Stuart Elliot of the New York Times wrote an interesting piece on Tropicana’s new orange juice brand and package design. Seems people didn’t like the new look, and weren’t afraid to speak out about it.

What do you think?

I dig the new look. Simplicity is being taken to a whole new level. Will it reach a breaking point? Simple black ink printed on grocery sack? What’s your take?

Please comment.

 

Hot off the press, we’re proud to introduce one of the first eco-friendly drinking water package designs -h2O Spring Water from Refreshing Ideas, LLC (www.onedrinkatatime.com). The company is fresh off its h2O kickoff tour, putting the spring water in the hands of every Hollywood and music celebrity they can grab.

We designed the package for maximum visual impact, using a combination of metallic foil substrate and an opaque white ink to accentuate the name.

Look for the new product to grace the supermarket shelves in your neighborhood, as well as appearing on some popular television programs.

What do you think?

I know this is going on three years old, but I had to watch it again as I was pondering Apple’s wonderful package design, and the “unboxing” phenomenon. (if you can’t see the YouTube video, just Googlevideo search “Microsoft iPod Package”)

As everyone knows, simplicity rules at Apple - both in the store, and in the package designs themselves. But it’s not just the graphic design. Every Apple product is so wonderfully nestled in it’s soft matte bed, you feel like you’re unwrapping and picking up a newborn child. Okay, that’s a stretch. I’ve had the pleasure of unboxing dozens of Apple products (including 2 iPhones, 2 Macbooks, an iSight camera and countless Macs). Engadget posts several unboxing experiences for our viewing pleasure.

But I’m blathering…

As reported by the iPod Observer, this video was created, ironically, by the design team at Microsoft. It’s timeless because it reinforces what good design is. As many of us designers know, we often have to teach  our clients who want every feature of their product listed on the package. In bold italic underlined. With a drop shadow and glow.

Your opinion?

As most of my many fans know, I’m a huge “Before and After” comparison lover - especially when it comes to brand ID.

So I squealed with delight as I stumbled upon another scorching “before and after” logo design debate at Brand New. Sunkist recently rebranded its orange drink. My opinion? Most any change is good change in retail. Especially when marketing products for those crazy youths. Having said that, I’m not in love with the logotype, and certainly don’t like the “swirl-o-rama” going on in the background. But if it appeals to the young folk, then it should work out just fine. Does anyone else see a resemblance to the old Snapple logo? Check the discussion out at Brand New.

Randy Ludacer of Beach Package Design writes a very good article in Package Design Magazine about product visualization and its importance in manufacturers’ decisionmaking. We find this is a key step in the package design process. Retailers want to see the product as it will look - typically on the shelves.

Like us, Beach is often contracted to create a “virtual” prototype before the product is made:

“Before making the a new product, our clients will usually make a either a physical prototype or—in cases where the product is essentially a design idea—they’ll hire us to make a simulated picture of the proposed product and present that to the buyer before incurring any actual manufacturing costs.”

Of course, this is exactly what we do best. Hey, Randy… I’m droppin’ you a line.

JoAnn Hines, world renowned as “the Packaging Diva” for her industry expertise, has written a very insightful article about packaging for the consumer. Check it out on her blog.

JoAnn’s written many important articles on the subject of packaging, and consults with entrepreneurs and companies large and small who have something to sell. She also speaks at packaging events across the country.

We’re pleased to announce our redesign of Yuca Bites (formerly known as Pan de Yuca). This yuca bread treat was selling well in South America, but Yogurt Persa, the makers, wanted to bring the product to the U.S. market, and to make a splash. We branded the name “Yuca Bites”, and designed the package from top to bottom using existing product photography.

The brand moniker, a custom font created from scratch and hand drawn, conveys warmth and natural goodness.

The company hopes to gain a foothold in the U.S. market, and promote its education- and eco-friendly practices.

Please comment on the new brand design!

We’re proud to have designed the new label and bottle for Seven+, Exfuze’s all-natural açai extract nutritional drink. As part of a complete brand overhaul, IDY Creative wiped the slate clean on a bland, dated Seven+ label, and created a completely new brand ID. The new product is designed to compete directly with Mona Vie, a rival açai-based nutritional drink.

As usual, we began with multiple concept sketches and color studies. We designed the logotype with a modern font for readability and recognition, and incorporated the “+” sign into it. This unifies the logo with the “Seven” being dominant and the “+” subdominant. Fresh new colors were used.

The fountain shape was carefully designed to convey liquid and energy simultaneously, while the seven circles signify each of the seven important ingredients that make up the drink. The shape will be used interchangeably with the logotype, depending on the application.

Our goal was to give the product its best shot to overtake its competitors and be recognized worldwide as “the most nutritious drink on the planet”.

What do you think of the new design? Please comment

IDY Creative, Inc. is proud to have designed the new brand identity for Exfuze, manufacturer of the highly successful Seven+ nutritional drink known as “The most nutritious drink on the planet”. Exfuze retained us to elevate the brand’s position among its competitors. We enhanced the energy of the corporate logo by streamlining the human “X” form, and modernizing the base structure with bold letterforms and a color that symbolizes the seven ingredients in Seven+.

Please comment on the Exfuze re-brand!

Additionally, the IDY Creative team designed a whole new Seven+ logo. The dated brand needed modernization to keep pace with the onslaught of açai-based nutritional drinks flooding the market. The new design incorporates specific elements representing the seven extracts that make up the drink (gac, açai, goji, noni, fucoidan, mangosteen and seabuckthorn). This is, in my view, the only açai nutrition drink that actually tastes good!
What are your thoughts on this new design?

Finally, we designed the company’s corporate identity, trade show graphics and corporate web site. The result is a powerful new brand that embodies the energy of Exfuze and Seven+.