*Please pardon the un-styled mess why I am rethinking and re-designing my blog!*
I just finished up a project that involved designing for packaging. I’m primarily a web designer so switching gears to print design was interesting to say the least. Check out these tips and tricks that I picked up during the process.
Since I’ve been working mostly in web design my brain operates in RGB and hex codes. It’s difficult to get used to using pantone colors, or remember to create CMYK documents. If you start working with an RBG file and then convert to CMYK you get all sorts of funky color problems – its always best to start out working with the correct color space.
I also had a hard time with this. I was trying to figure ot how the box for the packaging would fold up. For some reason my brain could not compute this process so I had to make a paper mock up and sketch from that. If you are having problems coming up with a design for the container itself check out this sweet book!
Have you ever looked at toy packaging? There is absolutely nothing flat about this packaging. They all use tons of cheezy effects to get your (or your kids) attention – but some do it well. I had to learn how to use glow, drop shadows and highlights (sort of) tastefully.
One of the constraints of this package design was that they didn’t have an product photos. Since this was the case I created some simplified and cute illustrations of their products.
You should always try to print your designs out and look at them from a distance. I tend to work really zoomed in illustrator and indesign. Its always a good idea to look at a printed piece (even though colors may not be completely accurate). Looking at a printed piece at 100% also gives you an idea for the level and intensity of detail needed to stand out from a distance.
Do you guys have any suggestions for switching gears to print design? Leave a comment and let me know!
[5] Comments
Posted in design, Graphic Design, illustration, Package Design, Web 2.OH
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curtismchale says:
I totally understand the whole Hex colour number thing. I always to that and it drives me nuts.
January 28th, 2009 at 10:09 am
Lee says:
Not sure I could figure out the folds either. Your work looks nice. Always enjoy the tips.
January 29th, 2009 at 6:20 am
Logo Design Guru says:
thanks. good points here. Packaging is very important and I think a lot of people don’t realize how much design work is involved in the process.
January 29th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Filipe says:
Those packaging books are great for getting inspiration and creating out of the ordinary packages… i have 2 at home
and about colors… i use to work primarily with print design, so every time i do something for the web i start to do it in CMYK, then i remember that it’s for the screen and start all over again.. it happens almost all the time
February 2nd, 2009 at 5:53 am
Chad Engle says:
Good Tips! For things like that I always take a piece of paper and figure it out (fold it) so I can tell what panel is what. Doesn't have to be to scale. Just so you know ok, this piece goes here and that piece goes there. Usually helps me out a lot.
November 16th, 2009 at 4:09 pm