Topshop Make Up Packaging

Noticed this new make up range in the Leeds branch the other day. I was certainly struck by the packaging when I first saw it, good use of hand drawn type, nice colour schemes and a pinch of illustration.

Topshop says on the collection...

"Bold and innovative, Topshop Make Up combines the hottest trends and colours with the very best in quality. Applying the Topshop spirit to cosmetics, a Core collection of first class beauty essentials sits alongside a capsule Trend Collection of directional hues, which will be refreshed twice every season to keep your look hot off the catwalk!"

I think the style of this packaging is matched really well to the style and identity of Topshop-young fresh and fun. It's designed by Sarah Thorne from the store's creative department. A creative department I would certainly love to get some work experience at!

They've also nicely used social networking to raise the hype of the range where you can give yourself a virtual makeover and update your look to the Facebook group.

http://www.facebook.com/Topshop

Topshop seems to be a brand really on the pulse of their target market, and is spot on certainly with the look of this range. Will definitely be heading down and trying the products out for myself!

x

http://www.topshop.com

http://www.grafikmag.com/index.php?m=GR&sub=GRdetail&id=451

Puma's Clever Little Bag

Nice to see big brands doing their bit for the environment. It still looks like they could cut down on cardboard a bit more, but it's definitely a step in the right direction, and the video does show that even reducing the cardboard by this amount saves a lot of energy and resources. Personally I'd much rather opt for a shoe bag than a box, so I'm sure we can just wait and see what other brands no doubt will come up with to follow in the footsteps of Puma.

x

http://www.puma.com

Jme and Pearlfisher

As I was browsing Design Week I noticed that Jamie Oliver had recently won the Client of the Year Award at the annual Design Week Benchmarks awards the other night. Judges described some of the products as "beautifully crafted, interesting and strong". Here are some of the products in his range, designed by agency Pearlfisher...

As a result of this article I went onto the Pearlfisher website to discover that it is this agency that designs some of my personal favourite food and drink packaging out on the highstreet. These products are also some of the most iconic food and drink brands out there, certainly an impressive portfolio to have to your name. Here are some other brands you may recognise that Pearlfisher also design for...

I love the handmade, recycled qualities they use, following their theme of ethical packaging. I also love the bold colours and sharp quirky typography they use, which seems a particularly dominant part of their design. It's no surprise Pearlfisher create mammoth profit increases for the brands they design for, these pieces of packaging stand out a mile from others on the shelf in a whole class of their own.

x

http://www.designweek.co.uk/

http://www.pearlfisher.com

Marmite!

Marmite is something very close to my heart, it's been my favourite breakfast since God knows when! It's also a product that's had some of my personal favourite ad campaigns over the years. Famous for its honest slogan "You either love it, or hate it" it's a brand that's extremely timeless, probably because it is such a unique product, with such an unusual message. It's hard to successfully promote a product whilst stating that half the population hate it, yet they seem to do it with ease and humour, always leading to memorable results!

In 2006, Marmite brought out a squeezable bottle, adding value through convenience from the traditional glass jar. DDB of London took the job of advertising this new product. Here are some of the ads they created...

DDB said they wanted to communicate "the convenience of the squeezy product, executed against the creative thought at the heart of the brand 'you either love it or hate it'". With this they created a series of ads of things people either love or hate, drawn in the squeezy marmite. The result is the message of the new product being perfectly executed, alongside the traditional and recognisable brand identity, in a funny and visually interesting way. Fantastic!

More recently DDB managed to encorporate Paddington Bear into the ads to try and encourage Mums to buy marmite for a twist on boring sandwiches. Using such a popular character with a new storyline saw a massive 10% growth for Marmite- quite successful really considering 8 billion sandwiches are consumed per year in the UK!

Marmite is a brand that has been growing year on year, with little change since 1902! I think the ads have had a massive impact on the popularity of this product and I personally can't wait to see what they come up with next!

x

http://www.marmite.com/

http://www.ddblondon.com/

WANT IT! Paul & Joe limited edition make up collection...

Ok so I'm a complete sucker for packaging. Especially when it comes to products. As a self confessed product junkie I tend to go on what looks nice on the shelf... rather than the physical item. Which is why on my daily browse of asos.com I was immediately attracted to these Paul & Joe Limited edition eye shadow palettes and lip sticks.

And aren't they beautiful?! I didn't really know much about Paul & Joe as a make up brand so I visited their website to find out a bit more about them. Clearly the packaging design of their make up is very important to them as they had a whole section about it. They say : "The PAUL & JOE packaging is a real pleasure for those who are passionate about tactile, beautiful things." It goes on to describe it as 'retro chic' creating a sense of 'luxury and refinement' that visibly embodies the products' 'excellent quality and dependability'. It also says that each piece has its own "personality, ensuring your dressing table conveys an air of sophisticated fun and well being".

I really like the concept of their brand identity and packaging. I think women who do want to invest in the slightly more up market make up brands do want more from the packaging. It's about expressing a certain lifestyle- products like these will not only make you look, but also feel elegant and sophisticated! I especially love the attention to detail this packaging shows, like the engraving of pattern on the physical stick of lipstick. I think this really shows the true passion the brand has for their products. I also like the slightly oriental theme that is being expressed in the collection.

This collection is make up to be displayed, not only worn. You are not only investing in good quality make up, but also in some beautiful items to put in your make up bag or on your dressing table!

And which one is my favourite... I can't decide. I think they'll all be going straight on my Christmas list!!

x

http://www.asos.com/Paul-Joe/Paul-Joe-Limited-Edition-Colour-Powder/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=771815&abi=1&clr=Verite

http://www.paul-joe-beaute.com/en/index.html#/about_beaute_concept