive, optical drive, extra non-needed connections... so its actually much more green than any other laptop out there.... less parts, less emissions, less energy needs."

Comparing apples with pears is a spurious defence of what is, in absolute terms, just another luxury consumer product that makes false environmental claims based upon a few token gestures and hides what are most likely to be standard production practices behind a paper thin green facade.

The packaging itself is not the problem. It's their self-righteous attitude and bulls**t marketing blurb that sucks. To pack a remote control (for a netbook !!) inside a recycled paper bag is in no way "incredibly carbon friendly".

BTW you forgot the fourth R ... RETHINK, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. And that shouldn't apply to merely the packaging.

[Jared]

I agree with most of these comments but consider Apple; we know whats inside we dont need anymore information on their packaging.
On the other hand, if this product is just being released and marketed, then yes its too banal on the outside, as far as info goes..

[Ali]

nice to see something that looks like it could have come from apple, or from muji, and it be for a pc product. Have you seen any PC packaging this good? I for one think its a nice package, and this is after all a package design blog people!

Sure, the product might be made according to standard practices, but nobody here appears to actually know, so your diatribes above are unfounded.

[Jon]

@ Ali

You say ... "Sure, the product might be made according to standard practices, but nobody here appears to actually know, so your diatribes above are unfounded."

So you really think that this netbook might be made to some worthy environmental standards, but Litl have simply not bothered to mention it. Get real.

If Litl expect some kudos for their green packaging then they should be prepared for people to look further than the smug drivel they've printed on a brown box.

You say ... " and this is after all a package design blog people!"

Packaging should reflect the true nature of what it contains, or else it is deceitful.

And what kind of idiot makes technology purchasing decisions based upon a product's packaging anyway?

[Oscar]

I don't understand why people say that recycled cardboard is better for the environment. Recycling uses extra energy and resources as well, and has almost the same carbon footprint as a virgin cardboard. Next to that, recycled paper has a far lower ECT/Bursting strength, so you would need a lot more material to get the same protection you will get from a virgin cardboard.

Never the less, we can't provide enough timbre to make everything out of virgin materials.. but please, stop saying recycled cardboard is better! Recycled plastics are MUCH better than virgin plastics indeed, but for cardboard.. that can't be said.