Spark
Spark is a fictitious company that produces energy drinks and bars. For my Packaging Design class I had to create a line of products, that could be marketed to real-world consumers.
Step 1 - Packaging Examples
I started this project by researching how packaging not only defines a product line, but unifies it.
Step 2 - Competitive Analyses
With this step I research my market and what the competition is. What is working in the field and what is not? I discover if there is a market not being met or catered to and figure out how I can best meet their needs.
Step 3 - Brainstorming
I've never made a product line of energy bars and drinks before. There also doesn't seem to be any that cater to girly-girls... who I have never designed for either. This could be a good way to flex my creative muscles.
Step 4 - Uber Female
This is the part where I researched my demographic extensively. I read up on girly publications like Cosmopolitan, Glamour and Marie Clair. I also frequented places that my demographic would likely shop or go to enjoy herself. I discovered quite a few things in this process. I realized that there is little difference between the style for a teenage girly-girl and an adult. The materials change, however. Vinyl becomes leather, rhinestones become diamonds, etc. My demographic is not only concerned with image, but is also active in various causes she believes in. I was also surprised by the level of sophistication in the designs of my fashion forward girl.
Step 5 - Sketches
Here is where I put my acquired knowledge of the girly-girl into action as I hammer out some designs that would entice her to buy my product. This process usually goes through at least 3 rounds of increasingly tight sketches, but I was on a tight deadline so I was only required to do 2 rounds. There are only 16 sketches displayed, where in truth I did over 100.
Step 6 - Digital Comps
Refinement and combinations of my sketches. I also made the dieline for the box and the lineart for the bottle. The final directions where chosen by the professor, and then the students choose the direction they wish to present.