PACKAGING AND MERCHANDISING DESIGN - EXERCISES

Week 1 - Week 7 (01/04/19 - 13/05/19)

Alicia Lee Hui Min (0331719)

Packaging and Merchandising Design 

Exercises

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LECTURE NOTES

Week 1 (01/04/19)

Purpose of Packaging

In our first class of this module, we were told to search up the purpose of packaging, and share them with the class.

Here's my list :

    1. Physical protection : protection from compression, temperature, shock etc.
    2. Barrier protection : protection from oxygen, dust, water vapour etc.
    3. Brand Visibility: People are able to recognise the brand.
    4. Theft prevention: If the product was sold loosely, there are chances that the retailer could
     save some part for themselves or can easily be stolen.
    5. Information transmission: Communicates information such as how to use, transport, recycle
    or dispose and also contains the content of the product such as ingredients.
    6. Marketing: Encourage potential buyers to purchase the product.
    7. Convenience : Convenience in distribution, handling, stacking and displaying. 

After the discussion, Mr Shamsul simplified and categorised all the answers into 5 main reasons.

1. Protect
2. Communication: Information, brand
3. Marketing: brand, visuals
4. Sustainability: Environment, recycle and reuse
5. Convenience

Week 2 (08/04/19)

Lecture 1 - Packaging Design

Mr Shamsul gave us a lecture for Monday's class. The lecture is about the importance of packaging , how it begins, how to make the perfect packaging, what customers want and the role it plays. We also discussed about what is on the packaging which is the description/information. Whatever that is displayed on the packaging should be clear, simple, honest, authentic, extensible and last but not least practical. Here are the slides for the lecture.





Lecture 2 - History of Packaging

In that same day, a group presented a lecture on the history of packaging. It was interesting to learn about the development of packaging as time passes and I was intrigued to learn that pots and bowls were the very first way of packaging.

Here are the slides prepared by the group:




Week 3 (15/04/19)

Lecture 3 - Box Styles

Today Mr Shamsul gave us a lecture of the different types and style of boxes such as folding cartons, rigid boxes, set-up boxes, cardboard boxes, corrugated boxes, paperboard boxes etc. Here are the lecture slides.





Lecture 4 -Type of packaging and Materials

On the same day,  a group presented a lecture on the type of packaging and materials. It was interesting to learn about the different packagings that are out there that we don't realise. 

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INSTRUCTIONS

Packaging Analysis

Week 1 (01/04/19)

For the first exercise, we were required to go to a supermarket to find packagings that match the criteria that was given to us. We were also required to take photographs of the packaging.

This is a group work and I teamed up with Linda, Jessica and Megan.

Here is the list of criteria given to us:



Once we were done finding the various packaging, we created a google drive folder to share all the pictures we've taken.

Fig 1.0  Overview of pictures taken

Then, we worked on our slides and arranged all the pictures.

Our slides:




Box Making & Dieline 

Week 1 (03/04/19)

In that same week, we were told to bring an item for our tutorial class. The item should be longer than 15cm and shorter than 30cm. I brought a few items such as hand lotion, face mask and an eyeshadow palette.

For the next exercise, we needed to come up with a box design to package the item of our choice. I decided to go with the face mask.

Fig 2.0 Face Mask

I started by measuring the sizes, then proceeded with the sketches.

Fig2.1 Sketches

Fig2.2 Sketches

Fig2.3 Sketches

Once I had an idea of what I wanted to do, I made mock-ups.

Fig 2.4 Mock up

Fig 2.5 Mock up

Then, I created the dieline for my packaging.

Fig 2.6 Process on Illustrator

Fig 2.7 First Attempt

Fig 2.8 Final Outcome

Week 2 (10/04/19) 

This week, we went to the laser cut room to cut our package designs. We exported our files in a dxf format, since we'll be using the laser cut machine. The material I used for this was art card. During the process, I had a failed attempt as the lines were overlapping in the illustrator file so some of the some parts were cut off.

Fig 2.9 Laser cut process

Fig 2.10 Failed Attempt

Fig 2.11 Failed Attempt

Fig 2.12 Final Outcome

Once it was all cut out, I started to assemble it. I also added a thin plastic sheet for the window part.

