Packaging and design are both at the centre of what we do. Our purpose is to deliver standout packaging that incorporates high-level branding and design that allows our clients to stand out from the crowd. So, when we get an opportunity to help creatives produce something unique no matter what the brief is, we’re on board!

Recently we had the privilege of helping Giacinta, a Graphic Design student who was tasked to re-brand and package a line of drinks from a local cider company. To turn the designs into reality we were glad to supply our beer cans to help visualise Giacinta’s project, as you can see below.

The Packaging Brief

The target audience included those in the 30+ age bracket who typically spend most of their free time in the countryside and would rather buy locally than from a retail chain to support their local community.

In the research phase, Giacinta noticed that popular, stand-out designs focused on colourful illustrations and as a result wanted to explore this route.

The name of the fictional company Giacinta was tasked to brand was the ‘English Drinks Company’, so she instantly knew that she wanted to focus on a heritage design, whilst summarising a British summer and freedom. An added interest in aviation sparked her creativity to incorporate well-recognised British airplanes, with each flavour being named after a different aircraft.

The sense of freedom and exploration was characterised by the skies, with individual lines and using different colours to represent sunsets and calm summer afternoons.

To enrich the design, Giacinta created a secondary package prototype. Boxes were designed to house the cans and carry the design further. Choosing to relay the branding over both packaging forms not only allowed the product to be instantly recognisable when displayed but also enhanced the branding to the consumer.

What encouraged you to switch to graphic design.

I worked as an engineer for 20 years and was looking for a new challenge, so I wanted to go back into formal education. I always loved painting and had art as a hobby, but I wanted to also find something more practical that allowed me to change career. That’s why I decided to start studying Graphic Design.

Illustration is being used a lot more across different industries, including packaging and branding. People are drawn to the personal touch it brings to products, making it seem as though the product was made for them and them alone.

How had packaging developed?

Labels are now covering the whole bottle, meaning that however it is placed on the shelf, it can be recognized from all angles. Augmented reality has also proven to be a popular choice amongst bottle designs and is something to keep an eye on in the future.

We loved seeing the final designs and physical products Giacinta created and learning more about the reasoning behind her creative decisions. Seeing new talent break through into the industry is incredibly exciting and we can’t wait to see what else Giacinta has to offer in the future. We know that she will take her course by a storm.

Click here to see more of Giacintas' designs.