Monday, September 23, 2013

Inspiration: 7 Creative Packaging Concepts

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I was recently asked on twitter to share some of my favourite people-to-follow in the realm of creative packaging design. I could look at brand packaging for HOURS, mainly because it's kind of like gift-wrapping for companies - and we all know how much I love a good gift wrap.

There are way too many people that I could recommend you follow - either the designers themselves or the sites that collate their work (often without linking back - grr) So anyway, here is a collection of a few of my faves and you can see which ones you like and hit them up on twitter if you so wish.

ABOVE: The anti-theft Lunch Bags - created by the. company from two designers Sherwood Forlee and Mihoko Ouchie. Sherwood actually grew up in Zimbabwe (woop Africa!) I love this design - so smart. AND... sneaky.

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ABOVE & BELOW: This is one of my favourite brand identity collections - partly because it's cartoon all over it and partly because of the amazing hue of colours. Designed by Isabela Rodrigues. In fact, all their brand packaging is pretty awesome - definitely have a look at their website.

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ABOVE & BELOW: This packaging design was created by May Tsui - it's a collection of CDs packaged to look like slices of bread. I'm a complete sucker for "alternative" packaging design.

Once, when I was living in South Korea - I stumbled across a set of notepads and cards that were shaped like a milk carton. I had absolutely no use for the milk carton note-set but I bought it anyway because I. couldn't. help. myself. Asia really does have the greatest packaging of all time.

I need to go back.

(ahem, husband.)

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Anthology of Bread, anyone?

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ABOVE:  These little "Jooze" cartoons were created by Yungyeen Yong as part of her student design portfolio. They are targeted at kids - but let me tell you, if I came across one of these in the shop, I'd buy it based on the packaging alone.


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ABOVE: These tea packages were created by Jaeyoung Ha. What did I tell you about Asian Designers? Or maybe those are just the designs I'm most attracted to. Whatever, it's beautiful.

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ABOVE: I am a huge fan of packaging that makes use of the product itself. Above is a perfect example of what I'm talking about - designed by Lo Siento. It makes the audience feel part of the design experience - which is of course, always a win. ("HAHA! Look at me! Look what I did! I pulled this bread out and gave this little gnome a hat! Look at me - I'm so clever!") Nope, that'd be the designer - but.... you have your two seconds of glory and go ahead and buy more bread to show your friends.

Design Win.

(Another excellent and completely harrowing example of this is from the Landmine Campaign - I haven't posted it here because it's quite hectic - but you can see it posted on my Creative Packaging Pinterest Board)


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ABOVE: Packaging is always good when it evokes some kind of feeling. For me this embroidery style milk carton design by Peter Gregson does exactly that. When I look at this embroidery pattern sitting so perfectly on this milk carton - I immediately think of some lovely Swiss cows that are grazing in the lovely Swiss Alps in lovely little knitted jerseys. No?

So those are a few of the package designs that I love -

If you want to follow any websites that do a good job of collating these kinds of designs (and since a lot of these personal designers accounts tweet in foreign languages)

I can recommend:

The Dieline - curation of interesting package design
Lovely Package - packaging design from around the world
Behance - a collection of design portfolios
Eight Hour Day - mainly design and illustration with the odd packaging concept thrown in.


You can also follow my Creative Packaging Pinterest board for some visual inspiration.

Happy Monday everyone

x

Sunday, September 22, 2013

7 things lately

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7 Things lately:
  1. I've recently opened up indieBerries for sponsorship - and I'm SO excited to have my first new sponsors! Not only to be able to introduce you to some awesome new blogs/products/people, but also because it allows me to take indieBerries more seriously in terms of a business - which is the perfect pre-runner to the launch of my online store - coming soon! So take a few moments to click over some of the blog sponsors this month - I'm super excited about them all!
  2. Latest genius-invention-idea that I had at 4am: edible washi tape. For cupcake decorating, macaroon topping and for making cakes beautiful. So someone get on that - And you can just send me a cheque for my cut.
  3. Have filmed my first video for a potential indieBerries YouTube series... haha - more on that to follow.
  4. We had french toast, grilled banana, bacon, blue cheese and maple syrup for brunch. Delicious. And totally calorie free.
  5. I'm busy working on some free resource downloads for bloggers - which should be ready next week - so there's something you can look forward to!
  6. Husband: "Let's talk goal-setting today. And hopefully there will be some goals at 3:30" So it looks like we'll be watching the Manchester United game this afternoon.
  7. Yep, it's official - I married my Phil Dunphy.



Friday, September 20, 2013

Exciting news yo!

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WHAT could possible be more exciting than "IT'S FRIDAY!"?

Actually, not much - 
BUT, as a slightly lesser-excitement:



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I KNOW, RIGHT!?

But of course - we only want awesome shizz on indieBerries - none of that dodgy shizz.
So, if you are interested or have some awesome shizz (business/blog/product/services/shop) you would like to promote on indieBerries then click over to the sponsor info page for more details.

The arrow below will direct you there, in case you get lost.


