We have come a long way. The design of our space struggled with looking too boxy for a natural open feel. So we were challenged to break out of the traditional roof and extend the branches to become the ceiling. In order to do that we found that the double layer of wall with lighting between would have caused too much commotion for the roof so we reduced it down to one layer of wall. And we decided to soften the corners and make entrances on two sides of the four-sided structure.

We also found it difficult to incorporate the nail polish, which is a big problem if you're marketing nail polish. So we decided to use color to draw people in and explore the polish inside. The images of the birch trees in Aspen have such wonderful oranges and reds in the fall so we decided on a gradation of those and a soft yellow-orange for the floor to make the focal point of the room, the white display tree in the center, stand out more.

We created an abstract display tree and made replicas of our packaging to display on the shelves. The display tree mimics the cut out walls in shape and in the shelving. The shelving on the display, however, we made with colors to stand out against the white while the shelving on the walls remained brown, like the bark of a birch tree.

We decided to use soft packaging for the object to maintain the integrity of the sustainability of the product. Too much packaging would be inconsistent with the goal of 'green' nail polish.

We found that once the tree branches were bent they pulled the attached trees with them in contorted directions so we stabilized them by gluing them at the top. We had some cool lighting that we wanted to use but there was no way to use it without seeing ALL the wires and it would have been messy.

We are pleased with our final result but it is certainly far from where we started. Until next time.

Cheers!

Canopy Layers

For our organic nail polish project with the canopy of trees concept we worked on a space that gave the shopper a feeling of fresh air. Professor Volchansky-Nieves liked our idea of using a more open wall. We had two walls made of carved out trees (white bain board in keeping with the birch trees we were representing) and a back wall with a more abstract tree whose branches served as display shelves. She suggested we consider how light falls on the space and how you get the sensation of being surrounded by layers of branches. So we explored that option and made the trees in the walls a little more narrow and added a second layer of wall to really enhance that idea.
We felt we needed storage and we included a cabinet attached to the wall but suspended from the floor. The strong horizontal, geometric lines cut off the vertical organic lines and felt inconsistent with the tone. We were getting closer to our target but there were still issues with the roof and the entry.
We decided to package the nail polish in sets of three to be able to create an interesting package and cut down on the amount of waste, being that we were shooting for a more sustainable target. The chairs I posted earlier on that look carved out with bright colors for the seating was the inspiration. But as we developed our space it became necessary to take a second look at if that worked best with our concept.





More to come.
Ciao!

Gaiam

My team met with some ideas on how to compose the space. We were struggling with which part of the assignment to design first. Should we start with the structure, then the display and then the packaging? Or do we start small with the packaging and move up to the overall space. The product we chose was Gaiam, an all natural product line. We looked to see if we could market the nail polish in a way that was consistent with their existing campaign.

Our first challenge was to find a way to represent a brand whose main asset, in our minds, was its non-toxic nature. So we looked for ways to represent nature and what we felt people might connect with. In using this product you can take a breath of fresh air and not worry about any harmful side effects. So how could we represent fresh air? We thought of being outside with a breeze blowing and the trees waving in the wind. We jumped up into the trees and sat under its canopy. And, hence, the concept of the canopy of trees was born.

We designed a 10'x 10' x 12' space that felt a lot like a traditional retail space, four walls, a floor and a ceiling. We saw some examples of spaces that took the outdoors and brought it inside. We thought we could develop our own way. Our walls came together pretty well and we liked the idea of using thin shelving on one wall as a display for our packaging. So we started there.

One of our biggest challenges was giving the space the feeling of being up in the treetops therefore not using heavy solid pieces to bring the experience back down to the trunk. We needed to find a way to capture the light, airy feeling of being in the treetops. We decided to each work on it along with packaging ideas and display and meet again.

Until next time,
Ciao!

Group Project

This assignment has us combining the previous three. We have to brand, package and create a display for a kiosk-type space. We will work in teams of three and pick an entirely new object in our category. I am working with Shadie and Julia. So far we three are all on the same page. We have a big picture in mind and now are working back from the beginning to build to there. It's kind of like knowing the end of a book and then creating the story to match.

We decided to stick with nail polish as our space requirements are 10' x 10' x 12' and thought nail polish would be a cosmetic that would warrant that amount of space. We are considering including a small space for manicures or testing. We also decided on an all-natural, non-toxic polish as our object. We feel that we can then brand and design our project within the parameters of sustainability.

All three of us are designing models based on our discussions and will meet today to choose the best aspects from each to present as our concept tomorrow in class. Here you will see some of my inspiration and soon I will post the models themselves.

Cheers!

Display study model

This project was fun but not easy. I liked the prospect of utilizing my new teardrop shape. Our challenge was to create a display for our packaging. I decided to create a display with the teardrops literally dropping from the ceiling. I also wanted to make it all white (except the branding). I made it 1-1/2" = 1'-0". I couldn't make it any smaller because I would not be able to make the packaging any smaller and I would lose the effect I was trying to convey.

