Our next design theory class project is to create a package design. The objective of the assignment is to take a constructivist approach to the design, with an emphasis on the propagandist or message aspect of the package.
Russian constructivist designers are known for a particular style unique to their time and place in the early development of socialist Russia. However, their biggest influence on design was their rejection of what they considered the “selfish” side of art with an emphasis on personal expression, for a creative approach which was more “constructive,” using expression in service of solving a problem, with particular emphasis on society and the social good. They called themselves “social engineers” (designers) rather than “artists.” Much of their “propagandist art” or design included advertisements and packaging for products created by the state of Russia for the benefit of their citizens. This constructivist approach took other stylist forms in Holland with the De Styl movement, as well as Bauhaus advertising, product and book design in Germany at the same time.
A key component of a constructivist approach to a design problem is the use of a methodology or a planned approach to designing a solution to a problem.
With this project, YOU will take the initiative to determine the design methodology you will take to successfully create a functional and meaningful package design.
You may want to use the standard five-part design methodology of:
• Establish Design Parameters
• Gather Information and Research
• Concept Development
• Design Iterations
- Roughs & Critique
- Comp & Critique
- Final Critique (Test) & Design
• Implementation & Dissemination
Your first step is to determine what product you will package. You are asked to choose a product associated with the subject you visually expressed denotatively and connotatively in your recent cubist explorations. For example, if you subject for that assignment was a dog, then you could design a package for food, a DIY Obedience packet for training your dog, etc. The reason we are tying the packaging project to your constructivist explorations is that analytic images work well to express a product’s denotative (or physical) features, while synthetic images work well to express a product’s connotative (or meangiful) benefits.
An outline of your proposed product to package is due on your blog the beginning of class, Thursday, March 22nd.
The second step is to then research the product, determining the package's end-user and market, its competitors, as well as the physical requirements of the package. You will also need to establish the product’s features and benefits and write a content outline for the package text.
Then write a project brief, create an image board, and envision possible design concepts through a series of quick sketches. Using your research as a basis, and your content outline as a guide, write the finished text for the document. If you can, you may also want to make a list and preliminary morgue of images you will use for your package as well. This project will also include a 3D model and/or a physical package mock-up, as well as a image of the package in application.
Your design proposal, including an description of your methodology, your budget and project schedule is due on your blog the beginning of class, Tuesday, March 27th.
Your methodology will also include a project budget (based upon the anticipated time you will spent on the project billed at $30/hour) and a project schedule with the final design critique on Tuesday, April 10th and the final design due on Thursday, April 12th.
ATTENTION
Your client has just called and said the Director of Marketing has decided to introduce the product at an upcoming trade show later this month.
As such the project schedule has changed with the final package design review (critique) set for Thursday, April 5th and the final package design due Tuesday, April 10th.