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(actually, the angle of this arrow is pretty off -
but if you look at the top right cartoon button, you won't miss it)

Happy Friday! 
(the cause for real excitement)

smooch
x

10 Random Facts to Use at your Dinner Party tonight.

For the past few weeks I have been doing a "FUN FACT FRIDAY" feature - which all began when I woke up one regular Friday morning and thought, "HEY! Today feels like a FUN FACT! kinda day!" And now you're up to speed.

FUN FACTS:


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(DISCLAIMER: do not actually attempt this, you will end up in the ocean)

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I find this highly disturbing.
In fact, I don't want to say anything more about it -
I'll just let it sit with you all for a while.

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KNOWLEDGE = POWER!
( = WEIGHT = {mass x gravitational force} )

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AND ecnedicnioc is coincidence spelled backwards.

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So, if you sleep in front of the TV, it's basically your whole workout done.

Side Note: TVs have evolved from the one pictured above. TVs no longer have big Frame Boxes and Channel panels that you have to get up and touch with your own fingers. They don't have ariels on top any more either. In fact, TVs look nothing like the one pictured above. But whenever I draw them I always picture my gran's old one -which looked a lot like this:

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I haven't tested this one, but if you'd like to give it a go - here are the very easy steps.
Something I have tried, first hand is the EXPLODING CD IN THE MICROWAVE.

That shizz is EPIC!
Like an exploding pyrotechnic DJ Tomorrowland Show.


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Now THAT is a FUN fact!

Actually, I decided to include this fact because I have recently had a severe "pinky-incident" and I am feeling very sorry for myself - so I thought I would just subtly slip it into this post so that you could all feel very sorry for me too.

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Kitchen knife. Block of cheese. Full Body driving force (cheese = "slightly" old and hard). Pinky.

I'm pretty sure I made contact with bone and I am still convinced I need at least several stitches.
Husband thinks I'm being very dramatic.

But, he wasn't there - I did very nearly die.

(you can leave your 'feel-sorry-for-me' comments below, thanks.)

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Bottom Line: ALWAYS bring a koala along when you plan to commit crimes.

Alternatively, you can just slice off your fingers (above) and commit them with your fingerprint-less stubs. 

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Oooooh. Golden Tennis court!!

* adds to Christmas list*

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In other news, I mentioned some changes that are going to be happening around this blog in the next few weeks - I was hoping to get a finalised list of all new features/changes/things-to-look-forward-to out by the end of this week - but I am still finalising the last few things and I've been so busy with other projects - HINT: I sent my first doodle book off to the printers yesterday! EEEK! excitement - let's hope it comes back looking lovely and it's full steam ahead for project #462! I will post the blog changes as soon they are finished - you can follow indieBerries on Facebook or twitter to make sure you don't miss it!

Happy Friday everyone!
Weekend plans, y'all?

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PS. You can check out other FUN FACTS posts if you like, by clicking here.



Thursday, September 19, 2013

EDUCATE YOURSELF: To, Too, Two.

A little while ago I posted a cartoon clearly highlighting the differences between your and you're and how noobs who can't get it right irk me to my core. I then received some awesome pics from blog readers on the indieBerries Facebook page:

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Hot dang! I love the indieBerries gang!


So, to further educate the masses 
(and mainly because I cannot help the grammar-nazi-enthusiast trapped inside me) - 


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They are very different and non-interchangeable.

Now - I'm only saying this once, 
so you'd better concentrate.


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So, in the most basic explanation - 

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As a simple and very basic test you can exchange "too" with "as well" 
if it makes sense, use "too"
if it doesn't make sense, use "to"

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No.

Only the crazies say that.
Are you a crazy?

no.

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Got it?

Great.

Moving on.

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How MANY?
The answer to this is a NUMBER


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TWO. 
Used for numbers,
ONLY numbers.


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If you enjoyed this post you can check out:

How to use "your" and "you're"

Or you can take a look at the grammar cartoons posted on The Oatmeal -
one of my fave sites, EVARRRRRR.

* * * * *

I will be sharing some funny grammar related pics/jokes on the indieBerries facebook page this afternoon - so head over here if you want to see more.


Wednesday, September 18, 2013

10 things your South African man NEVER wants to hear you say.

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I'm thinking we should give it a go...


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* * * * * * * 

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* * * * * * *

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"Well what about Lambie?

ok.... dude,

 - answer FASTER!"

* * * * * * *

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as well as: 

"Don't you think you should turn those?
Aren't those ready now?
Oh watch out! That one is right in the flames!"

* * * * * * 




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* * * * * * * *

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Just kidding,

No self-respecting South African Female - 
with half a brain cell and the will-to-live would ever say that.

Unless of course - 

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- the end.

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If you enjoyed this post - you may enjoy:

or The perils of explaining "biltong" to a non-South African.

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You can follow the indieBerries Facebook Page 
or indieBerries on twitter for more cartoon fun!



smooches.


EDIT: apparently I can't count and i skipped number 5 by accident. lols