HT DESIGNS_ BE INSPIRED

A graphic designer's Christmas wishlist.

Top 5 (or maybe a few extra!) on my Christmas wish list:

1. Painted Amaryllis Measuring Cups from Anthropologie.


I enjoy baking, so I would love to receive these beautiful painted measuring cups for Christmas. They are something unexpected, and I could see myself leaving them out on display when I'm not using them.

2. A new font: Mishka by Fenotype

I always like playing with new fonts (I freely admit I'm a type geek). This is a cute, fun and well designed font! Fonts with alternative characters and ligatures are great, they can add that something extra to make invites and logos elegant. I particularly like (shown above) how it has 4 different versions of the word 'by', that can add a lot to a design.

3. Also because I'm a type geek, this letterpress necklace.

 

It's something unusual, and I love the vintage feel (its a reproduction of a letter piece that was actually used on a press). I think it would go great with so many different outfits! (While I'm on theme here, this necklace would hang perfectly with all my other jewelery in this jewelery display made from a Antique Printer Drawer!)

4. Jewlery making kit

A few years ago I played around with making jewelery (sort of making it up as I went!). When I was in Italy in October I had a lot of fun going into the Murano jewelery shops and look at all the fun beaded jewelery. They had a lot of beautiful beads that you could use to customize a bracelet or necklace etc. Kinda had me thinking I wanted to try learning a bit more about jewelery making, a basic beginners project kit to start with would probably be a good idea to start with.

5. 1,000 Package Designs

I love package design, so this would be a great book to have! Its always good to get the creative juices flowing by having new inspiration.

Bonus. Print Magazine Regional Design Annual - Okay I should (hopefully) actually be getting this one in the mail soon. But I'm really looking forward to receiving it so I thought I'd throw it in here. Its a great gift for a graphic designer.

 

 

Eco-Friendly Chinese Take-Out

"Focusing on sustainability, this packaging attempts to eliminate the need for a plastic bag.For multiple orders, hook carrying strings into the diecut design of the one on top of it. Holds up to three entrees."

I like the idea of eco-friendly takeout containers.I think the best part about this design is how the different containers can connect to each other so there is no need for a plastic bag either.

Designed by JoAnn Arello / SOURCE

SAN DIEGO ZOO - WILD AT HEART

Andy Baron has done a proposed identity for the San Diego Zoo. He has designed his approach around their tagline "Wild at Heart." He created a series of illustrations of their most loved animals in the shape of a heart. I'm absolutely smitten by his illustrations- they scream fun, cute and adventure!

The monkey and elephant are my absolute favourites!

(via: Andy Baron)

Evelyn's Chocolaty Sauce

Lovely packaging for Evelyn's Chocolaty Sauce! I love the rich brown in contrast with the light blue. Great detail in the pattern on the box, I love the diecut window that mimics the shape of the label. I like the little detail of the seal on the jar fitting to the shape of the label. Its a nice combination of elegance and casualness (love how its called "chocolaty sauce" rather than just "chocolate sauce").

Source:  The Dieline

FOUR TINES

 

Frozen foods get a gourmet look! Love these packages for frozen vegetable entrees. Great logo, bold type, and great photography give it a modern (with retro touches) and rich gourmet look. I like the bright colours on the brown, especially with the orange logo. I really like how the food is photographed on textured backgrounds, and how they really stand out as the focus.

I love the fun touch of the words "bon appetit!" on the lid of the box.

Love clean, modern yet retro card!

DESIGNED BY JJAAKK DESIGN

The Spice Tailor

DESIGNED by PEARLFISHER

Great packaging designed for "The Spice Tailor by Anjum Anand". To start with, I like how the sauces aren't packaged in the very traditional jar. The spices are uniquely packaged separately rather than a ready made sauce, which really makes it stand out. Its very clean, bold and modern while still using Indian motifs and vibrant colours. I like the mixture of the condensed san serif font in the logo and then the thicker serifed font in the flavour names. The combination adds to the modern feeling. The photography of the TV chef is a bit awkward, but is nicely set within the motifs.

SOURCE: THE DIELINE

STRONG

This packaging fits into its product category but still stands apart in a clever way. Its a typical box for these kind of screws, nuts and bolts - a simple one colour job. But instead of just placing the illustration on the side, it's incorporated into the letters of the logo. Of course the screw and bolts where the illustration replaces the T works the best, but the box for the nut is just as effective.

Sometimes "Less is more".

DESIGNED by SUNNYDESIGN
SOURCE: LOVELY PACKAGE

Melt

 

I'm totally a chocoholic and my favourite part about chocolate has to be how it melts in your mouth! I love that this brand identity for a line of chocolate called Melt designed by JJAAKK DESIGN plays on that. Just from the treatment of the type on the block having that little wobble at the bottom is great, it gets the message across quick and simple! I like how the melt idea is taken further on the chocolate box, how there's finger print smudges, because anybody who really enjoys chocolate has done that!

The chocolate bars are probably my favourite though, because the designer took the idea of melted chocolate in a different direction. It reminds me of cake decoration with the patterns. I like how the box is "messy" and then the wrappers of the bars are "pretty". 

"Packaging and logo design for a gourmet chocolate shop. The classic characteristics of melted chocolate are used throughout, providing a tantalizing glimpse at the wonderfulness contained within."

Source: Lovely Package / JJAAKK DESIGN

SANTEEN redesign

To be truthful I've never heard of this brand or seen it in my life! (And its not because I've never scrubbed anything a day in my life!) Regardless I'm loving the look of their new packaging! In order to emphasis that they've been around for 60 years Studio MPLS chose to create a new retro look for the packaging, making it feel very 50s but modern at the same time. I think its an eye catching bold design.

SOURCE: Studio MPLS

Promenade Wine Box

Designed by Norwegian design firm Designers Journey

I love this design for Promenade Wine, it has a playful story element to the package. It honestly makes me just want to go to France! I've been noticing the last few years that there are lot more products at the LCBO that target women specifically and I think this one is definitely a package that would attract the eye of a woman on the shelf. Its a different approach then say Girls Night Out which is more modern.

“We strengthened the Promenade concept with a selection of charming and positive french cliches. Keywords: A walk through France. Souvenir de Paris. Romance, elegance and charm. Most of the text, including the brand name, is handwritten to strengthen the romantic and authentic expression.”

SOURCE: LOVELY PACKAGE