Here are some pictures of the final outcome of the box design:

Fig 2.13 Final Outcome

Fig 2.14 Final Outcome

Fig 2.15 Final Outcome

Fig 2.16 Final Outcome

Fig 2.17 Final Outcome

Fig 2.18 Final Outcome

Week 3 (15/04/19) 

After receiving feedback from Mr Shamsul, I made some tweaks and here is the final outcome. However there was a tore because of the material used.

Fig 2.19 Final

Fig 2.20 Final

Fig 2.21 Final

Fig 2.22 Final

Fig 2.23 Final

Fig 2.24 Final

Fig 2.25 Final

Fig 2.26 Final

Fig 2.27 Final

Week 4 (22/04/19) 

I decide to relaxer cut my box because of the tore however the laser cut machine actually cut through certain parts of the folding area like my flaps and the sides which still resulted in the same issue as before. I think that the art card was too flimsy for this. Here is the final outcome.

Fig 2.28 Final

Fig 2.29 Final

Fig 2.30 Final

Fig 2.31 Final

Fig 2.32 Final

Fig 2.33 Final

We also had another exercise on colour. We were told to design a packaging for a gift with the provided dieline  and we also had to come up with a rationale on why we chose that specific colour.

Fig 2.34 Box dieline

Fig 2.35 Box design

Fig 2.36 Rationale

Week 5 (29/04/19) 

This week we had a thermoforming exercise which required plastic sheets and a rounded object with no sharp edges. We first had a demo on how the machine works and moved on to doing it.
I had to redo the exercise as I did not cut the plastic properly and also found out how iron was not a good option to flatten the plastic as it was too hot causing it to curl up.

Fig 2.37 Demo of process

Fig 2.38 Chosen item

Fig 2.39 Heating process

Fig 2.40 Cutting process

Fig 2.41 Heating process

Fig 2.42 Final product

Fig 2.43 Final product

Fig 2.44 Final product

Fig 2.45 Final product

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FEEDBACK

Week 2  
General feedback: The stroke width should be 0.3 for the dieline, and the lines to be folded should be in a separate layer in red.
Specific feedback: The lines in the illustrator file should not overlay.

Week 3
Specific feedback: For the plastic area, I should use the back of the blade or a metal ruler to fold it so that it does not look so curvy and there won't be a gap when the box is closed.

Week 4
Specific feedback: For the box colour exercise, the box design is good however I should change the position of the price and also include the barcode but other than that the packaging is good. 

Week 5
Specific feedback: For the first attempt the plastic was too curly so I had to redo it but when I showed the final outcome, Mr Shamsul said it was good.

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REFLECTION

Experience
Week 1; In the first class, we were briefed on the exercises and projects that we'll be doing. We also learned about the purpose of packaging. Week 2; This week, I experienced using a laser cut machine , its been a while since I used it so I kind of forgot how it works. Week 3; I started to sketch out the paper bag, sleeve and selected item for book. Week 4; This week, I designed a box which was quite fun and made me realise how I preferred the design aspect of packaging rather than the structure part.
Week 5; I experience doing thermoforming which was interesting.


Observation
Week 1; I observed that packaging plays a vital role and sometimes I tend to overlook it's importance. Week 2; I observed that making mock ups are really useful as you get to see if there are any areas that require some adjustments.Week 3; I observe that I should use the back of a blade to go over the plastic to get a nice bend. Week 4; I observe that the material of the box really matters as it affects its durability. Week 5; I observe that using a hairdryer to bend the plastic is better than the iron as the heat from the iron is too strong for the plastic which would cause it to warp.

Findings
Week 1; I was quite worried about this class as it requires some hands on which wasn't my forte. Week 2; I found that it is important that the design of the packaging suits the product, in a way the practicality of it is more important than the aesthetics. Week 3; I found it quite hard to come up with ideas for my book sleeve as my visuals for the book weren't complete. Week 4; I found that I preferred the design aspect of packaging rather than the structure part. Week 5; This week I found that cutting the plastic at the right angle really matters as it affects the bending part of the process.