Texas Toilet Paper

I recently aquired this toilet paper from Texas for various reasons and was amused by the concept of the design. I think this is a great example of taking something that is generally a mundane, common thing and giving it a personality so that it will sell. The characture and the typography seem to both work in harmony together along with the word play of the strapline. A great example of creating and bringing something to life that is normally a common house hold item, that lacks personality and only serves a single fairly boring purpose.

Dorset Cereals

This box of cereal had been hidden in the back of the kitchen cupboard for some time, until the other day when i thankfully discovered it. In short it's a purple rectangular box, that serves no other purpose than to hold and stop the cereal inside spilling everywhere. At least that was my immediate reaction when it caught my glance. However, after having examined the box further, it quickly became apparent that there was much more to it, that ought to be given credit and exposed.

Firstly a bit about Dorset Cereals.

Dorset Cereals is a Dorset-based company, producing award-winning premium breakfast cereal since 1986. Under a new entrepreneurial management team since early 2005, plans are now underway to realise the full potential of the business and the brand. A passion for the simple, honest pleasures of life and a commitment to quality and taste lies at the heart of the business. Feedback from consumers is welcomed to help Dorset Cereals develop and improve, providing the tastiest recipes possible.

Uncompromising in the dedication to finding the very best in quality, the ingredients used are sourced from the four corners of the world. For example, the recipes don’t just use raisins, they use Chilean jumbo size 'flame' raisins, which are believed to be the most flavoursome and have become Dorset Cereals’ signature ingredient. The ingredients are then carefully blended and balanced to ensure the right amount of fruits, nuts and seeds for the perfect taste in each recipe. The special blending process keeps the ingredients as whole and with as little ‘dust’ as possible in the pack.

It is quite apparent from this little introduction that a lot of time care and personal passion has gone into making this cereal one of the leading competitors of the market. Obviously there has to be a lot of key preparation and fundamental issues have to be put right, before this product was to take off and really make its statement. They needed to decide from the start what this product was going to be about, what i would say if it could talk and in what tone of voice it would be speaking.

If i was on the board for this products birth, not only would i be full of anticipation and excitement, but i would also be somewhat nervous. My reasoning is simple: this product has got the potential to work very effectively if executed in the right manner, but the more concerning factor, is that if it is not done properly a great chance for success would be thrown awry .

For me there were 4 factors that were crucial to its successful marketing. First and foremost, was the quality of the product. If the product wasn't authentic (especially important with natural foods), then it wouldn't sell, simple as that. You will never get anywhere when trying to market something if you aren't selling a genuine article. Moreover, if you are selling something that boasts it is unique, genuine and different from similar products, then you ought to be exploiting this fact and using it to you advantage.

This is the first tick in the box. When you look at the container from the top, this is one of the first things you are forced to realise through the products meaty and punchy strap-line: 'honest, tasty and real'. The product is already telling you that the contents inside are no-nonsense cereal made from unmodified ingredients. This side of the box is for me the real essence of what the brand is about. The well balanced leafy logo, accompanied by the bold brand name and the hearty strap-line really convey the character of the brand in a modest and up front fashion.

The second factor is the products aesthetic appearance, both in terms of catching its audiences attention and also persuading them that this product is in a different class from its competitors. Imagine walking down a supermarket aisle, this product wouldn't necessarily jump right out at you, as the colour palette isn't blindingly striking, and so it shouldn't be. This product is organic and natural, therefore a its palette ought to reflect this. In this case the cereal flavour is berries and cherries, so what colour would you really use other than a deep red or purple?

The copy is another aesthetic element that adds to the appearance of any packaging design. It can either become a feature, be neatly tucked away or just become a visual eye-saw and conflict with other graphic elements. For 'Dorset Cereals' the copy becomes a definite feature and compliments the overall design. On the front of the container, the copy serves to remove some of the awkward negative space, that would be found underneath the logo and the brand name. Instead, it becomes an informative and well balanced section that conveys the bare but essential facts to its audience.

