Open Play

Design by Open Play
I know I am getting slightly ahead of myself thinking about the disk packaging but I feel this is such a simple and well delivered design it needed a blog. The slightly see through stock and the visible CD underneath is a nice touch letting the reader / watched know exactly what they are receiving. This may be an appropriate approach as at the book fair if are not able to explain the content people may not understand completely what they are paying for.

Zinkplaat - Fanakalo

This design by Fanakalo studio has an interactive element, although this isn't particularly appropriate for my project its a brilliant technique. I feel when people have to do something out of the norm when dealing with such a commonly used item, having some more interaction than the physical process of putting it into the CD player adds to the value of the item. The cover also comes with a guitar pick to scratch off the texture and its this attention to detail that is really driving my own design at the minute. I will have a look back through my research and consider what outcomes might be appropriate for my own packaging.

Elyjah - Planet, Planet

Finally got to the stage of designing my packaging for my DVD, thought it would be a good idea to include some particularly inspirational examples. This design by Zwolf was produced in a set of 2000 and each were shot with pellet guns, reflecting planets around a fixed point. Idea based on "Returning to a time in which men had morals in their hearts and cloth handkerchiefs in their trouser pockets" and this theme was continued through the type, using typefaces based around that period - Memphis, from Emil Rudolph Weiß (1929) and the wonderful Wieynck Gotisch from Heinrich Wieynck (1926). The type was also bought together using a wonderful old Heidberg printing machine.

All the contextual relevance of the aesthetics is something I want to deliver as my final printed outcome. It is also something that is starting to play a dominating role in my work, the effective visual communication of context through choice of type / format and substrate choice. I may try exploring using alternative materials for my DVD packaging but I need to consider the time constraints.

Finnish Design

Design by  Gary Rizzolo
Playful album cover design for a Finnish psychedelic garage rock band. Such a simple idea but has a wonderful final effect.

Popular Noise

Packaging & Promotion
Design by Popular Noise

Plus

Packaging & Promotion
Design by Barnbrook for Jamie Foxx and the Maths
Love the concept behind the imagery used in this, the photos are of all the synthesisers that were used to make the album and the rest was referenced from 70's book covers, scientific textbooks and early computer graphics. The net is also based on the plus symbol referring back to the name of the band.

A simple but effective net design, could work with my vinyl packaging ideas but I want to explore some intricate and more complex designs first. Printed using Lithography on a matte stock with no special finishes.

Capellanes

Packaging & Promotion 
Design by Mucho - for Pago de Los Capellanes (Spanish winery)
Beautiful design and idea based on the sun coming out over the vineyards. Design like this with a playful approach and interactive elements is what drives me to better my own work, this is along the same lines of how I want to think about my own designs.

Frutia

What is Graphic Design for Print? - Packaging / Promotion
Design by ATIPUS for Blanch 
Beautifully simple branding / packaging design, wonderful composition between the colours come from the contents rather and the simple label design, a nice change from the usual over crowded, conformed packaging we get thrown at us everyday. It gives the product a more homely and traditional feel but the crisp interesting type portrays a professional and unique company.

Papazoglou

Packaging and promotion 
Packaging design for G. Papazolou & Co by Designers United
Wonderfully simple design with a 50s Swiss Typographic style, the use of unprinted space is what makes this packaging so successful. It is a perfect example of how beautiful information can be communicated.The simple colour schemes work really well with the substrate and would also save on printing costs.

AUS Music

Packaging & Promotion
Design by Build for AUS Music
Everything they design seems to turn to gold, this album work for AUS Music is a perfect example of the sort of direction I want to start going in. Design work for musicians and producers is something that interests me as well as the process of printing in these formats and on different stocks.

Printed using CMYK and two spot colours on a heavy un-coated stock