NEED HELP.

So I am struggling badly with this last project. I honestly don't know what to do that isn't a cliche or that the idea comes together and represents my director (Brian de Palma) even the slightest bit. I wanted to go with violence, gory blood everywhere violence. Since that's what I mostly got out of his films minus all the camera angles. Can I have some kind critique please??

Creative Block

As the semester comes to an end, I am sure many of you are struggling to creatively finish projects. So I must ask, what is your process for battling creative block? No two creative blocks are the same and I am sure everyone has a different way of overcoming them. How do you spike that creativity and get the right side of your brain working? Do you have a design process?

**Inspiration for this post came from Breakthrough!: Proven Strategies to Overcome Creative Block and Spark Your Imagination.

Re: Package Design

I have purchased chewing gum based on its packaging. Sometimes there is a little surprise - like two packages that fold together like a small book or a thin case with cut outs that slide over the blister pack. I also like retro candy and chewing gum packaging, but can do without the sugar content.

15 Vintage Chewing Gum Ads

Re: Package Design

I always hear people mention one of their favorite places to see cool design is at the wine store. I am not a big wine drinker so I don't see the bottles as much as other people do but I know that a really interesting bottle is going to stop me in my tracks. I will totally buy a horrible wine for someone if it had an awesome design on it, hands down. The package is the first thing that draws me in and once I get hooked... there is no turning back.

How freaking awesome is this bottle of wine!!

WHAT.....

I'm in love!

Re: Packaging

I am partial to package designs that are surprising.

For instance, this packaging for NYC Spaghetti turns into the Chrysler Building, which I think is pretty cool. I wouldn't even want to eat the pasta because that would ruin the packaging.

Or this butter packet can also be used as a knife.

And these earphones are packaged to look like a musical note. (You might actually have to look for the photo on that one. The url will not take you directly to it.)

I like when packaging design is creative and out-of-the-box, but Chrystal is right. You definitely pay for packaging. And, truth be told, I probably wouldn't buy that box of NYC Spaghetti, no matter how awesome it is. Knowing that innovative packaging like that is out there is good enough for me. I'll just keep buying my reasonably priced Barilla, thanks.

Re:Packaging Design

I am a straight sucker for packaging. I fall victim to it all the time, even though I can hear my mother's voice in my head saying, "You are just paying extra for the package!" I think everyone does, and thats what makes some brands so popular (ahem, Tiffany and Co. ) and others seem a bit dull.

I pay attention to packaging particularly when I'm shopping for two things- alcohol and cosmetics. No, they don't go hand in hand, but I think they are two areas where people have come up with some really neat designs, or at least ones that visually call out to me. If it comes to cosmetics, somehow the nicer package makes me think its a better product (clearly not a fail proof method of picking out a beauty cream or something). If its wine, beer, etc- I'm much more likely to pick the bottle up and take it home because of the design. I hate to throw out packaging

These are some brands I've bought because I love the packaging.

RE: Packaging

I am completely guilty of buying products based on their packaging… soap, cleaning products, shampoo, food, etc. I love packaging. I haven’t had any experience with it, other than one or two projects within the program. I love looking at Communication Art’s competition winners every year.

I wish I could do more projects with it in my job but it’s not really something we do at the Museum. The one or two packaging assignments I did do in the program didn’t turn out very well, probably because I did them early on in the program without a lot of experience. But I find it hard to visualize the final product or to figure out how to translate what I want to do to the software program. It’s a good thing there are lots of templates out there…

I thought Jill’s story about packaging, in the beginning of the semester was interesting. You can have a fantastic looking package, (pun intended?) but if it isn’t geared toward the right audience, or a good fit for the product inside, it’ll flop. The concept is key.