What does this product say to you? 'False', 'cheap' or maybe 'run of the mill'? I think not. This product is proud, has stature and a dignified voice to go with it. Part of this is owed to its visual appeal and design, and the other part is not. The language and wording used represents the major bulk of the tone of voice of the product. This is the chance for the product to communicate on a personal level - you are the only one reading this, you are the only one who will judge what is being said to you.

When i read all of the spiel, i felt content. I hadn't even tried the product, knew little about it or bought anything. The language is very straight forward, playful and genuine. You feel like you are being spoken to you by the man in the fields that makes this stuff. For this reason, you as the audience already feel subconsciously, that you have made a connection with the product as it becomes more personalised hearing it speak.

Lastly i must draw attention to the transparent panels, that again add another dimension to the container's design. Yeah alright, i have blown the trumpet of this product somewhat and stressed its honest and authentic brand values. But to have this little bit of design genius right on the front of the container, really shows off its design and why shouldn't it. After all this product subtly praises itself for being made from real stuff so why not really convince us all and show us what is inside? Job done, it's in the trolley and off we go!

Designed by Big Fish

Guinness Birthday Card

I just wanted to throw this one out there to see what you guys and girls thought. Would be grateful if you could give me any pointers, as to how you think i could improve this birthday card. (please click for an enlarged version)

It was my Dad's girlfriends 50th birthday not that long ago, so i thought i would design her a birthday card she would remember. She was born in Ireland and has a soft spot for Guinness funnily enough so i thought this theme would be appropriate. Have also posted the original image, which i photographed myself having stolen a pint glass from the pub. The pub will remain unnamed!

Robinson's Cordial Advert

When you think of Robinson's, it to me triggers memories of hot summers, being a kid, running around playing games, getting grass stains and being generally naughty. I saw this ad the other day in the Culture section of the Times, and thought it was a good example of what i am sure many people associate with the brand, being represented as an advert.

It has that child like appearance which is generated through the simple almost hand drawn imagery. The copy for me is what makes the advert a success. A lot of time not only from a typographers point of view, but also from the copywriters has been taken in order to get the text to fit snuggly into the jug. There is also the crafty bit of word play (intentional or not i don't know)between the message of 'caring what goes into the product' and the fact that agency that designed this ad, obviously cares what goes into their product as well. A good little ad really representing the values of the brand well i feel.

Camel 'Natural' Cigarettes

As a smoker i have seen my fair share of packaging designs for boxes of cigarettes. However, the one brand that i feel has produced a carton with distinct character and aesthetic appeal has to be Camel. They have recently launched a new product line simply called 'Natural'. These cigarettes promote the fact that they do not have all the harmful and artificial chemicals that are so often put into other cigarettes.
In light of the ever growing health conscious, 'green' and organic trend that we are now submersed in, it doesn't really come as a surprise, that now cigarette companies are following suit, despite it being a clear cut oxymoron - 'the healthy cigarette'. However, although many smokers opt for the 'slightly less bad' cigarettes nowadays, i would certainly choose these from the shop, purely for the reason that it is clearly promoted that they are cleaner than if you smoked the 'not so natural' cigarettes.
Obviously, the design has to reflect this sense of purity otherwise the whole concept would be lost and the selling point destroyed. I feel that this has been achieved and to me the packet has that earthy, organic and non man-made aura. The colour palette is one of the key factors behind this products success, and they had to get it right otherwise the concept and the product would contradict each other. The use of the subtle earthy colours along with the simplistic design and the constant reiteration of 'natural flavor', really help convey and make apparent the concept behind this brand of cigarette.
In addition the typeface used for the 'natural flavor' copy, feels very unrestricted and flowing. I think this has been worked through the unobtrusive sans serif employed and also the generous kerning, and as a result the type sits naturally and doesn't have that forced feel, which often can be found when trying to keep things confined to minimal spaces.

Altogether, i think that this shows when you have decided upon a strong concept that works well, you need to stick quite consistently to those parameters and that they should be clearly reflected in the execution. This way the whole design process fits together in harmony, and the selling point becomes not only more effective, but clearer in its message making it more profitable and marketable.

Abel and Cole

I came across this pamphlet the other day in an organic food shop and was really bowled over not only by the design of the pamphlet, but also by the thinking and the idea behind the service.

