It’s no secret I’m a sucker for great packaging. If you follow Parse & Parcel on social media at all, you know how deep my affection for well crafted packaging design runs. While this obsession might seem natural for those who live and breathe design all day, there’s actually some science behind it. Numerous studies on haptic design (see no. 4) show that simply touching an object increases our perception of ownership over that object. That explains my collection of luxury packaging boxes. After seeing the recent rebranding project for Bing Bang NYC Jewelry, I see my box collection growing.
Branding/Identity
Print Inspiration: Oddds – The New Anthropology
Singapore-based design and branding company Oddds recently completed a new project—rebranding themselves—in what they call “The New Anthropology.” Drawing from studies of humanity, culture, and design, Oddds has taken typography and iconography to a whole new level. The whole project is influenced by elements of mysticism and illusion; inspirations like the sea speak to the company’s clean aesthetic.
Mohawk Maker Quarterly Issue No. 5
It was love at first sight. I could hardly believe my eyes, but two of my all time favorite combinations were staring me right in the face: kraft paper paired with copper metallic ink. Oh Mohawk, you had me at hello. I was thrilled when I got the brand spanking new Mohawk Carnival + Via swatchbook last month. I didn’t think things could get much better with one of my “go-to” budget friendly grades…until I got the current copy of the Mohawk Maker Quarterly Issue No. 5 – PERCEPTION.
Airbnb Launches Print Magazine
On the heels of their recent logo redesign, unique accommodations company Airbnb has launched a print magazine—Pineapple. Since interaction with their brand often ends with the app, the company wanted to have a more tangible offline presence. The quarterly issues of Pineapple reveal the hidden secrets of three locations where their services are offered; this time in 128 pages of ad-free, glossy glory.
Print Equipment Inspired Identity
If you’ve been following along on P&P you know that I love working on identity projects. While of course I’m partial to the paper specification process, I do appreciate all aspects of a well designed identity system. I’m always intrigued by the process, particularly what inspires certain concepts. In this identity for F61, a small print work shop in St. Petersburg, the logo was inspired by the schematics of printing equipment. Look carefully and you will see the angles and curves of the type follow that of the cylinders of a press. How great is that – a print equipment inspired identity.
Edge Painting is the New Black
Edge painting, edge coloring, colored edges – whatever you call it, is the hottest trend in business card design. The process is not new by any means, but it’s definitely getting a lot of exposure these days and with good reason – it makes a huge impact. When using engraving ink for this process you can expect a shimmery edge on metallics or a flat, matte effect on colored edges. For the uber-shiny look metallic foil edges are the way to go. Double the wow-factor when combining with other special print techniques like letterpress or embossing.
Spec Rep Secrets: Learn by Making Mistakes
I guess it’s true what they say, you learn by making mistakes. While I’ve certainly learned a lot throughout my career, I’ve also made my share of mistakes – and a few of them were doozies. I remember one mistake I made early on as a spec rep. I was working with a young agency, they were small but doing some pretty amazing work. I got involved with the paper for an identity system for a sizable law firm. Let’s just say when things go south on a project, the last client you’d want to have an issue with is a law firm.
Google Uses Print to Launch Material Design
There’s no denying digital’s effectiveness. If you want to get information out quickly and relatively inexpensively it’ll do the job no doubt. Now if your goal is to differentiate your brand, make a lasting impression or provide the user with a memorable experience than we have to say nothing compares to print. But you don’t have to take our word for it, just check out the print collateral Google used to help launch their new visual language – Material Design.
Vistaprint Logo Redesign
Despite what people may say about print’s decline, the folks at Vistaprint have done quite well during their 19 year tenure, generating more than $1.2 billion in revenue in 2013 alone. Which makes their recent logo redesign, featuring a large amount of overlays in a custom alphabet, even more puzzling to me.
Identity Simplicity, Wine Label Stock & Love Letters
TGIF!
Where did summer go? We’ve been busy bees this month, filling orders, packing and shipping The Parcel and moving into our new digs in Cleveland. This past week we started stocking The Sample Studio, a giant 40′ wall of floor to ceiling paper samples. Aside from a few minor paper cuts, it’s coming along nicely. Stay tuned – we’ll be sharing more on that in a bit.