Wednesday, July 11, 2007

here comes the packaging...

or actually, there goes the packaging > into the trash. I just cut three large tags (about 2 and a half inches of un-necessary cloth) off some new underwear.

Why do we have tags? And why do they have to be so big (and ugly?). They seem to be the least-evolving characteristic of clothing products and I cut them off when I see them, so what good are they?!

I have bought some clothing over the past year that has chosen to print their label onto the inside of the actual clothing. And if you want to discuss this issue with more people, you can go to the T-shirt Forum. yeah, there's a whole forum to discuss it.

This seems like a new trend in product design but also maybe can be clumped with packaging design. I can't remember where I found it (maybe in Miami) but I bought...let's say some cookies, and each one was individually wrapped inside plastic inside a larger plastic package and then had an outer package that the shopper actually sees > three f'n layers of material to get through Useless! right?

anyway, i'm going to start posting more on packaging. It's something that interests me. I'd be interested to learn about the packaging campaigns that have emerged in direct correlation with their advertising. For starters (and interested readers) here are 13 trends for packaging reported for 2006. How did they do?

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Rather odd thing to comment on..

In my package design class, generally as a rule, to convince the worthiness of a product you make your packaging more consumable. One example we looked at were high end make up lines were the products included a box of face soap but the soap came in single packages, one for a wash and damn if it wasn't spendy. Its been a trend for ages to multipack products for the sake of assumed value, and also the pleasure of consuming it itself. Over done packaging generally is applicable to food and cosmetics.

As far as tags really I can't see anyone convincing that the tag format needs to go. Mostly its just a placeholder for the size of the said product, price and brand when shopping. Sometimes in skate/surf wear, they'll include a sticker with the brand logo on it, simple and effective promotionals.

For the tags actually stitched onto a product the again contain brand, size and generally fabric makeup and washing instructions, the format works remarkably well. Only shirts without tags I've bought have been cheapo white tees as it makes sense that you won't have a tag that you can see through, and a few surf brand shirts.