Keith Abel and Paul Cole started delivering potatoes from a basement in Catford back in 1988. A couple of years later they heard about organic growing and were inspired by the idea of fresh, healthy produce grown in a sustainable, responsible way.

So in 1993, Abel & Cole went organic and they haven’t looked back; Paul now works on organic wholesaling while Keith looks after the home delivery service. Abel & Cole are now based in Brixton and have a team of eight people putting the boxes together and eight drivers out on the road making deliveries. They say that they 'work hard to finish what the farmer started’ in every area of our business, from recycling paper and cardboard, to never air freighting produce, to using LPG vans.



As i saw it, this idea was one that was destined for good things. In our health conscious and seemingly organically obsessed world, this service would flourish very well, given the help of some good promotion and effective and well communicated branding. Whatever these guys were going to produce, there had to be a strong sense of purity, nature and an organic feel behing the visual material and their brand.

In short i think Laura Fearnside, (the designer) did a very good job. Firstly the use of colour that she employs, really reflects the earthy and natural feel that simply have to be communicated right from the the start. They colours aren't too bright or attention grabbing but just sit right together compliment each other and suggest an innocent but firm tone.

The logo is very well formed, as it sits naturally, unrestricted and symmetrically and doesn't feel as though it is forced or manufactured in any way, and i think that the simple line drawing of the tree echoes this and strengthens the brands essence. The use of the very organic, flowing and curvaceous typeface again only reiterates this sense of purity and helps keep all the design elements in harmony.



In the centre fold of the pamphlet is a very simple step by step guide, which takes you by the hand and walks you through the process of choosing you organic goods. This use of a basic flow diagram with the simple imagery and fun, but easy-to-understand language makes the process stress free and uncomplicated, leaving you feel that you are in safe, honest and reliable hands.

This goes to show that with a bit of attention to detail and awareness of the brands values, even a small little pamphlet can be transformed into a complete reflection of the products nature and position and at the same time, carry significance and prove to be an effective and informative device. I am sure a great deal of personal pleasure was put into this uniquely attractive little project.

White Stuff Bag Design

When you walk into a ski shop you don't expect to leave with an empty carrier bag, but in my case this is what happened. The idea of creating a bag that is different from the rest of the mundane, plastic and more than often souless bags that are out there in the thousands, is not at all a bad one.

In this case the stuck up white cat, not only adds character and differs itself from other bags, but it more importantly builds the brand through creating an interesting and unique focal point, which in turn promotes the brand as it is eye catching, amusing and creative. A good way to build recognition and reflect the energy and passion of the 'White Stuff' brand.

Fru Packaging

The other day i was food shopping with my mum, and witnessed (not for the first time i have to say) an impulse purchase, something that my mum seems to be especially good at. It wasn't just the purchase of the cute little dessert that interested me, but more the seduction, persuasiveness and effectiveness of the well crafted packaging, that initiated my mums tunnel vision - the light at the end being the checkout.

The other day i was food shopping with my mum, and witnessed (not for the first time i have to say) an impulse purchase, something that my mum seems to be especially good at. It wasn't just the purchase of the cute little dessert that interested me, but more the seduction, persuasiveness and effectiveness of the well crafted packaging, that initiated my mums tunnel vision - the light at the end being the checkout.

As i mentioned previously the culprit was a dessert. Visually, the packaging is very appealing, clean and seductive. As the picture shows, half of the box is taken up with an enticing image showing one of the "flirty little lemon shots" with a pristine looking lemon in the background, suggesting the purity of the brand and the contents.

The other half is just as eye catching but in a different way. The 'Frü' name appears in bold black script and is set against a pure white background, which really makes it stand out. There is a definite poshness about the packaging, but not in an off-putting kind of way. The packaging also has a strange ability to convince you that, you ought to treat yourself every now and again, and this is what you should buy to treat yourself.

On the back of the box, you'll find a nice tongue-in-cheek description of the puds. They are described as 'easy peasy lemon cheesy' and 'zingy little beauties' which taste 'multo frü-tissimo!. This playful style is continued within the logo as not only does the umlauted U is representing that 'uuummm' factor when you taste the pud but also reflects the cheeky personality of the brand. All in all, a good little piece of packaging.