Many of the products Clara von Zweigbergk has designed originate from her work with paper. “I have a big love for paper and folding it. I once had a colleague who named me the “paperholic”, he caught me far too often with a freshly shopped roll of paper. So appropriately, the Iris Collection stems from experimenting in folding rounded shapes in various paper weights. One shape led to another and quite soon there was around 20 pieces of paper objects, vases, pen holders and later mugs. The best ones are actually made out of the last sheets of a much-loved Japanese paper, in very unusual (for print) colours, bought in Tokyo.”

By Kristina de Verdier on 18 September, 2017 In Design, hay, mug, paper fold, porcelain, vases

A computer program allows the designer to experiment and fine-tune shapes and patterns in a simulator. Once the desired response emerges digitally, the structure is fabricated. Via Frame.

By Kristina de Verdier on 23 August, 2017 In air, Design, Innovation, MIT, origami, packaging, products, structural

After launching two beloved fragrances, Zlatan Ibrahimović Parfums is releasing its third collection – MYTH WOOD and MYTH BLOOM. The scents capture the elusive magic of Zlatan’s home country – the forests, nature and calm of Sweden. Zlatan worked closely with Olivier Pescheux, one of the world’s leading perfumers from Givaudan in Paris.

By Kristina de Verdier on 10 May, 2017 In Design, myth, packaging, perfume, zlatan

A team of Armenia-based designers have created a product in which each of them can find their favorite flavor of coffee (espresso, cappuccino, mocha, latte, americano).

RESULT

By Kristina de Verdier on 9 May, 2017 In Coffee, Design, packaging

The French start-up company Lactips started in 2014 with the purpose to tackle the problem of environmental waste. In order to do this they produce water soluble and biodegradable thermoplastic pellets based on milk protein. Those pellets are used as a raw material for thermoforming, film, or any kind of plastic applications. You have probably seen their soluble film for dish detergent, which is fully integrated with the product – there is no need for the consumer to remove the packaging. So now the company has taken another exciting step in the global packaging development. They have developed an edible plastic packaging for the food industry, created from milk protein (casein).

By Kristina de Verdier on 11 April, 2017 In Design, Edible, environment, Innovation, Material, milk protein, packaging, sustainable

Hinoki is a beautiful sustainable packaging concept created for the cosmetics industry. It’s designed by Swedish innovation agency NINE. NINE is a future-driven innovation consultancy, part of the BillerudKorsnäs Group, a publicly traded company and global provider of smarter packaging for a sustainable future.

CHALLENGE: In the Cosmetics Industry, the notion of  “premium” products is commonly connected to the “little extras” on the packaging. Many times, this extra packaging is not entirely necessary and only used during a limited time and then simply discarded. For Hinoki, we wanted to create a sustainable packaging range that is premium, respectful to the planet and a true game-changer in the world of packaging.

SOLUTION: Hinoki is a range of travel-size packaging made out of biodegradable paper for organic skin care products. It’s a concept based on simplicity, single-origin, and respect for the renewable material applied to a currently quite un-sustainable packaging category. The structural design of Hinoki is inspired by the form-language of origami as a means of being true to the value of the material. Each container uses a single piece of laminated paper, folded and pressed into shape, with a tear-off corner revealing a Hinoki wood twist cap.

RESULT: The result is a tactile and natural skin care range with premium value, coming not from artificial inflation, but rather an honest representation and respect for the value of both packaging materials and product experience. The concept is based on existing material and technology. It is currently in the process of being up-scaled. NINE together with Billerud Korsnäs will invite one brand owner partner, in a first mover ambition to develop concepts together with us for sustainable solutions projected to be on the market within 24-36 months.

By Kristina de Verdier on 27 March, 2017 In cosmetics, Design, future, Innovation, Material, packaging

Halo is a completely bio-degradable coffee capsule compatible with your home Nespresso machine. Designed with an innovative blend of compostable natural fibres to protect the coffee flavours. Like many coffee drinkers across the world Halo was dissatisfied with the coffee capsule industries practices, vagueness and green washing.

-13,500 non-biodegradable coffee capsules being thrown into landfill every minute.

-39,000 coffee capsules globally are produced every minute.

-Between 13,500 and 29,000 of these are sent to landfill.

-That’s over 20 billion capsules containing aluminium or plastic produced every year

-Circling the earth 14 times over

Aluminium and plastic coffee capsules are difficult and time consuming for people to recycle so most of them get thrown in the bin. Or they have to be sent for industrial composting which can be very difficult and expensive. Halo is made of entirely organic materials; Bamboo and paper pulp. “It’s not a cheap way of packaging coffee but it’s the right way.”

By Kristina de Verdier on 17 March, 2017 In Coffee, Compostable, Design, packaging, pods, sustainable

“Bavarian craft brewer AND UNION has unveiled the first canned beers in its range with a  ballsy yet restrained design. Solid, single colours represent each beer in the line-up, in an attempt  to cut through the clutter commonly seen on shelves these days.”

