30th November task

1) suggest 3 ways in which you might minimise your materials use with your package. 


• Only use necessary materials, don’t use extra or more just to make it look good.

• Make your packaging out of off cuts if possible.

• Make a second use for your packaging but don’t be too extravagant with the use of materials.

2) what two things might you yourself do to lessen your own carbon footprint in the future?

• As I do a lot of driving, I will minimize this whenever possible. e.g. walk, cycle or use public transport more.

• Make more of an effort to recycle even more and use more recycled products.

3) Describe 1 example of information display that you saw while at CAT: What it was, how it was presented graphically and in what context [i.e. covered area, out in the open, specialist display etc]. Could the display you saw be improved and how do you think this could be  achieved?

• I noticed the signage on the straw bail theatre was quite nice. I think it would benefit from a bit of an update as its not actually that noticeable when your there. I also think it would show off what the building is, maybe include some information about the building separately. E.g it was one of the first buildings to be erected and its made out of straw bails etc.

On a general note about the signage around the whole centre, I found that there was no consistency throughout the signage; it was a bit of a miss match. Possibly incorporate their branding into the signage and a consistent layout and shape etc.

Cool reusable things found at CAT

While looking around the gift shop at CAT I found this bird feeder and watering can, used from the metal frame and inserting a used water bottle. I thought this was a cool way of creating a delay in the recycling process!

Bird box with screws

I found this bird box in the gift shop at the CAT trip, it clearly uses screws so i feel this is proof that its a sustainable resource.

How to recycle screws, nails and hinges.

Obviously if i create this packaging design out of wood i don't want to use any glues so my only other option is screws, nails and hinges. I cant do this unless i find out how these can be recycled. I have done a lot of research on various sites etc and found these potential outcomes...

• Sell/ donate them as scrap (to be reused).

• Re-use them myself.

• Donate them to schools or colleges for re-use.

I think this over comes the problem as i now no what can be done with them, maybe a note on the actual design can reinforce this to the consumer.

Printing on wood

I have researched the techniques of printing onto wood. I have found one process where you can print onto a sheet through an inkjet print to then transfer this onto the wood after. But as you are using an inkjet printer it doesn't allow you to use vegetable or soy based inks, something i feel important. I have therefore contacted a couple of wood printing companies to see if this process is possible and have also asked them for a rough quote, hopefully this will give me an insight into weather this can be achived. If not it is possible that I can create my packaging out of recycled, strong cardboard. Although i'm quite intrigued to use the process of wood packaging from what I have learned during the CAT trip!


Below is the email i sent to the wood printing companies found ... 


"Hi Mark,

Im currently doing a project at uni where i'm creating a beer package out of wood. I was wondering if you were able to print on this?

and what type of wood can you print on, Weather you can print on it using vegetable inks and how much it would roughly cost? If you

could get back to me i'd be extremely grateful

Many thanks

Claire"

New concept - Pint saver money box

After the CAT trip i was really interested about the idea of using wood as a sustainable material for my design. I was also thinking about alternative uses and thought of using my design to make a delay in the recycling process. My idea was to turn my packaging into a 'pint saver money box'. There will be three slots at the top and three compartment at the bottom where the money falls into. There will also be a small chart down the side of the packaging idicating how many pints you've saved. Here are my concept designs ...

CAT trip

Here are some photos from our visit to CAT last wednesday. I found it quite a useful trip, and found out a bit more about sustainable materials which has in-fact influenced my designs.

Above are images of a lecture room. Its a sustainable building
made from soil built up in layers. It collects heat during the day
and releases it again at night.

Here is a close up of the soil wall,  you can see its
build up of layers.

This is a remote controlled movable solid blind,
they move it to create light and also an alternative
way of ventilation, windows open at the top to
let heat escape.

Large south facing windows to let in sunlight
to fill the room so electric light isn't needed and used
on a very rare basis.

This buildings structure is purely made from timber (wood)
with render over some parts. A few finishes are used
to prevent weathering. I learnt on this trip that using wood is a
really sustainable resource. Instead of setting the wood on fire or
letting it rot (releasing carbon dioxide into the environment), If used
in another way, this delays the recycle process and stops carbon
dioxide being released into the environment. Basically capturing the
chemicals into the enabling them to escape. 

