I’m often seduced by package designs. I’m a pushover for unexpected curves, thematic details, and bold design decisions. The M.O. of Apple (as in stock symbol AAPL) is that all of their iCandy products have a seductive minimalistic design, but great design doesn’t always have to be stark and simple. I see great package design everywhere… especially in liquor stores. I’m drawn to the creative shapes and incredibly effective designs that wine labels and vodka bottles have. I could dedicate a whole blog post to genius wine labels alone. That’s another day. Right now, here are a few designs I like:
With one sinister broken fork tine, it just says "Thanksgiving". I'd get a case of this to last for holidays to come.
A shape you can slip into a bookcase or briefcase or into your local library's night drop slot.
A bit phallic, but also a bit bong-ish...naughty all around and possibly a straight man repellent.
Aside from my liquor bottle fetish, I also really find perfume bottles to be objects of desire, looking sharp and pointy or jewel-like. Again, I could do a whole post on perfume bottles. (Digression: when I was four I would ask my Grandma if I could put on some of her “pume” – she always had a respectable and varied selection in her boudoir.) Well, here are a couple of my “pume” package design faves:
DKNY Be Delicious. I want to eat this. Keep away from children.
I've never found the antidote nor lost my love of the occasional dose of Poison.
This didn't have a name, but the peacock side of it catches my eye. It reminds me of looking and playing with marbles as a kid. Those were wonderous and youthful days.
Like a breakable lily pad, this one is pretty sparkly, and it may cut you with its sharpness. But there's so much prettiness...it would so be worth it.
But my package fascination happens with other items, too. I used to be enamored with Fiji’s square water bottle, but I would betray that design for this one by Evian, however impractical and heavy…and space-hogging:
Drinking water was never so hard to accomplish. Try not to drop it on your foot.
Per sojones.com, the following design was concept packaging created for Adidas by a Capilano University college student named Jenny Kim and I totally dig it.
These promise to make me fast. Fast like a Solid Gold dancer.
Same with makeup. I sometimes can be made to buy makeup because it just looks so damn good. I don’t currently own these, but I would if they were within eyeshot:
Well behaved women rarely make history...or sexed up package designs ; )
Fred Faruggia makeup. This would be either FUN or a NIGHTMARE to use.
Made by a Brazilian cosmetics company (Ducha) I'm not even sure what these are, but they look fun.
There are just so many great designs out there, I feel like I don’t even know where to begin. I guess this post will have to be one in a series of posts highlighting great design.
Other recommended package design-related sites:
Famous After I Die Art & Digital Blog 