“The  modest hero of the design is texture, as the brewer played with embossed geometric shapes to add depth to the  container  in the absence of typical craft beer aesthetics. By manipulating the surface of the  aluminium can, the design balances visual simplicity with detailed, tactile consideration to reflect the  malleable nature of the material.” Via The Dieline

By Kristina de Verdier on 3 March, 2017 In can, Design, packaging, textured

Designed by Lavernia & Cienfuegos. “Zara approached us to redesign their “best seller” women’s fragrance range. The brief asked that the new design be an evolution of the previous one, with the intention that customers continue to recognize the collection. They asked us to focus on the bottle and cap and to make very little changes to the box. Previously the bottle had a cube design with very pronounced edges, similar to other designs, which have become commonplace in the fragrance market. The cap was cylindrical. We started to work on square forms, but also looking for that ‘something’ to give it character. We rounded the edges, subtly curved the faces and we created a transitional join between the bottle shoulders and the cap to make it seem as a seamless continuation of the glass. We also gave the cap a square rounded shape. The result is a more feminine and smoother appearance than the previous design, which also transmits more quality because of its extra weight. There are seven fragrances in total that are divided into two groups . One group with clear glass and black caps. The other group containing the more sophisticated variants, with tinted glass in black, red or white.

By Kristina de Verdier on 15 February, 2017 In beauty, Design, fragrance, packaging, square, zara

Branding agency Funky created new brand line concept of premium cosmetics. “Microme Cosmetics are innovative solution in the field of molecular makeup. Natural ingredients and the latest scientific developments allowed to create safe and effective solution for rejuvenating and skin protection. Product line consists of three well-developed positions helping to get a full range of skin care products. Skin Protect — protection, Skin Care — Care, Skin Control — constant care. The main objective was to reflect company’s innovative approach to their products, natural ingredients, but not to make it in trivial way. We decided to look deeper and explore the basic ingredients of cosmetics under the microscope because its molecular properties give such effect. On the molecular level each object forms incredible patterns, so these patterns make up basis of packaging ideas. As a result, the decision was to use a tactile pattern formed by main ingredient of the product. High-quality paper and special printing technology made it possible not only to see but also feel the contents of the box.” Via Packaging of the World.

By Kristina de Verdier on 24 January, 2017 In Concept, cosmetics, Design, packaging, russia

Let me introduce a new talent on the design scene. Daniela Cardona, born and raised in Bogota, Colombia. She has designed these dental care products for Crest. Daniela moved to Pasadena, California in 2012 to pursue her dream of becoming a product designer. She is currently living in Los Angeles, CA after completing her B.S in Product Design at ArtCenter College of Design.

“The dental care industry has a wide range of products that satisfy all kinds of needs related to hygiene and health. The stores are saturated with colorful packaging competing to get every customer’s attention. The challenge was to re-design the current packaging system for Crest in order to help them grow their market share and have a consistent image throughout their product lines that will ideally transform the dental care industry. The re-branding of Crest has a clear and more relevant look. The graphics were designed to satisfy the brand’s needs, but most importantly the customer’s needs, so that when they go to the store to buy the products there is an evident simplicity. The new Crest is essential in providing attention and care to achieve the ultimate confident smile.”

By Kristina de Verdier on 12 January, 2017 In Branding, dental, Design, packaging, products

Rewined is now introducing a new product. Stitch Design Co. designed packaging for their collection of subtly scented soaps. The packaging pulls from the core design elements of the candle packaging to seamlessly connect this new product to the brand. Letterpressed wood veneer wraps, color coded wax seals and signatures on each bar are just a few of those details that make this brand so recognizable and special.

By Kristina de Verdier on 10 January, 2017 In beauty, craft, Design, packaging, soap

Are we ready to change our habits, and reuse one really good bottle, instead of throwing away tons of plastic? The Chilly’s Bottle is a reusable bottle that can keep your water ice cold for up to 24 hours. Chilly’s mission is to accelerate the adoption and everyday use of reusable products. They aim to do this through “creating products with the perfect balance of distinctive style and unrivalled performance.”

By Kristina de Verdier on 6 December, 2016 In bottle, Design, packaging, reuse, sustainable, water

Andrew Dent, vice president of library and materials research at Material ConneXion presents 11 exciting new materials designers should watch, for the web magazine Fast Company. Blurring the line between paper and plastic, Paptic is a new material that is easy to print on, easy to recycle, and perfect for packaging. “It might not change the world,” Dent admits, but he thinks we’ll soon start seeing it everywhere, because while it feels and looks like paper, it’s as strong and tear-proof as plastic. Check out the other 10 materials here.

By Kristina de Verdier on 15 November, 2016 In Design, Material, material connexion, packaging, paptic

Designed by Martina Green. “One third of all plastic produced is used for packaging. Plastic has great packaging qualities, but there is an imbalance between the lifetime of products (hundreds of years) and the actual time of utilization (a few minutes). Plastic packaging generates large amounts of waste that never really disappear. The plastic
 will break into smaller and smaller pieces and cause problem in different ecosystems. Martina is a product designer focused on biodegradable materials. She graduated in Design MA 2014, at the university of Gothenburg. This July she presented 3D-printed algae packaging made from local kelp mixed with biodegradable polymer. The idea is to use algae as an alternative to non degradable plastic packaging. Algae has been used by mankind in ancient cultures, and today it’s harvested on a commercial scale, mostly in Asia. As a packaging material algae has many good qualities; it grows fast, breaks down quick and naturally, does not occupy land space and it is facilitating the growth of marine ecosystem. Martina’s Algae packaging can be used for different applications and the time of degradation can be adapted to required lifespan.”

By Kristina de Verdier on 12 August, 2016 In 3D-printing, algae, Design, packaging, sustainable