Originally I was going to make a display that hung from the ceiling, in which case I needed to build an actual room around the display. That would require almost as much work as building the display. Also, it would make it difficult to incorporate the branding. So instead I hung the display from a panel that was attached to a wall, which would be attached to the floor and curve up into the counter. To get the effect of the drops surrounding the customer the ceiling of the unit needed to hang out farther than the counter itself. This was incredibly difficult to stabilize as it was very top heavy.

To fix this I built a back wall brace that wedges up against the floor and two triangular brackets. Once I had that in place I hung sample product and added the branding. I still have a few questions for my professor with regards to cleaning it up a little. After all, the whole concept is "polisheed."

Until next time. Cheers!

Display

This week proved a little more promising than last. Our next challenge was to create a display for our objects. I wanted to showcase the teardrop shape of the package. I thought of possibly mimicking the shape of the Flat Iron Building in New York City. Have you ever seen a luxury apartment in that building? They are worthy of the Chanel name. Another idea was to truly mimic the teardrop shape and create a stand for the package in that shape. The problem with these two ideas is that I still didn’t have a unique way to showcase the package on each of those stands.
After some more exploration I have decided to actually drop the packages, from a wire rack that is. The plan is to make it look like they are dropping from above. I am still creating the model so I only have drawings to share for now. My challenge is creating the model to a scale where the packaging is clear and clean enough and yet the model itself is not oversized. The absolute smallest I can go and still be able to manipulate a copy of the packaging is 2” = 1’-0”. That makes my overall model about 30” tall. We’ll see how that works. Wish me luck.
Cheers!

Packaging Cont'd

Last Thursday we took the advice from our final crit and finished up our packaging projects. I was working on the teardrop-shape and wanted to use a clear Mylar with black banding at the top and the bottom. I was faced with the design problem of how the clear material stays closed. I tried using liquid nails which dries clear but it was still too messy. Instead of working the problem through I decided to go in a completely new direction. I used the cylinder from a previous attempt as a top and moved on to a cone shaped bottom. I used black card stock for the body of it and covered the outside with a polished looking fabric. The paper lays nice and flat but the fabric, not so much.

I needed to find a way to keep the lid on so I designed a twist and lock system but struggled with fixing it to the package. I turned it in but was not happy, at all, with the end result. It was not the polished look that I was going for. That might have been a good study model to work on solving design problems but should not have been a final model.
We met for class and all three classes evaluated the projects and rated them on a scale of 1 to 5 of whether or not they would purchase the product. One was not at all, and five was they would purchase. My project averaged a three and I thought that was generous. I was so disappointed that I went home after class and went back to the teardrop-shaped, clear Mylar. I fixed the problem of the closure by using a ¼” clear tape. You could barely see it. Then everything started falling into place. I knew I had already turned in my final project but for my own sake I had to finish it to know I could produce something better. You better believe I slept well those two nights.

During the next class we gave our presentations on our projects. I explained about both packages and it was evident that the clear package was better designed. It was a good thing that I re-did it because we now have to create a display for our objects/packages. Professor Anderson already had some suggestions on how I might use the teardrop shape for display and I’m exploring that. Over the weekend I went to the department stores to see how the Chanel brand is displayed and how I might display my new “product.”

I thought about how I can incorporate the branding assignment in the signage portion of the display. I think the use of the chicklet looking stones, or another polished stone, in the color of the polish might work. How can I do that? I want to find a way to use small, pebble size stones inside the clear Mylar, or at the very least in the display itself.

I also thought of how I can arrange the teardrop shaped packages in an intriguing way. Perhaps in a flower-like petal shape would be pretty, but I have to keep my target audience in mind. I’ve been sketching out designs to see where it goes. Wish me luck.

Cheers!

Lynn

Final Packaging

You never know until you try something if it's going to work. So far my most successful designs have come from something I thought was a throw away. But in taking a second look at them they had the potential and I just had to find it. Then I had to execute it. The cylinder idea was inspired by the products of Bang & Olufsen. In talking with Professor Anderson we decided that the women who purchase this expensive nail polish are the same ones who purchase products from B&O.

Then I came up with a cone/lotion bottle shape, which looked too much like a lotion bottle. The clear cylinder seemed to be the way to go. The plan was to design it in a teardrop shape with an intriguing exterior. The challenge was to find a way to close the Mylar without the glue showing. I measured how high the pedestal for the polish should sit so you could see it above the banding at the top and bottom. Once I started to execute, the glue was showing through and it looked messy, the opposite of the polished look I was going for.

I morphed the two ideas and pulled in some of the little black dress idea from the beginning. I made a cone shape for the bottom of the dress and a cylinder for the top, all covered in the polished fabric from the banding on the teardrop shaped container.

Now, my challenge is to find a way to lock the two pieces together so when you pick up the box, the top doesn't come off each time. I'm working on a simple twist and lock closure today. Wish me luck. Cheers!