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New HP Packaging

Brand Engine has recently redesigned some of HP's printer and ink packaging:

"To stay ahead of the curve in a slowing economy and fierce competitive environment, HP's Imaging and Printing Group (IPG) wanted to change their conversation to include a more youthful demographic, while staying true to their amazing product innovation and leadership position.

Brand Engine began the process through in-depth discovery and analysis, bringing clarity to HP's challenges in their dynamic environment. Distilling HP's core qualities into a brand strategy, Brand Engine developed an authentic, meaningful and memorable brand story that communicated HP's long-held and often overlooked status as a category leader and innovator. The brand story was translated on package through a modern, genuine style that spoke to a younger audience, while still resonating with their loyal customer. 

The Results: Increasing their appeal with devoted users and new audiences alike, HP retained their leadership position and successfully solidified themselves as the technology brand of choice. Post-design research indicated that the new packaging system resulted in double-digit increases in brand awareness and value perception."

Finepix by iLK

Designed by Paris, France based studio iLK, this limited edition (100 produced) packaging for the Fuji FinePix Z20 digital camera features a graffiti theme design that says "shoot me if you can". There is a dedicated minisite to this camera here in French.

Brand Spotlight: Incase

The inhouse design team at Incase was kind enough to send in a full assortment of their latest and best packaging work. See it all after the jump.

ASTRO Gaming Audio System

Designed in-house by ASTRO Gaming:

"ASTRO Gaming is a premium developer of high performance video gaming equipment for Pro Gamers.  This package delivers the product with confidence and a perception of value that promotes ASTRO as “the gamers lifestyle brand”.  

The experience upon receiving, unveiling and assembling the product is direct, simple and reinforces ASTRO’s gaming authenticity via the global domination sketch art on the cover and technophile print finishes.

The packaging is not only robust enough to protect the product on it’s journey from factory to doorstep, but can be used to store and collect your favorite gaming mags, game cases or action figures. It’s more than a box, but less than a storage unit.

The ASTRO A40 Package stands juxtaposed to mass market blister-packs and flimsy cereal-box packages as a structurally sound delivery system for our direct to consumer, non-retail experience.  Not only does it reinforce the premium nature of the product line while providing a simple out of box experience, but provides a flexible after life to end user.  Gamers are collectors; games, game cases, magazines, cables, etc., and the lusty gamer art and robust materials of the package creates all sorts of post delivery use options.  And if you don’t like the box...it tears down easily for recycling or burning in effigy."

More images after the jump.

lite2go

Knoend, an ecodesign studio in San Francisco created this product and packaging. Actually, the packaging is the product:

"lite2go is an innovative lamp that eliminates packaging. When the lamp is assembled, the packaging itself becomes the shade for the light bulb and fixture contained within. It is designed to be versatile in use as either a pendant or a table lamp.

It includes an electric cord and a 7w energy efficient CFL bulb so it is a one-step, ready-to-use solution. The lite2go offers surprise and elegance in a simple and lightweight package.

The lamp is 10" x 11" x 10" when assembled.
Materials: Recyclable Polypropylene Shades, 7 W CFL light bulb, standard electric cord and socket, recycled paper label and manual, hemp twine for assembly."

Microsoft ARC Mouse

New design from NY based SONIC design:

"Computer mice are typically packaged under a clear plastic shell following the contour of the product like a second skin. This construction of the blister allows the user not only to visually inspect the product from multiple angles, but also to check if the ergonomics of a particular mouse shape works for them.

Clearly there are many advantages making a product accessible to our five senses. It is part of human nature not only to look at objects of interest, but also to hear, touch, smell, and eventually to taste them. This is how we learn about new things, how they look, work and might benefit us. To experience something untouchable on the other hand leaves room for our imagination; it triggers curiosity and desire. Out of reach, it can elevate the value perception and emphasizes on the emotional and inspirational benefits of a product. 

In close collaboration with the Microsoft hardware and packaging design groups, SONIC developed a package that intentionally separates the merchandise from the outside world. Positioned as a lifestyle product and catered to a young and fashion-conscious target audience the mouse is featured completely intangibly in a clear-folded plastic box to convey the premium nature and to support a higher price point of the product. Unlike any other product in this category, the mouse is placed sideways highlighting the innovative folding mechanism and beautiful product profile.

The package is square, simple and iconic, split in half with the cardboard pedestal staging the product, just like a piece of art in a gallery."

Nine Inch Nails: Ghosts I - IV Limited Edition

Nine Inch Nails presents Ghosts I - IV, a brand new 36 track instrumental collection. Almost two hours of new music composed and recorded over an intense ten week period last fall, Ghosts I - IV sprawls Nine Inch Nails across a variety of new terrain.

Trent Reznor explains, "I've been considering and wanting to make this kind of record for years, but by its very nature it wouldn't have made sense until this point. This collection of music is the result of working from a very visual perspective - dressing imagined locations and scenarios with sound and texture; a soundtrack for daydreams. I'm very pleased with the result and the ability to present it directly to you without interference. I hope you enjoy the first four volumes of Ghosts."

The ultra-deluxe limited edition package was limited to 2,500 copies which sold out within 36 hours at $300 each. It includes two CDs, a data DVD with all the multi-tracks for remixing, a 24 bit/96 kHz Blu-ray disc, four 180-gram vinyl records, a 48-page book of photographs and two Giclee prints in high-quality luxurious packaging numbered and signed by Trent Reznor.

This compilation also comes with a digital scrapbook with all the imagery found in the deluxe package which can be found and downloaded here. 

The effort put forth here begs the question of what the future of music packaging will look like. What do you think? I would love to know your thoughts and insight, so be sure to sound off.

Taku Satoh Design

 

Taku Satoh is one of my heroes in packaging design: if you have never met his name before, jump as soon as possible to his site!

The approach of the studio is completely different from the one of European traditional design agencies: it is made of research, curiosity and need to know everything about the subject of a new project before designing a package.

The result is an exquisite evergreen design made of a punctual calibration between functionality and aesthetics.

Look and discover some of their most interesting case histories through the 'short films' section and the approach through the 'anatomy of design' film. What seems to be most interesting is the helpful and collaborative mood of the studio: 'we are the best but you can be good too' seems to be their hidden motto.

Two more projects after the jump!