Solar panels are used to generate electricity for all of the
buildings. This is stored over the summer and then used during
the winter. They even had energy left over!

This is a toilet block, again made from wood.
Although it is rotting at the moment so a new
one is needed!

This building is made from hay bails! A metal
support is used to keep it together with rendering
over the top to keep it watertight, the hay bails are
also a great use for insulation.

Coca-cola's effort's in sustainable packaging and energy & climate control

Coca-Cola have enforced a scheme to help the environment with in the process they use. Below are two examples of how they are currently helping this situation and what their goals are for the future in the areas of sustainable packaging and energy & climate control.

wine holder

I found this after looking more into alternative uses and the idea of having a re-use for a bottle/wine holder/carrier. I really like thins concept its something that can be used for a long time and backs up my idea that it works.

Beer carrier

I like this concept as its unique, very intricate, recyclable and also has a re-use! 

Wine carrier

The shape of the box was chosen because it is sympathetic to the shape of the bottle and it also looks like a grape from one side when stack. The box has a handle and can be carried like a bag without the need for additional packaging. The use of Oak plywood as the main material was chosen because it makes references to the Oak barrels the wine matures in. The client logo appears on the box and on a label on the handle which also explains the concept and the way to reuse the box.

HP ink eco friendly packaging

This packaging enables the HP Ink consumer to send back their empty ink cartridge in the self addressed, same box that the new ink cartridge is bought in. Conceptually, HP would start a “refilling” option, where the user would order their next cartridge online ahead of time and receive a discount by entering a the code found on the box. Recycled chipboard was used as material and screen printing was used for the graphics (using only process inks cyan, magenta, yellow and black).

Bird box concept

I was trying to think of a unique alternative use for a packaging design that's also appropriate to the product. I thought about the process that occours when creating the ale and condiments, and an obvious conclusion was a natural one. I thought that birds have an essentail part to play as they spread seeds for the hops and barley and are a majour asset to the food chain. So my thinking was to accomodate this within the packaging to turn it into a bird box.


It would be made from wood, obviously no glue would be used but nails. This would create a delay in the recyling process, the nails could be used again or melted down to produced something else.


Im not sure weather this idea is a tad ambitious as my DIY skills are limited and wether this concept is going in completely the wrong direction but user testing would tell me!

Rough designs continued

Here I have chosen two of the first set of roughs to carry forward and expand on.


Good and Bad points of concept 1:


• I think the design will work well as its unique and promotes mainly WVB but also,   respectfully 'Leggs'.


• This concept has an alternative use as a bottle carrier, this will further advertise WVB as its logo will be incorporated into the design.


• All relevant information will be displayed as well as the advantage of including Q.R codes for both companies. This will offer more user interactivity as well as more information and the opportunity for promotional items within this facility.


• Im not sure how useful and how used the bottle carrier will be. And weather this idea would be something WVB will be interested in. To find out i will carry out some user testing to all types of audience to determine which method best suites.


• Because the design entails a lot of alignment im not sure wether this will be crafted well enough to give the correct impact. I will have to carry out some prototypes to see weather this can be achieved.


Good and Bad points of concept 2:


• I think the initial design works well as it can look nice as well as being practical, and stacked appropriately for transportation, something the brewery state is important.


• All relevant information will be displayed as well as the advantage of including Q.R codes for both companies. This will offer more user interactivity as well as more information and the opportunity for promotional items within this facility.


• It fits the briefs requirements


• I think the alternative use is unique and useful, i think it will appeal to all audiences but more so women who buy this as a gift, its something for the home thats appropriate to the product also.


• I have the same problem of being able to create this appropriately for it to work, but again this something that will be found out through trial and error as well as user testing.


Concepts

Concept 1

Concept 1

Concept 1

Concept 1

Concept 2

Concept 2

Concept 2

Concept 2

Concept 2

An Example a of Q.R code - Bulmers

Rough concepts

1. My inspiration for this design was when i was looking at wine racks randomly.

2. I think this covers the briefs requirements as it has an alternative use, as its madefrom wood this element also is recyclable.3. The unique points that would sell this product are: it has a useful and longlasting alternative use; its recyclable and the rack inside will support the packagingmaking it more rigid to avoid damage.

1. There wasn't any inspiration as such for this design, I was thinking of wood as a material as its recyclable and also gives the impression of natural witch i think fits in well with WVB's processes.

2. Its recyclable able and it does have un unspecified alternative use as its a box, it can be used for anything!

3. To promote this product to the brewery i would suggest that its recyclable, has an alternative use and the design fits in well with their ethics.

1. Again, when i was looking at wine racks i came across a similar design and thought this could be  incorporated into Ale packaging.

2. this design fits the brief as its uses natural resources/ its green and it has an alternative use.

3. To sell this product i would show that it's recyclable, it has an alternative use and because of the nature of the alternative use it will appeal to woman as well, this could influence more sales.

1. My inspiration for this design came when i was thinking of other gift packaging, and what aspects worked well.

2. This covers the brief as it's recyclable, appealing and has an alternative use.

3. I would sell this product by proving that this type of design has worked before, but it has a twist to make it more appealing; it has a useful alternative use, its sustainable and its interactive.

Q.R codes

To keep up to date with technology today i think it could be a really good idea to take advantage of the benefits that Q.R codes have to offer. These basically transmit information quickly to your smart phone. I think it would be really beneficial for the WV to show off there unique ethics and process they have to offer; this isn't practical to have all this information on the back of there packaging. So the idea of a Q.R code could support this, it would also offer the modern aspect that they are encouraging in the designs. This idea also opens itself up any promotions they may have in the future. This could be seen as another form of advertising if transferred on to any other promotional items they may have.


Below is an example of how the Q.R codes work, in this case its an example of passing on a contact.

Food accompaniment's

Before I start my design process I want to establish what ales I will  put into the final product. I need to therefore look through all the ales and see what condiments will suite which ales. I quite like the idea of using one of Leggs's ketchups as I really like the design of the bottle. Obviously this can change as I go through the design process. Here I have found the information needed to make my decision at a later date. 

Fullers

'Fullers' is another of Wye Valleys competitors. They're more wide spread and the brand distributes all over Britain with recognisable ales such as 'London Pride' and 'ESB'. I think their a more established brand for this reason; they've also been around for 150 years. The brand has grown over the years and they now own  a chain of hotels called 'Fullers Hotels'. You can tell just by looking at their website that they pride themselves in their ales and send out the impression of class, luxury and tradition.


http://www.fullers-ales.com/


After researching i could only find one example of a 'Fullers' gift pack. I quite like the box idea, it seems more like a special present.


























I think i will have to expand my research further, to a general level to see what other products are out there.

Badger

Badger is one of WV's main competitors. After researching them i've noticed that their ethics seem slightly differant. If you visit their website i've noticed that their main priority is selling their products. http://www.badgerdirect.com/ . There doesn't seem to be a personal touch that WV clearly has. You can buy ales in bulk and there distributed anywhere so they don't seem to have local values either. I think this could be a reason why they could create a larger turnover. Saying this i feel that if the WV brewery pushed there unique and dedicated values it could work in there favour. This is something i could try and subtly incorprite into my designs somehow.


After looking at some of Badgers packaging designs they seem pretty standard, but this is probably because there more practical.


This is what I have found:

The Badger sett

This is quite a unique idea. Obviously
not relevant in this way for this brief

A nice simplistic design

Gift pack made from wood, an
angle i hadn't thought of, maybe
research this further?

The Brand

I think the brewery has a modern feel to it , this is from the colour scheme used of cream and black. Although it does has an element of maturity shown by it's logo's typeface and images used for the Dorothy Goodbodys range. The brand shows consistency throughout as the logo's elements are transferred to the beers labels and signage.

Colour

I've also noticed that the signage used for each ale has a connection to the colour of the ale itself.

I think this adds an element of class and solidarity to the brand. Something to incorprate into my own packaging designs.

Shape

All of the labels are consistent with shape, they use oblong for the logo, a triangle for the Wye Valley Bitter and a banner for the Dorothy Goodbody range.

 

This is another consideration when designing the shape of the packaging.

Typography

The brand shows a consistent use of typography with the logo produced in 'Copperplate' and the the rest of the copy in 'Gill Sans'.  Another aspect to incorporate into my own designs.

I think if i implement the research i have found for my own designs, i will ensure the brands identity and show off its ethics to the audience appropriately.